Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-04
AROUND THE WORLD.
A FRENCHMAN Is UNDERTAKING
THIS LONG JOURNEY ON FOOT.
MANY MEYER GET THROUGH ALIYE.
But IL Successful He Wins Fifty
Thousand DoIiars-The Athlete Is
NJ. Gilbert, n Journnlist-The Dam
gers of the Trip.
Thousand DoIia
gers of the Trip.
(For the Dispatch.l

| TAhiS, august E.-One or the OddeS
wagers ever recorded has been mad,
by VI. Henri Gilbert, a French journals
and noted athlete. NJ. Gilbert Is to wall
around the world for a $4,000 bet. The
money has been securely lodged in he
hands Of a Paris banker by a syndicate OF
sporting gentlemen who wish to test to
the limit Gilbert's pedestrian qualifica-
tons, and he must appear on the morn
ing of June 1, 1900, to claim it, or he will
have had his walk around the world for
nothing.
The feat is TO be accomplished accord
ing to regular rules laid down by the
syndicate. Some latitude is allowed for
sickness, as time thus lost is not counted
in the tally of his journeyings. NJ. Gill
bert, who Is 81 years old and stands
feet, inches in his shoes, has been con-
| nected with Journalism for twelve years,
| three Of which he has spent on his won
derful travels. lie wears a Kharkl suit,
with a wide-brimmed pith hat, and car
ries with him staff, while on his left
arm are the colors of loved France.
When he arrived at Ballarat, the other
week he had covered q 63l 1-2 miles. and
had still 1883 IL miles to overtake.
LOOKS LIKE SCOT
NJ. Gilbert would pass FOR a Scot. but
when questioned whether any Highland
blood ran in his viens, he answered,
My face and appearance are English
or Scotch, which you will, but this" tap
ping his chest i'm the region of his heart.
lis French" He generally travels along
the railway line, which is harder walk
ing than on the road, but prevents him
from missing his way and thus losing
time and adding to the distance he has
to travel Perhaps the biggest part of
his undertaking has yet TO be faced-the
journey through Siberia-but Of this he is
not at all afraid.
When he strikes into the enormous
stretch Of territory that comprises Rus
sian Asia, he will follow the line of the
new Siberian railroad. Without this rail-
road, tho way would be much more diff
cult and dangerous, but NJ. Gilbert will
have the advantage OF n comparatively
easy track for thousands of miles of
what would otherwise be the worst part
OF his long journey.
MANY DIFFICULTIES.
BY way of the Siberian railroad, Gilbert
will travel TO the Pacific coast, and so
journey to Corea, whence he will so to
Toxic, and from there to Vancouver.
From Vancouver he will have no easy
pathway before him, for he must make
his way through the rugged country OF
the Northwest, where almost as many
difficulties and dangers will await him. as
In the Asiatic territory. 1t is not known
whether he will come East through Cana
10 WI H. .fa.1.f a IntN or.
will be his chosen route.
The last part of his journey will, of
course, be the easiest. When he strikes
American or Canadian civilization NJ. Gil
bert will have the wager as good as won.
Until this stage of the long tramp is
reached it will always be a questionable
thing whether or not he will he heard OF
again, for many venturesome men have
plunged into the lonely and inhospitable |
regions, through which the $4,000 bet will |
lure Gilbert, and have never again been |
seen or heard Of
WILL. WIN HIS BET
Gilbert is confident Of being able to win |
the bet. He has passed through quite |
enough sensations for an ordinary mortal, |
but only on one occasion was his life in |
danger. That was when. i'm Syria, he was |
captured by a band of Turks, who asked |
him if he was a Christian. NJ. Gilbert's |
'eply that he was a Frenchman fortunate
y satisfied them, and they allowed him 10
lepart. Travelling in so many different
to whose languages and Gus
oms he is a stranger. it might be sup
)osed that he would have some difficulty
n making known his wants. But NJ. Gil
)ert is great believer i'm the power Of
nimicry, and by means of that and a few
gns ne has generally succeeded in get
ing what he wanted.
HE GOES WELL ARMED
NJ. Gilbert is well armed, and he has
Iced 10 be, for he will be compelled on
us long Asiatic journey to bivouac near
he lair of the fiercest beast 1t is from
hese rather than human enemies that
he walkers life will be in the greatest
anger He will be sure To bring with
i'm from the Aslatic wilds thrilling sto- Z
les Of encounters with wild animals if
e lives 10 reach the coast
His will be the longest and most dam J
erous walking tour on record, and no one |
i'll contest his claim TO have earned every
ent of the money.