Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-21
BISHOP C0LEMAN'S TRAMP.
i Lasted Eleven Days, During
Which He Covered a Dis
tance Of 220 Miles.
ACROSS THE VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS
The Bishop Travelled Incog-
nito and Had Many Inter-
esting Experiences--Eiis :
Annual Custom for
Over 80 Years.

Bishop Leighton Coleman arrived
home about o'clock Tuesday morning
from his annual tramp. He is in good
banlth and shows no iii effects from
walk Of about 220 miles in IL days.
Although he does not walk against
time, he generally averages in the
neiehborhood OF 90 milus a day, so
tbat in the nearly 40 years he has been
tramping no has probably covered 5000
miles,
This years tramp was in Virginia.
As to the particular section visited,
The bishop prefers not to he specific,
in order that no embarrassment may
come to him in subsequent journeys.
For he travels strictly incognito, there
BY being enabled to meet the people
without finding them In condition of
reserve which might be theirs il they
knew he was a dignitary Of the Prot
estant Episcopal Church.
Bishop Coleman left Wilmington on
Tuesday, September 9th. On that
morning, he made the opening prayer
at the convention of the National
Association Of Municipal Electricians,
which met in the Grand Opera House,
and that afternoon he was speeding by
rail towards Virginia, where, alone,
be was to travel on foot.
His walking days were Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday of that
week, Monday to Saturday, inclusive,
Of last week, and yesterday. His best
day placed 30 miles to his credit.
Little rain fell while he was away, and
the warm weather prevented longer
walks on some Of the days.
A portion of his journey was along
the line of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
and one day he crossed them near tho
highest point r In reaching this, he
had an experience of the deceptive
character of mountain, the traveller
thinking that he is near the top when
at some high point, only to find that
there is yet another and another up.
ward grade.
NET AN AUSTRIAN WALKER.
Although beginning his tramps rs
long ago as 1861 and walking almost
every year since, the bishop has but
rarely come across other persons walk
lug as he walks, for the simple pleasure
Of walking. On this trip, he met one
from Chicago, who was taking his
first tramp in America. The two were
going in opposite directions, but when
they found that they were both on the
same errand they sat beside the road
side and exchanged experiences. 1t
was the Austrian's first day out and
Bishop Coleman was able to give him
certain directions as to the way to go
that were gladly received The bishop
thought the Austrian rather too we'll
dressed for walking trip.
II was an unusual pleasure, however,
10 meet a man who could understand
the pleasure Of walking for it's own
sake. The residents of the districts
through which the bishop passed
could NOT understand this. Some
thought he had an Interior object.
Others wanted to know what he was
representing Others inquired what he
had to sell. His motives were mystery
10 them and his identity was a sealed
book. The bishop wore rough dark
clothes, heavy shoes and a black felt
hat
BROKE HIS FAITHFUL CANE.
He carried also the cane which has
been his companion through thousands
ofmiles. But it is probably the last
outing of the faithful stick. liz was
broken several years ago by horse
Stepping on 1t, but was repaired and
still found useful. While walking along
one night on this last trir, the bishop
felt the cane give way. He brought il
home with him and will have it fixed
and added to his collection of canes.
when seen at Bishopstead, this morn.
ing, the bishop was cutting the black
cord from an old fashioned silver watch
which he had carried Oh his tramp.
Ae had selected it as it was less likely
10 arouse suspicion than his golo
watch. Speaking of timepieces, it may
BE- recalled that last year, the bishoI
repaired one or two clocks at thu
houses he visited, to have correct time
Keeping clocks being one of his pleas
ues.
SLEPT AT TAyERNs AND FARMHoUsEs.
The bishop spent every night in 6
avcrn or hotel or farmhouse. The
accommodations at some of the place:
we're rather inferior. Two nights were
spent at farmhouses. At one of these
lae bishop had a parley with the mar
Oh the house, who was content to enter
lain him, but the wife, who did mo-
see tho stranger at the time, inter
posed objection, and three corneret
c9snversation was carried on, the bishop
~ th9 door. the farmer in the doorwa.
and the wife inside.
Finally the woman consented tina
Iae stranger should enter, and whel
sle saw him. apologized that sh'
should have objected.
mall his Journey, whether he stopped
iof food or lodging, tho bishop saw NJ
ually papers at the houses, which ma.
account, in part, for the fact that nj
o news Of his projected tramp had pre-
Inc bishop had no particularly rougl
experiences, with the exception tha
US US found some difficulty in crossing
streams where bridges were scarce.
Mention has been made that tn
bishop walked on IL days. The tw'
o'ller days OF his stay in Virginii
. we're Sundays. He did not walk OF
alose days nor did he attend service
y, aa. a church, as that might have oause'
sTIlhment, Instead he erected a rud
GUAR quar- IN some woods and there said tn
services of the church.
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DIED In New York.
NJ: a woman about % years of age, VIII