The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-07-21
He's to Visit Every Capitol
In The United States.
Former Blue Earth County
Scribe Tells His Story.
And He Mixes In a Few
Bulbs of Hot Air.
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
After walking almost continuously
since April, 1903, and covering 10000
miles, Sailor Jean" arrived in Mime
apolis last night
"SaiIor jean started from Augusta,
Me-, in the spring of 1903 with the
avowed intention of visiting the capital
of every state in the union before Oct.
l, 1906, and of making the entire dis
lance of $4,000 miles necessary to do
this on foot, an average of twenty miles
a day.
Up to date he has gained three
months on the schedule time, and if the
finish is made within the limit an east
ern publisher has agreed to reward
Sailor Jean" with the sum of $1,000,
receiving in return half share in a
book which will be published upon the
longest trip ever undertaken by any
man on foot.
AS he walks, "Sailor JEAN" or J. A.
krohn, as he is rightly known, propels
wheel barrow, or ''trolleyette," pro-
vided with an ordinary bicycle wheel
and barrel, in which are carried all
the supplies needed.
The trip has led through the bad lands
of Dakota, through uninhabited wastes
in the Rocky mountain region and
through arid plains resembling the fam
Gus death valley" in Arizona, and has
resulted in many adventures. Twice
the consideration of trainmen saved his
life. When crossing the arid lands on
the right of way the crew of a passing
train noticed that he was about to
drink from the deadly springs of that
region and showered him with oranges.
While in the dad lands,"'. where no
water was obtainable, the engineer of a
locomotive OWNED the situation, and,
upon shaking a cup, out of the cab win
dow, received nod in the affirmative.
The train was stopped and all hands as
sembed for a drink. .t +.
In Idaho the traveller was lost four
days. Being without food he was oblig-
ed to sustain himself upon rabbits
brought down with revolver.
In Ne Mexico, when several nights
were spent sleeping on the plains, the
droves of coyotes were kept at bay by
stockades built of prickly pear cacti.
Between Gettysburg and Pierre, S. D.,
where Mr.. Krohn made his longest sim
gle days journey of sixty-one miles, he
narrowly escaped being overcome by
a stampeding herd of cattle by throw
ing himself over wire fence, which he
reached after a mad rush over the
prairie.
''Sailor Jean" says he was born at
st. Peter, MIMI, but he has been sail
or so long that he claims any salt wat
er town as his home.
This long tramp is not without joy.
'Sailor Jeans" wife follows him by
train, and the two plan their tours so
as as to spend Sundays together.
The sailor and his "trollepette" are
both weather. beaten. The sailor is
dressed in his naval uniform, and eX-
posture to wind and sun has made him
as swarthy as an Indian. The "trol-
leyette" is a crude affair, the wheel be-
ing part of the running gear" of BIZ
cycle The cranberry BARREL which is
an important part of the vehicle, is well
stored with the travellers effects. The
Sailor cerries supply of aluminium SOU
venirs, which he puts into circulation.
Krohn formerly edited The Amboy
Herald and is known to Mankato news
paper men and printers