The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-22

at Washington University, at St.
Louis, graduated from that in-
stitution, and on the next day
started on tour OF Europe for the
purpose of completing our education,
AT this time we had no idea OF length
ening our journey into an around the
world tour, nor had we thought OF the
bicycle aa means OF transportation.
We left New York on June 23d, and
upon arriving at Liverpool started on
tour OF the British Isles, some fifteen
hundred miles, winding up at London.
AT London the idea was first developed
OF taking tour around the world on
wheels; previous to this we had not
straddled bicycle. We did not have
any idea OF making great athletic feat,
in fact We are not athletes, and only
took the wheel as being the best mode
OF transportation, and the only practi-
cable one through some Of the lands
where we contemplated going. We
got wheels OF an English make and
started on the trip, going through
France, Italy, Greece and Turkey to
Constantinople. Here we left civiliza-
ton and entered countries where the
bicycle had never before been seen, and
in a number OF places where no white
traveller had before ventured. From
Constantinople our route laid through
Asia Minor, northern Persia, along the
shore Of the Caspian sea, up through
Turkestan, now called Russian Central
Asia, and entered China at the north
west corner at town called Kuldja.
From the latter place we crossed the
Chinese empire TO Pekin, over $500
miles, on the way crossing the great
desert OF Geobi, which at the place
where we struck it is 600 miles wide,
ana in area Is larger than the desert of
Sahara in Africa While en- route
through this desert We lived on coarse
-four Of native manufacture mixed with
brakish water, which makes fair sort
OF Dutch pretzel. Across this desert
we made about fifty miles a day, cross
ing it in twelve days. at points thirty
miles apart through the desert were
located caravan stations, where each
day We secured supplies OF flour and
water.
when we arrived at Pekin, the cap
ital OF the empire, after our ride Of over
three thousand miles, we saw tho first
white man we had seen since leaving
Russian ASH. Ono gentleman in Pekin
remarked, after hearing the story OF our
trip, We'll, gentlemen, II Icould not adj
miro anything else concerning your
journey, would Of necessity have to
admire your stomachs.
aside from the people, We had many
other things to contend with, in China
and Asia generally, among them cpl
denies, Diseases change Of dict and
water However, we got to Pekin, not
great distance from tho ocean, nll
right, on November 8, 1892, nineteen
months after we had left Constantine
pie. Several times during tho trip in
Asia our wheels gave us trouble, tho
most serious ono being in Central
China, whore my wheel broke into two
parts. OF course there weNe no me-
chanics who could possibly mend 1t, so
we were OF necessity thrown upon our
own resources. We secured an iron
rod; this we inserted into tho hollow
tubes OF the machine, and bound tho
wheel together with some telegraph
wire which we found evon In that out
oi.the.way place.
ave started out with two Kodak
cameras, with which we made great
number Of pictures illusrrating our trip.
In the interior OF China We sold tho
larger OF tho two to native, who said
ho would try and operate Il, and send
the films TO the makers Of the camera,
at Rochester, N. Y, to DO developed.
So far as known no films have boon yet
received from the ambitious Chinese
amateur photographer.
"From Pekin we journoyed down the
river TO Tuintsin, whore wo had an In.
terviow with L.Huing.Ching, tho
prime minister 10 tho emperor Of China,
and who really governs tho empire.
This distinguished gentleman takea tho
record for asking qucations. Our intcr-
Wow lasted about forty.hve minutes;
no asked III about forty questions, all
through an interpreter. I'd rather run
against ton newspaper reporters than
Li.Huing.Ching. lie wanted TO know
how we had got into his domlnions,
and was worry curious about our iron
horses, as no called the bicycles, liz
couldn't understand how we had &C.
complished tho Journey on tho wheels.
"From Shanghai wo took steamer
for America, touching at Japanese
ports, and arriving at San Francisco
last Christmas day WO started Janu'
nry II on our American tour, going
through Southern California, Arizona,
Now Mexico, Texas, Indian Territory,
Kansas, Missouri to ~, Louis, whore VIC
arrived March 81. We stopped At our
homes for six weeks and then rosumnd
our trip, which 10 10 end At Now York,
coming through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio