The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-14
WITH THE "BIkERS.'
Prof. Babcock Was Not Both
cred by Hungry Wolves.
THE TRAmPs WERE FRIENDLY.
They often Beat the Cyclists ~
Well as the Railroad Trains
Along the Way

E@-sah had a ak yesterday afternoon
With Prof William r. Bsbcoci. whose II
.eres4inE letters OF his Zip across me coz
tgnent from SEATTLE 10 Boston have been
read by thousands Of people n this state
Prof Baoco-k arrived home SATURDAY
over the Northern Pacific. which Il f-s~ef
would not De Of more interest than 20 say
ttat he arrived over the Great Northern
or TIE Canadian Pacific. The professor.
however. had special object IN travelling
over the Northern Pacific and he sx-
pkasnei x as follows; II wanted TO look
cut from a car window az many Places
where | had toIse1 along dusty and dirty.
tired and hungry. You know there - al
fndescr. babe pleasure il looking a. =
rough piece OF road from a Pullman an1
saying TO yourself: Well, I know you
.zleA By inch bat this time / can pass you
BY with a snap oe my f1ngers-'
II every person we're TO have me sue
cess tina: attended Prof. Baococks et-
forts there would oe a large Increase next
year In the number OF continent riders.
He did rot encounter any OF those wolves
tod about by the ExaminerJoGrnl re-
lay risssrs and yet rode by day and BY
nigh1 and across a country as lonesome
and dangerous.
Way, did you not encounter any raging
torrents or come within an ace Of being
hurled into eternity by an express traing'
asked Bersah.
why. wha, put such ideas into your
heat3" asked Pro-. Babcock, his clear,
dark eyes flashing with amusement. 4
guess you must have been reading about
the thrilling escapes OF the Examiner
Journal relay riders. No / did not en-
counter any such things. The only time
gtaan I got the least bit worried vas when
I came near landing on a rattle snake
The wolves did not chase me, the dogs
did not try to bite holes In my bike tires,
nor did any highwsyman ask me for my
watch or bicycle. Mr. Turner. my travel
ing companion, and myself met many
tranps. but in all cases We were treated
civilly by them. and on many occasions
they would remember Us and ask how
We were getting along"
r don't think l understand" interrupt
et Beriah. What do you mean by re
mealbering you? What WAS the occasion
OF thLs7"
The tramps" continued the professor.
have way of getting across the coun-
try faster than a cyclist- Didn't you ever
see genuine tramp swing under pas
sengsr coach and perch himself upon the
brake beam. II you haven't you have lost
a sight worth seeing. They wait until the
train starts and then grab hold of the roa
that you see under the cars. Their feet
go forward like "A fash and reach the
into place % safety and ride on until
driven out by dirt OF the prod OF brake
man / shall never forget one instance
that happened al Shirley Mont We had
stopped at tank and were cooling our
selves In a shady nook when a freight
train came along and brought out from
under a car a jolly but dust begrsned
colored boy. The train went on and left
him gazing ruefully along the track that
Was lost in the far distant horizon We
asked the boy where he was going and lie
replied that he had started for Chicago
but didn't seem to he getting there as
fast as he had anticipated With that he
shook a cloud Of dust out OF his clothes
and sat down for an indefinite rest We
started on our way AL finally reached
Dickinson, 20 miles distant Imagine our
surprise 10 sac our coiored boy standing
In the doorway OF a blacksmith shop.
hammer in hand. He Immediately recog-
nized us. and said that he had managed
20 catch the next train and reached Dick
inson in time to get work before We came
along"
You must have had an awful time with
pirnclures." remarked BeF!ab as Il feeler.
The worst day I recall" said the pro-
fessor. was while We were passing
through the Pricklv Pear country. along
me Yellowstone. Turner had thirteen
punctures and merded them al " f. MI
Ard's shop. az Miles City. Both Of US
reached Chicago OF the same tires we had
or leaving Seattle. They are curiositieS.
however. ami ! have KEEP mine a. a souve-
nir. From Chicago 70 Bostos | had only
one runcture. and that vas from d piece
or glass
what kind OF treatment did you receive
during your journey?'
Newspaper men and wheelmea were
exceedingly Kind 70 Use. and Ne had good
accommoda sons everywhere except at z
httie town called Fsna, IN Washington We
arrived there az dusk. ana We're refused
lodging everywhere. in addition they
would no; sell us even a glass 81 milk We
were compelled u push or IN the darkness
- RitZviie. e'sht miles distant where
Mr.. Ient took us n. and made UP for our
treatment a. the other own. / vas sur
pr'sed at The number or peo-
pie met with whom was
acquainted or knew By reputation.
Tee DAY before ! let' Boston went into
"a restaurant on Washington street. near
the Boston Herald offlce There vas only
one seat Facant- I dropped into II and
found tstt opposite NE SAT Mr.. and Mrs.
John haley. Of Seattle"
PROF. Baleock mover booked better IN
h's Hfo. I{e has gained SIX rounds. ami
Ms complexion s. that OF perfect health
II" VII he ready for work when the rsfv1s
ass ahis AZ the Minor scaool this morn
ing