The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
Made the Trip Around the World.

sictOE DeuleT, SOU OF Mr. and Mrs.
r. F. Bedier, arrived home last Satur.
day, thus completing trip taken by
very few persons, around the globe.
MIR. Bedier enlisted in Co. l 5lst Iowa
when war was first declared with Spain,
enlistlng with the other Leon boys at
Des Moines. When the regiment reach.
ed San Francisco he was transferred
from Co. to the Vol. Hospital Corps
and when they reached Manila he was
made steward Of the hospital, his pay
being $50 per month.
He was mustered out at Manila, Sept.
20, 1899, and with three companions.
Corporal Marion Hagler, Go. F. 5lst
Iowa, whose home is at Milton, Searp
James Mccoy, Co. F, 5lst Iowa, of Iowa
City, and Jessie Corley, Co. F, 5lst
Iowa, of Grinnell, decided to return
home by the eastern way, thus making
the trip around the world.
They left Manila Sept. Goth on the
transport Senator and accompanied
their regiment as far as Nagasakai.
japan, where they left the transport
and took passage on the City of Pueblo
for Kobe, steaming up through the In.
land Sea. On board were six crazy
soldiers and on Nov. 9TH, while out two
days one of the men jumped overheard
and was drowned. They stopped at
Osaka and visited the Japanese tenn.
pies and parks. They next visited
! I OK ohama ard went $50 miles inland
to see the country and then returned
back to Kobe and took passage on the
French mail steamer Tonkin Tor Port
Said, Egypt. They stopped at Shanghai
Laos, Hong Kong and Canton, and
steamed down the Saigon river through
Hindoo China 80 miles, landing at 9
small French port.
On Oct. n they were at Singapore
Two days later they reached Colombo
and spent week going to the interior
Here they saw the natives using ele
plants for all kind of work. Thew then
proceeded up the river to Calcutta where
several days were spent seeing points Of
interest, such as the famous black hole.
temples. saw the natives offering goats
up for sacrifice, etc. They were agree.
ably surprised one evening when thew
stopped in church, to meet Miss Carrie
Samson, daughter of Seth Samson, Of
Van Vert, who went to India a few
months ago to work as missionary.
II was pleasant meeting on both sides.
At TT. Agra they saw the Seven Won.
ders and explored the underground pas.
sages which lead out to other cities, one
of which is IS miles long and another Is
miles long. Nov. 26 they arrived at
Alden, Arabia, and then went through
the Suez Canal to Ishamalia where they
changed boats and landed at Cairo,
Egypt. While in Egypt they visited
Joseph's we'll, the citadel, obelisk, an
ostrich farm, the pyramids and tombs
and saw many other interesting sights.
Dec. II they reached Italy and saw the
first snow they had seen since leaving
the United States.
They landed at Marseilles, France,
Dec. IL, and took the train for Paris,
where five days were spent in sight see.
ing. Crossing the channel liverpool
and London were visited and on Dec.
"a Vic sailed for New York on the steam.
er st. Louis, arriving at New York on
the 3Oth. He visited several eastern
cities and then hurried home to see the
home folks.
Mr., Bedier brought home with him
many interesting relics, and can tell a
wonderful tale of his travels. While he
is very glad he has had the army ex.
perience he says that knowing what he
now does he would not under any cir.
cumstances take the chance of getting
back safe and well again. He is now
satisfied to remain in the best country
on the face OF the globe, and he ought
to know, as he has circled it.