The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-10
DOING THE HOBO ACT.
Peter HerndOn of New York Ont on n
Novel and Hard Expedition.

NONeI anu nara ENDe0IIIOns
Peter Herndon arrived in the city
yesterday from New York, en- route 70
Tampa, Fla. He was accompanied by
a fox terrier. and said he was walk
ing from New York to the Gulf, on a
wager of $1,000. He left in the after
noon On his long tramp.
Herndon says he is no tramp but a
man of means. full of adventuresome
deeds, and a desire for the novelty of
life. He claims to be a member of
several swell clubs, and his present
undertaking the result of a discussion
in one of the clubs, that no man could
walk from New York to Tampa in six
ty days. He said he could do it. The
bet was made and Dec. he started
out.
Unlike most pedestrians, on long
Jaunts against wagers, Herndon says
he has ample means. the only specifica-
ton being, that he walk the entire
distance to Tampa in sixty days
Upon his arrival in Tampa he will
wire the result of his trip to New York,
and Immediately a party of his friends
will leave for Florida and he, having
changed from tramp to a gentleman
of leisure. will form one of the party
TO visit Cuba and the Florida East
Coast.
Herndon claims he is ahead of his
schedule over 100 miles, and that in his
present condition he will make Tampa
several days in advance of the limit of
his schedule. He said he has tramped
800 miles so far. and that the distance
from here to the South Florida city is
about 600 miles.
He is small man about IS years of
age. and claims to have been raised
n hn
long 1aunts. He is strong and wfry
and says that the experiences of a
tramp are entirely new to what he had
been accustomed to, when walking for
pleasure only with the privilege of
quitting whenever he wanted to. He
mas fallen in with many professional
Weary Willies," and has always
shared their hospitality when he had
10 go INTO camp, and found them not
a bad lot of men in most cases.
Herndon says he has had trouble at
times in securing lodging from far
mers and country people, because his
clothes were dusty and a bit soiled,
despite the fact that he bears papers
telling of his mission and the reason
why he is tramping, and on this ac-
count has had to room in the open a
number of times with professional no.
Dos. At some places he was driven
away AlOiIl nOuS6S, WIN threats of be-
ing killed. He has followed the high
ways along the railroad tracks as
much as possible, but when there were
none he took to the crossties.
Herndon says his health has been
good considering that he has encoun-
tered many hardships, and he never felt
better In his life. His dog, however,
is jaded and apparently sick, and Hern-
don says he may have to kill him, as
he has retarded his progress in the
last few days, and he is anxious to end
the journey as soon as possible. He
expects to reach Jacksonville in six
days, and will rest up there. He car
ries nothing with him but a lunch. He
arrived in the city yesterday morning.
ate dinner at the Union Station restau-
rant and left at once on the contin-
uation of his trip. He added that his
right name is not Herndon, but that
by agreement with his club friends, he
was to travel under that name.