The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1897-12-01

The history of Mr.. Phelps's trip is an
interesting one, and is thus briefly sum-
married. by the Portsmouth, Ohio, Daily
Times:
He made a wager with certain New
York club, that he would start without
a stitch of clothing and make his way
around the world in three years. The
stakes were $1,000. During the trip he
was to accumulate $1,000 and the con-
ditions of the wager were that he must
neither steal, borrow nor beg, and not
accept any money without giving some
thing in return for it. He was to ride a
wheel 10000 miles in each hemisphere,
with the privilege of travelling on the
cars or boats, as the case would require.
MOney-making was his first task. The
first job offered was the backing OF a
pair of boots for member of the club,
for which he received 81. He then auc-
toned off one OF three pennies he held
in his hand when he started, and it SOLD
for 81, waited table in restaurant for
his dinner and received 81 extra. He
also waited table during the meal hour,
in one of the big hotels, for which he
received s..
lie lett New York for Liverpool, Eng
land, working his way on the steamer,
as a waiter. In the agreement he was to
visit certain cities in England, which he
did, and crossed Dover Strait for Calais,
from which point he started on his
wheel for Paris, covering the distance Of
225 miles in II hours, stopping one hour
on the way. In Paris he worked in the
Bon Marche, the great department
store He visited a number of the chief
cities of France, going from there to
Spain, thence through Italy, Greece,
Turkey, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland,
Germany, Belgium, Russia, Afaganistan,
Persia, Asia Minor, Egypt. Zanzibar
and thence to Bombay, India, Ceylon,
Columbo, Siam, China, Corea, Japan,
Australia, Honolulu and back to San
Francisco and to Columbus. Ohio.
He has vet to visit HAVANA, Cuba,
nine specified cities in South America,
the City of Mexico, Guatemala and
other points in Central America, having
yet eight months in which to complete
his trip. There is still 1900 miles TO
to be covered on his wheel in the United
States, outside of that he can choose his
own method OF travel. His average on
the wheel in this country has been
about 80 miles a day, but in Europe he
made an average of l25 miles.
He has had all kinds of experiences.
One of the queerest lots he come upon
were monks OF Nagpoore, India, who,
like Honey Pyles. never shave, wash or
cut their hair. lie. travelled some dis
lance on the great wall of China, and
saw the Rhine, the Danube, the Eu-
pirates, the Ganges, the Nile and the
Hwang HUI rivers, and rode on the cleo
trio railways at Jerusalem. Hong Kong
and Chillicothe.
Mr.. Phelps is a gentleman of pleasant
address, and if he has not in reality
visited all the lands he claims to have
seen, he at least knows enough about
them to talk very entertainingly. His
native place is Cleveland, Ohio. He is
to accumulate $1,000 on his trip, and has
already sailed down 8 Geo. Just what
benefit is conferred on the world by
such pilgrimages has never been accu
rately figured out, but the pilgrim in the
case seems to be deriving pleasure ant
profit from the trip.
He sells perfumes, photographs anc
books of travel.