The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-16
AS|A ANHEEL
Extraordinary Experiences Of
the lone CycIer"
IN THE TRACKLESS WILDS
Journey From St Petersburg
to VIadiVoStock.

phalted roads and cycle paths" .fa re
narkable story of adventure told hy w
Eeyman. the Lone Cyc'er." Who has jus,
accomplished a woRde-fal tour through
Russia under as severe ta1iIcaps as ever
beset wheelman. win prove Instructive
Mr.. Reyman left New York more thar
two years ago. As the Sunday World kas
since told. Reyman wheeled through Eng
land. Scotland. Ireland. Wales and
France, and on to Moscow. where he
stopped for reinforcement. He now
writes as follows:
vladivistock. Siberia
| To the Editor of the World:
II is more than a year since left Mos
cow. where I was snowbound for SIX
months in solitude. During this time I
prepared for the long and motonous Jour
| ney through Siberia which I began In
May. iS9S. arriving at Vladivistock the fol-
lowing October. This Is a feat attempted
by several wheelmen, brt II was eft for
the Lone Cycler" to accomplish. My
ride across the vast domain OF the car
was one Of severe privation and hardship
chiefly for the lack OF nourishment ana
drink suitable to the excessive heat
This suffering was augmented by the
torment of the nOxious insects that in
fest the swamps and stePpes, which sre
impossible TO any human being not arm
ed with a ''setka' This IS a sort of
mcsquito-proof shroud worn over the
head and shoulders and must be 5upp,e-
mented by leather gloves and bandages
To hold the trousers close to the ankles.
The season was so short that was
compelled to ride the greater part OF the
night and day in order to raech The
Asiatic terminus before the fast ep-
preaching winter. During this part Of the
route the natives were very hospItable.
In dry weather the roads were good. but
five minutes rain does not dry for two
days. The greatest obstacle to progress
was the over-zealous officials. who suS-
pected me to be an imposter or escaped
exile and caused me endless trouble and
delay.
There may have been some excuse for
them in my appearance / was protected
against any emergency that might arise
and provided with more than one thous-
and articles of wearing apparel. medicine
and food all of these being carried on my
bicycle. But. in spite OF the unusual i'm
preston made. attribute my success to
the fact that always had these essen
tials with me.
At Irkutsk. Siberia. I began 20 inquire
as to the possibilities Of cycling In
China Everybody discouraged me. Even
at Blagovetensk. Siberia. where crossed
the boundary OF Northern China. I was
told that certainly risked my life In pur-
suing my course through this dangerous
country. I ventured. however. upon a
trial trip Of two days. The result OF this
would have discouraged an ordinary
wheelman utterly. A retreated. but de-
termined on a second attempt Replen- |
ishing my equipment with as many pEo- |
visions as I could carry on my person |
and machine. I babe farewell 20 the civ /
ilized world and entered on a series Of |
undreamed-of experiences.
After the third or fourth day q strange /
feeling crept over me that increased and
filed me with terror as I advanced into /
the interior. II seems az II / had ac- /
tually left the mortal world and was row
ing in an unknown one. Now and then I
] approached settlement and could hear
az distance the cymbals and bells warn
ing the natives Of the approach Of q mys-
terious intruder. Coming nearer I could
see their fierce and unsightiy faces. their
strange costumes and habits Nude child
rem and adults scantily clad rushed out Of
their mud novels in bewilderment vhoop-
ing and yelling Ike rnsnIscs-
Usually such scenes ended In disaster
for the natives. whom was often OBJ
liged 10 attack IN self-defense. my prog
~ I
less bridSeless streams. swamps and
marshes. which could be forded only with
great difficulty. Ny overiaden machine
had 20 be carried across in sections Re
peatedly I had to seek shelter remote
from the superstitious natives. who pur-
sued me on many occasions with spears.
cutiasses. clubs and missiles Of every de-
scrip,ion. As I was the pioneer Of BIZ
cyclists In their country. they REGARDED
me as white devil with a oontrivance Of
Hadez. bent on destruction
! am glad they dreaded the machine.
for II defended me IN many close quar-
tsrs 7 would dismount and set the rear
wheel revolving with a rapid motion
Then would cause a loud rafting ~ the
chain and at intervals ! would discharge
a gun from under the saddle. They dId
not mind a zs-caiIbre bullet 80 much 50 !
a sudden report followed BY . quick fash
and smoke. This 80 excited ana terrified
them that they ran for refuge or re-
rnaiued at hay long enough for me 90 es-
care.
At Tire end % the second week my sup
niy OF provisions was exhausted. could
gst 10 meat and the nearest approach 70
bread was a kind 81 dumping made q
pounded ruIiIst seeds This was unieav- |
ened and unSaitsd and very disaxreeabls
10 the taste lived chiefly on Wild veRe-
,ation and FISH which caught n shzI-
low streams With = sharp pointed stick
For six long weeks followed the nesyllA
d The compass ny only guide. Over
mountains. valleys. prairfes ard bs-rpn
plains. forests tunxies. streams and
Evzmps. carrying. pushing ~ drsE<ing
The Bicycle Roads CO not exist thsY. ard
srsAres are unknown One morning ~
runrise zs vas descending CbessfooaE
Mountain where 7 had eazped on; for the
slghs. saw q beautiful Landscape. doste6
With white cottages and IN the MIDST %
hem the green dome % a Russian eafhs-
araI Ny compass. then found had
B~ea s4okea- Two hours later rsSe KY
Ezy through q winding caaJoa i7ts N
59e1- fertsie valley. ard sTsa uoc@- TIE
-sof a ore OF TIE white cottages had
,sen IN tas morning.. vas tn PoItofka-
aaEsiet On ths Rsssiaa frostisr. - Eafies
sorfh % vIzdirosteek 4 6ay c. two ia,sy
arrived =. vizdivos.ock n q Ssry dIiaP4-
lated eon5itiOn-
IeA~fsg tbs pert I goe overland %
"a. FSs1cisrn
have rnAss this trip WITH . vA.ei