The sun., 1898-10-09
LEIGHTON COLEMAN, TRAMP
Strange Adventures of the Bishop
Who Travelled the Country
on Foot.
CROSSED THE COUNTRY lNC0G
Like Hobo" He Found Shelter in
Barns and SchOOIhouses--Bish
Has Covered Aggregate
of 10000 Miles.
CROSSED THE COUNTRY lNCOG

man OF this city has found the secret of
affinity or rather, the manner of COM
bining the two. He, a bishop, has
tramped the country after the manner
of the professional "hobo."
Taken for peddler, vender of
patent medicines, speculator in real
estate, railway prospector, travelling
dentist, fortune teller and sewing
machine agent, the Right Rev. Leighton
Coleman, D. D., S. T. d., Bishop OF the
Protestant Episcopal diocese of Della
ware, two weeks ago, tramped through
several counties Of West Virginia
and a small portion of Maryland,
for a total distance of 235 miles,
without once being taken for clergy
man. 1t is part OF the Bishops
plan to travel entirely incognito while
on these excursions, and his costume,
combined with his simple manner OF
living, aids him in its fulfil ment. For
this years outing he used an old suit Of
clothes. part of which had done service
in his pedestrian tour in Europe last
year.
Wearing these and soft hat and broad
tread shoes, with his trusty cane that has
been his companion for thousands of
miles, and with knapsack, containing a
few indispensable articles, it is not sur
prising that his identity remained con-
cealed.
The Bishop.tramp began his tour at
Martinsburg, w. Va, in Berkeley county,
and went as far west as Grafton, Taylor
county, as the crow flies about l20 miles,
and thence, retracing his steps, finally
reached the Cumberland Valley, where
he spent day or two before taking a
train about forty miles below Washing
ton for home. His route took him across
the Blue Mountains several times and it
was very stiff climbing. He laid by two
Sundays and on two days it rained, and
his actual tramping was about ten days,
which would make his record over
twenty miles day. His best record for
single day was twenty-six miles, which
does not touch that of previous trip,
when he made thirty-fve miles.
Naturally enough, on such tramp,
the Bishop had numerous experiences,
and two Of these have to do with efforts
to secure lodging. One night he had
been told he would find lodgings at the
house of man who took in wayfarers,
but through misdirection, of which the
Bishop has many examples in his long
tramping experience, went several miles
out of the way, and upon returning in
the right direction began to doubt his
ability to secure accommodations, his
hints on that line at places where he
made inquiry as to the road being with
out result. In this straight he came
across a wayside school house and de-
termined, if he could enter without dam
age, TO do so. Twice he walked around
the building and finally found shutters
which yielded to some slight pressure.
Fortunately the lower sash was entirely
gone, but it was at such a height from
the ground as to make it difficult if not
impossible to Climb or jump into it, 1t
was the Bishops good fortune, however,
to find tall pole, and this he placed
against the window at an angle and
climbed into the school house, la
monkey. Safely inside. he closed the
shutters to prevent suspicion and was
soon asleep on the school-room floor,
with his knapsack as his pillow.
The second experience was after long
days walk, when the bishop had been
informed that man kept public house
where he was sure to get in. Pressing on
ward lie reached the house about $50
o'clock just as it was closing for the
night. "Full up" said the proprietor.
The unusual pressure on his accommoda-
tions was due to political meeting that
was to be held in the neighborhood on
the following day. The weary traveller
requested the privilege OF sleeping on the
floor, but this was denied him. Informed
that he might secure quarters half
mile or mile further on, he continued his
tramp only to find dark houses. Three
or four fierce dogs heard him and be-
gan to bark, and as they were unknown
to the bishop, he thought it would not
be prudent to force an entrance. And
so he walked a mile or two further. Just
as the situation began to look desperate
he reached farm, which contained a
group of buildings that gave promise of
shelter.
After reconnoitering and with the ad-
vice OF man who was occupying van
on the roadside, and with his kindly
help, the bishop climbed into an old log
hay loft, where he composed himself and
rested comfortably until early morning.
Then the cocks began to crow and
woman and child came out to milk the
COWS. Finding himself liable to discov-
cry on account OF the wide chinks in the
loft, the bishop built a barricade Of new.
mown hay, behind which he remained
in safety until the barnyard was cleared.
Descending then from the loft with great
caution, he walked two miles to good
breakfast.
Feeling thirsty one day, the tramping
Bishop stopped at a country store and
asked the price of watermelons. The
dealer offered him a fair.sized one for
cents. He bought the melon and with
out loss of time cut into it with his jack
knife. 1t proved to be very good and he
was enjoying it thoroughly when he no
ticed that the merchant gazed at the
melon with wistful eve.
"Here, won't you take piece?" at
once said the Bishop; otis more than l
want"
II don't care if dc" said the dealer.
And so the two ate together.
Something told the merchant that he
ought to make some return for this kind
ness of his customer, and he said:
"Here, I'll give you couple of bis
cults"