Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-13

with oil the nuts are apt to work loose.
WHEELING AROUND THE WORLD.
Adventures and Incidents of the Tour
of the McIlraths. -
The tour of the world awheel by Mr.. and
Mrs. II. Darwin McIlrath, mention of which
was made in these columns last Sunday, is
about ended. 1t began at Chicago, April
~, 1895. The tourists arrived in New York
October 2s, 1898. and they are now moving
by easy stages to Chicago, receiving ovations
on the way.
With the exception of Thomas Stevens, the
Mc1lraths have toured more of the world
awheel than any other riders, and they have
opened a prospect of sightseeing to those
who have leisure to devote to this kind of
travel hardly imagined before.
The two plucky wheerers CARRIED their
baggage in leather cases neatly fitted in the
inside angles OF the frames, and the outfit
for each averaged, about fifty pounds. Mrs.
Mc1lrath wore high wheeling boomers,
jacket and cap. In their journey from Chi
cago to San Francisco the tourists traversed
ten states and consumed ifty-two days.
Twelve countries were then crossed, the
cyclists following the route taken by Frank
Lenz, the Pittsburg wheeler, who was killed
by the Kurds while attempting to cross Ar
menia, in part Of their journey through
Japan, China, Burmah and India. :
Since LEM undertook the perilous journey
no white wheelers had been seen in those
districts, and almost everywhere Mrs. Nc
Ilrath was taken for the unfortunate Pitts
burger. "Why, there's LEM back again
with his father" said the astonished Ar
menians, when they beherd the pair, Mr..
McIlrath being taken for the father. T.
From India the cyclists passed through
Persia, the Caucasus, Russia, Roumania,
Austria Hungary, Germany, Prussia, France
and Great Britain.
The journey, especially in the Oriental
countries, was fraught with many dangers,
and hard work, inconvenience hunger and
thirst were intertningled with the most law
ish entertainer and courtesy.
White persons, especially awheel, had
never penetrated some parts in the interior
Of China. and the Chicago pair were repeat
eddy called Yang keweitze." meaning for
eign devils. Mile after mile Mrs. Mciirath
followed her husband at race-track speed to
escape missiles thrown at them by mobs
that seemed to arise out OF the earth at
many points. Yet the young woman had
been riding a wheel only thirty-fve days
when she went on this long journey with
her husband. So great was her progress
that in the last days run from Chicago to
Denver she piled up 100 miles, the banner
run Of the entire trip.
With fever throbbing in her veins the
plucky young wife rode through the Chinese
provinces until she was finally forced to rest.
In India the intense heat brought on fever,
and she was compelled to stay several days
in bed in a bungalow, far from medical
assistance.
m India the McIrraths experienced the
variations of the season. They rode in the
night to escape the intense heat of the day,
over railroad beds, t~restles and ties;
along rocky paths, where the deviation Of an
inch would have hurled the riders into the
gorge below, through mud that crowded their
hubs, and over snow and ice.
Swollen streams had to be forded afoot,
the riders strapping their wheels to their
| backs, and often they were forced to sleep
in forests and jungles where panthers came
dangerously near, and the deadly cobra be-
came a familiar sight.
One night, in the middle of winter, was
spent in the mountains of Persia. The rid
ers had lost their way and wandered about
aimlsssly for many hours. Finally a native
Interpreter, who had preceded them, re-
| turned with a relief expedition to rescue
them in time, for they were about succumb-
ing to insensibility. Mrs. McIlrath's boots
had frozen to her feet and had to be cut
away. So badly were her feet injured by the
| terrible exposure that a surgical operation
had to be performed then and there. Despite
the hardships and privations of the %jourHey,
Mrs. McIlrath, who weighed only "a pounds
when she left Chicago, increased to Ills
mounds. Her husband, lost five pounds OF his
weight.
The tales told by the Intrepid voyagers
beggar description. They were the only for
eigners who crossed the borders OF the prov
ince of Hunin and lived to tell the tale. 1t
Is a most savage country and forbidden
ground to all foreigners. A few months be-
fore the McIlraths accomplished the almost
impossible, two Swedish missionaries at
tempted to enter, and both were massacred.
The Chicagoans had no idea OF entering
this unsafe place, but found themselves at
the gates OF Tou Chow. the capital. before
they knew where they were. They were cap
tured and marched through the streets be-
tween an armed escort. followed by a mob
that pelted them with stones.
The magistrate, astonished by the pluck
Of the riders, sheltered them against the moi
and had them conducted beyond the gates
Of the city by an escort Of 100 soldiers and
sailors. The journey was made by boat and
occupied twenty-three days.
Having been fortunate enough to escape
the wrath Of the Tou Chowans Mr.. and Mrs.
McIlrath discarded the advice OF friends not
to enter the City Of shashi. and again they
were assaulted by a mob. The Japanese
consul stepped in and protected them by
secrsting them on a boat in which they
sailed to Icheng.
From there the roads were impossible for
wheels and Mcllrath walked 1900 miles,
while his wife was carried by natives In a
chair. They were on the way ninety-two
days.