Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-11
GIRL GLOBE-TROTTER.
Annie Londonderry Circles the
Globe on a wheel.
(San Francisco Examiner

(San Francisco Examiner
Annie Londonderry has proved that
woman can make her way three quarters
around the world riding a bicycie
wherever 1t was possible. and making
money as she went She got here on 'he
Belgic recently.
About nine months ago two wealthy
clubmen of Boston were discussing inc
new woman" in a jocular sort OF way
and her ability TO cope with men, when
one of them. who was wo'nah-ha'e''
remarked that perhaps she could 40 near
" everything man could, Out she
could not ride around the world on
bicvcle. His friend differed with him'
and the result of the discussion was d
wager of $4,000 TO $4,000 that no hVlhs
woman could attempt the feat OF faui
Jones.
The woman-hater was willing 10 wager
tho larger amount that the feat could
not be performed, and gave CONSIDERABLE
latitude to the conditions. He would
allow the woman 10 make great deal
of the trip by steamer. but the person
undertaking the task Of circling the globe
must call at certain places. ana earn
5000 during the journey. The man VINO
accepted the wager was DR.. Il. Keeuer'
and he was TO have the privilege OF choos-
ing the woman who was to make
the trip. His choice fell on young iady
connected with the STATS OF several
of the Journals OF Boston. who wrote
under the name OF Annie Londonderry,
and under that name she has completed
more than three quarters OF her jour
ney. She has used all but six OF the
fifteen months given her for the round
the-world Journey. The remainder OF the
trip has TO be taken entirely on her bi-
cycle.
TWO MONTHS AHEAD OF TINE.
She landed yesterday. nearly two
months ahead OF the time laid out in her
schedule.
In telling the story Of her journey she
said IL was with some misgvings that
she accepted the proposition OF the club
men to make the trip. 81 was given mr.
teen months TO make the circuit of the
globe and was to start without cent
and without clothes that could be sold 10
helm me along | could earn money by
honorable means except by my profession
as a Journalist. I was TO make 5000 on
the trip. and / was handicapped greatly
by taking away the most lucrative means
I possessed of earning the money. i mad
never ridden a bicycle in my life. but
went at it. The day after the bet was
made I was to start, and an ordinary
lady's bicycle was supplied.
81 took two riding lessons In An acade-
nv connected with jewellery of half
hour each, and announced that j was
ready TO start.
"rhe next morninc-June %, lSi-was
the time set for the commencement OF the
journey. and when | presented myself at
the clubhouse the clothing that | was
to wear was handed me. The whole out
fit had been bought for ~ cents so there
was not much of IT, and none could be
spared at any price.
MAKING MONEY BY THE WAYSIDE.
There was difference between riding
on the smooth floor of an academy and a
rough street but | managed to pedal out
Of the crowd that gathered to witness
the sport without falling, and l started
for Chicago the first thing. Al many OF
the places along the road ] distributed
handbills and carried advertisements PIN
ned To my clothes through the streets. In
that way ! earned considerable money.
and soon supplied myself with sufficient
clothing as well as making start on
the small fortune | was To accumulate
during the trip. In Chicago | had no
difficulty in getting all the advertisements
| could carry. and made enough money
then TO pay my passage across the At
lantic to Havre.
From there l was to ride TO Mar
selles and my Journey commenced IN
earnest | could not speak word OF
French so ! had a card printed telling
who / was, what ! was doing, and that
| wanted some advertising matter to dis
tribute to pay my expenses and help to-
ward the amount ] was to accumulate.
Ii had the desired effect. and there was
no further difficulty | became the ad-
yertising rage i'm Paris, and was paid
well for the work | did.
II spent nearly two weeks there, and
then started for Marseilles. ] rode al
most night and day on that part OF the
journey.
ENCOUNTER WITH HIGHWAYMEN.
zone night along a lonely part of the
road a few miles before reaching Lacone
/ had an encounter with highwaymen.
They had, from what / could learn. been
waiting for me. expecting that would
have all the money had earned In Paris
with me.
"There were three OF them. and they
wore masks over their faces. They
sprany out of the dark shadow OF a
clump Of trees and one OF them graspei
the bicycle almost before i knew or
their presence. / was pedalling down
long, easy grade al the time. and going
at a good speed. When they grasped the
wheel ] was thrown heavily 10 the road.
but reached for my revolver that
I carried in a holster AT my belt. and
when they carle at me ! was on my feet
with the weapon at full cock and le-
yelled at the foremost OF them.
"He backed away, but one OF the
-.h>r, bod Cof hahind me and grasppt
me about the throat. The weapon was
wrenched from me and my pockets were
rified In thorough brieand style. All
had was francs. and they were magma
nimous to let me keep II as they strobe
away cursing at their luck.
.'The fail from the wheel sprained
my ankle and my shoulder was bruised
considerably. but ! had enough vitality
left TO continue the journey. and Few
miles further on l met number OF BIZ
cyclists from the Lacons Club. who had
ridden out 10 meet me and escort me
along on my journey.
POLITE wHEELMEN OF FRANCE.
81 had some difficulty in making them
understand how l received my injuries,
and after that the wheelmen OF France
would not allow me to travel alone. by
tbs time reached Marseiles my ankle
was 80 swollen ! could not use !: and
rode into that city with my injured
foot IN bandages hanging over the handle
hsr and pedaliing with the other. My
= nnroach had been heraided, and was
yreeted BY big procession OF bicyclists.
nd the streets ws-s crowded 70 see the
erican lady who WAS to ride around
the world on bicycle.
..rhs stars and Stripes were noating
s.orn = stan attached 10 the handle-pars,