The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-02

salt Tears and Waived Their Handker-
chiefs-Escorted by Letter Carriers.
AT 1215 yesterday Professor Mold.
dressed in the costume of a clown.
stuck his face through the rear window
of Missouri Pacific train and bid good
bye TO Wichita and about three thous-
and people. for four years.
The departure of Professor Mold was
bigger thing than was anticipated: il
was nothing short of great event in
the history of the Peerless Princess, If
one is to judge from the crowd that
followed him 10 the depot, and the tears
and the hand shakes.
Briefly stated, George Mold has TAX
en- a contract TO circumnavigate the
earth in four years. He started out
penniless and proposes TO return with
the next leap year with $4,000 in mis-
pocket. He Is TO wear the costume OF
a circus clown and according TO the
terms of the agreement he cannot speak
a word during the four years. except
| through a veITtriloquist figure. This
is what gives the trip Just begun its
chief interest 1t is the basis Of his
title as the silent circumnavigator.
Prof. Mold became spechless and pen
nileSs after the clock struck I2yesterday
morning. He then started out in the
cold world with his ventrJloquial figures
and mis- travelling partner. Bob Kin
arid. Cash Henderson started them
with a handsome purchase of the goods
which they sell. From there they went
! to the. hard times ball at Red Men
| hail. where the first package Of chew
| Murphy, daughter of George Murphy.
| During the forenoon the circumnavi-
gator sold photographs and gum in the
streets. Professor Mold sold 4s1 pho
! tographs in the forenoon. and IL is es-
timated that he quit town with about
! $500.
Wherever George went he was follow
| ed by great crowds of people and the
/ ladies fairly went wild. From every
window along Main street they waved
! handkerchiefs and threw kisses at him.
| The band made music and the men
cheered. One little girl shot out of the
crowd, pinned a bouquet on the cir
cumnavigator, and the applause that
| went up was deafening.
The morning scenes were tame COM
pared with those witnessed when the
party started to the train. The letter
carriers had a holiday and they put
it in cheering their ex-comrade and fol-
lowing him like a body guard wherever
he went. Cash Henderson was out
/ driving behind his fast horse taking a
lively interest in the scenes. When
Mr.. Mold went to his home in the Sedg-
wick block to bid goodbye TO his wife
and children, First street was fairly
blOcaded between Main and Douglas.
! ladies. and as them imagined the scenes
ladies, and as they imagined his fam
lily the poor. dear creatures had occa-
sion for their handkerchiefs for they
could not control their tears. Many of
them sobbed and blubbered aloud. for
they had worked their Imagination up
TO pitch unnecessary.
When Mold came down into the
streets again the band played Hail to
the Chief and procession OF at least
1000 people followed the silent circum-
navigator to the Missouri Pacific de-
pot. About 1000 other enthusiasts ran
across lots so as the have a good place
at the depot TO see the sights.
The scenes at the depot were novel.
There were vehicles there of very kind
and variety. and every vehicle was full
of people. Small boys climbed up tele-
graph poles and perched on the cross
bars to have a good view of the pro-
ceedings. Men and women mOunte
trucks and drays. and one or two dar-
ing fellows climbed on the roof of the
depot. The platform was packed like
sardine box and as the circumna viga-
tor forced him way through women
reached out their hands for a final
shake, and those who could not touch
flesh with him. were satisfied with
touching his clown costume.
Colonel BIeckley, passenger agent OF
the Missouri Pacific, was on hand. It
was he who secured transportation
over the road for the silent globe trot-
ter and he proposed TO see that he got
off in good shape. Superintendent
Webb was also there, and. in short. all
the local dignitarieS of the city and
railway company. When the whistle
footed the women shed tears again, and
as the train steamed away, they waved
their handkerchiefs and dispersed.
Some of the mail carriers accompanied
the party - FL Dorado, and a great
many citizens accompanied them as