The Washington herald., 1907-12-15

Wilmington, Del, Dec 14-Rev Leigh
ton Coleman, Bishop Of Delaware. died
at Bishopstead. his residence here, this
morning. He had been ailing for some
time, but he was not thought to be in a
serious condition, and his death caused
a great shock to his many friends.
Death was due TO heart failure, superin-'
duced by kidney trouble.
Rev Alexis Dupont Coleman. OF New
York. son of the bishop. first learned
OF the bishops death. He found him
dead Sin his bedroom between S and 9
o'clock He was not in bed. Bishop Cole
man had expressed the wish that no
one should disturb him while he was
resting IN the morning. and for that rea-
son his death was not learned of sooner.
Had Been III Six Weeks.
The bishop had been III for the last six
weeks, and lately was unable to attend
to the functions Of his office, though he
was not confined to his bed. The funeral
VIII probably be held on Thursday and
interment VIII be made in the private
burying ground Of the Duponts, about
three miles from Wilmington, where lies
the remains Of his wife, who was a
daughter Of the late Alexis T. Dupont
Called the "TrampinE Bishop"
Leighton Coleman, who was known as
the "Tramping Bishop" was born in
Philadelphia on May 3, 1887, the son OF
Rev. John c. Coleman, D. D., and Mar
garetta Thomas Coleman. He graduated
from the General Theological Seminary.
New York, in 1851 Trinity College gave
him an a II. in 1865, Hobart College an
Ii. ID. in 1888 and Racine an S. r. D. in
1870. In 1861 he married Frances Eliza
beth, daughter of Alexis L Dupont He
became Il deacon in 1860. a priest in 1862
rector Of St Luke's Church Bustleton
ISLES; St Johns Wilmington, Del
1886; St. Marks, Mauch Chunk, Pa,
1S6l-H; Trinity Church, Toledo. Ohio.
1S74-79; was IN England from 1879 TO 1887;
rector Of Church OF the Redeemer,. Sayre,
Pa. ISIS; became Bishop Of Delaware
on October Is, ISIS. He was an author
Among his books are History Of the
Lehigh Valley" The Church in Amer
lea" and History Of the American
Church"
Took TrRmps Alone.
Bishop Coleman was a great pedestrian
Each summer he would take a tramp last
ing week or so by himself He always
went alone, and never told any one when
he would make the trip nor where he was
going. For the past forty years he has
made these trips.
Last summer he made his usual trim.
covering about ninety miles. The bishop
always wore a business suit. a SLOUGH hat.
a pair of stout Shoes and had a KNAPP
sack strapped TO his back
He Hended Clocks.
He carried very little money with him.
At night he put up at farm houses. He
got his meals at the same places. He
was an expert ,clockmaker, and often
paid his travelling expenses with the
proceeds Of his thrift OF late years. /
however, he had not been able TO do so
much of this kind Of work.
In the course Of his walks he travelled
from Maine to Georgia. Once he walked |
415 miles in three weeks. On another |
occasion he walked 100 miles in three
days. Once, when asked If he was not
tired after walking thirty-seven miles. |
he replied: Yes, / was so tired that I
only walked twen;y-eight miles the next
day"
Had Many Adventures.
He had many adventures. He was
taken for everything under the sun ex- |
cept clergyman. Frequently he was
mistaken FOR a tramp. During the civil /
war he was thought to be a recruiting
officer in Pennsylvania. and had great
difficulty in avoiding trouble, as drafting
was very unpopular In the moOnshine 1
country OF Virginia and North Carolina /
he was suspected OF being a mOonshine I
revenue officer one time an Italian ped 4
dler tried 10 pick q quarrel with him. but /
when ihe bishop told him he was the
bigger man and could lick him the Italian /
decided not to fight
How lie Ate and slept.
The bishop delighted in telling of his |
trips. He told many stories of sleeping /
in barns and old slave quarters. school /
houses, and out in .he open. His food
consisted Of all sorts of things. When |
asked if the food did not hurt his diges- /
ton, he replied: a man has no business
to be elected bishop unless he has a good /
digestion" Then the bishop laughed.
Once in the Shenandoah Valley Bishop /
Coleman asked a man for directions to
a certain place. The man said: why. |
it's fourteen miles. You can ride there
4oi - telilS- W men the cnurChman re-
piled that he would rather pay 80 cents
and walk the man said: Man, you are
a fool"
Athletic All His Life.
Bishop Coleman was an athlete all his
life. He was very proud Of two belts
which he won for walking and running
when young man. lie played cricket
and was president Of the second cricket
club organized In the United States-the
Delphian- Afterward he belonged to the
Veteran Cricket Players Club.
Bishop Coleman loved young people.
Every Easter he would have a special
service ia his private chapel for the
young students Of Delaware Afterward
he entertained them at breakfast. With
boys he was especially popular He took
great interest IN the junior department
of the Brotherhood Of St Andrew, and
spoke at many Of the national conven-
lions