The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-07-14
FEAT uNDERTAKEN BY a. Rou.
LAD OF SEVENTEEN ZEE N
aS$STARTED WITH TWO PENCE
CROSSED THE%DANUBEs5oN IS:
A RAFT

e z
sas SMEN-REWARDao TWO THO u
SAND DOLLARS AWAITS HIS
SUCCESS.
From The London AIirror:l
Mauritius Hechter, young Rouma-
man, IS the latest addition to the
growing list Of world-walkers. He ar
rived in London yesterday evening,
having 1eft5Bucharest fourteen months
ago with in pocket and is bound
o1get to St-sLouis, in America, within
eighteen months from the day he
started, in order to win purse Of 49,
900 francs s4oo)
This prize was offered by the Rou-
manIan Tourist Club to any .Rouma-
Man who would walk to the, World S
Fair at st. Louis in eighteen months,
and earn money on the journey for
his sustenance.
During the long. walk across Eu-
rope Mauritius Hechter has met with
many adventures, and has been at
tackled by robbers and wild animals,
53alnd nearly lost his life in fording dan
8gerous mountain torrents,
; ssss appearance he is dark, pleas
xant-featured lad, just seventeen years
sofF age, thin and wiry from his CON
5stinuous pedestrian exercise. The
young globe-trotter will remain in
London till Saturday, when he will
embark upon the American liner ST.
Paul for New York. =
Dung Hechter has received several
medals during his trip from Germany,
Belgium and Austria, which he wears
upon his breast.
sE Stuck in his picturesque crimson
sash he carries a revolver and hand
some, broad-b1aded dagger, which is
equally serviceable for stabbing tru-.
cu1entSwild boar or cutting a piece of
fbo1ognassausage
Stoned, Beaten, and Robbed.
After crossing the Danube atTirtu-
can on a raft, EIechter was received by
5of stones, and had to take refuge in
Company.
s At Sofia some Bulgarian officers
Smadea collection for him, and Hech-
ter went on his way rejoicing I'm
fortunately, "a soldier and wander
ing maestro on the violin saw the
money handed over, and they laid
wait for the youth from Roumania.
AsShe was passing through a lonely
forest thatnight Hechter suddenly re-
aceived a fearful blow on the side of
the head and fell to the ground He
family remembers the robbers
stamping on his face with their iron
aheeled boots, and then he became IN
conscious.
ss# On recovering his senses he found
himself in a hospital at Sofia.
2 Many times during his lonely tramp
sHechter has been without food or
drink for twenty-four hours at
stretch and, again, he has met with
the poorest peasants, who have taken
him in and shared their all with the
young; stranger whom they could not
understand.
s.ss Wolves, bears and wild boars have
been encountered on the journey
through the mountain passes and dark
forests of Central Europe; but Hech-
ter is young and full of hope that he
vii reach st. Louis and gain his re-
ward of $500.
s5s$sIf he sdoes, it viii have been well
earned.
THE records of his travel through
the various towns are all recorded in
la book carried by Hechter, which also
contains the signatures and good
wishes of innumerab mayors, coun-
ci1ors. editors and other influential
persons.
sells Postcards.
IN order to gain living en- route
SHechter sells postcards which bear
his portrait and the brief story Of his
travels as far as London.
IN Belgium the Roumanian Minis
ter gave him four francs (3s. 4do,
which Hechter carried with him to
London.
He had a free passage given him on
Saturday night from Ostend to Dover.
55ss# At 4 A. NJ. on Sunday morning the
alien walker left the Kentish seaport
for London, and walked all day until
10 r. NJ. He rested for six hours at
Ia railway station, and at O'Clock re-
ssumed his march to London, where he
arrived at 10 A. NJ, yesterday morn
ing. :.