Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-05-03
ACROSS ASIA ON \ BICYCLE.
\ Journey tndertaken by two Ameri-

\ Journey Indertaken by two Ameri-
can students.
With no parade, and scarcely themselves
realizing the Importance Of what they
proposed to do, two young American stu
dents started from New York. June q.
1890, on one OF the most remarkable jour
neys OF the century. Three years after
ward, lacking twenty days. these young
| men returned TO New York hy way If
San Francisco, Arizona snd New Mckee.
having encompassed the word. They had
travelled on bicycles no less than l5,c4I
miles. which Is said to b. The longest con
tinuous land journey ever made around
the world. But this was merely incident
al they were Inspired by higher purposes
than record breaking
Messrs. Alien and Sach;lebru. aged
twenty-five and twenty. four years re~prc-
lively. were graduated from Washington
| university In 81. Louis on June i3. 1870.
They had obtained thorough theoretical
college training, and they wanted 10 ."e
the practical Side OF lie aud 10 study 'he
peoples of the Old World. They decided
to do all of the travelling possible on hl-
cycles, although neither one of them had
ever ridden s wheel. In order TO see the
countries through which they passed more
thoroughly. and to come into closer rea-
ton with the inhabitants. II never was
their Intention simply 10 make s bicycle
tour around the world" They were f,-
lowing the example OF the medieval scho-
ars who roamed sfoot through Germany.
France and Italy. But they were 10 cover
neld OF which their prototypes had ney
er dreamed. and so they called In the h-
cycle TO their aid.
The day after they received their d,-
grees they started out on their lurucy,
and = week later sailed for Liverpool. Al
ter they had wheeled through Great Brit
ain, they perfected their plans for cross
ing Europe and Asia. The most difficult
part Of their journey they well knew,
would be that portion Of the route which
lay through western and central China and
the desert Of Cobb. BY the kindly aid u
Minister Lincoln, who endeavored to CON
vince them of the dangers that were IN
the way aud to dissuade them from their
attempt. they obtained special passport
from the Chinese am bsssador in London.
When they had seen southern Europe
from a better point of vantage than car
window. they set out from Constantinople
on their long, perilous and arduous jour
ney. They were the first from another
continent since the days of Marco Polo
to cross the Chinese empire from the
western boundary to the capital. Peking,
and In many places they followed close
in the footsteps OF the great Venetian
traveller Civilization has made but little
progress in this region Of the world since
the thirteenth century, and their eyes
rested on many Of the selfsame sights
that awoke the establishment of tha emjS-
sary of Kublsi Khan.
Messrs. Allen and Sachtleben have writ
ten q graphic account Of their remarkable
journey from Constantinople To peking
and this will be published in The Century.
beginning with the May number. They
met with many curious and startling ad-
ventures. and these they tell with a sim
plicity aud modesty as If they were hot
unusual episodes in the rounding out of
. college education. They took more than
2 500 photographs of scenery and phases
Of life that curious European eyes had
never looked upon before. and many Of
these will be reproduced.
The young men served, In measure, as
the advance couriers Of American progress.
They bore the "stars and stripes" strapped
TO the hsndlebars Of their bicycles. to
people who learned for the first time Of
its significance.