The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-12


thousands of miles covered on a bicycle,
a narrow escape from death while golo
mining in Colorado, once lost on the
Great American Desert and seyed only
when near starvation, again at eter-
nity's brink on the volcanic lava flow
of Hawaiian Island, and now a pros
perous merchant of Hilo. Hawaii, and
the leading American of that section Oh
Uncle Sam s territory, Peter Q. Beamer,
a native of Wabash, Ind, has certainly
won his epaulets as soldier of for
tune
Led hither and thither by the wander
lust that would give him no rest, unsuc-
cessfully wooing fortune again and
again, but always laughing at adversely
and eager for new adventures, young
Beamer finally found himself on the Is
land of Hawaii, far away in the Pa
cifc, without a penny and without a
friend.
Right then and there the Hoosier
spirit of "Pete' Beamer asserted itself
and it has been asserting itself ever
since. As result he is now possessed
of comfortable fortune, and there is
more in sight.
How this young man found fortune s
smile in Hilo, Hawaii, after risking his
life many times in quest of it else
where is a story as interesting in its
details as that of any captain of indus
try who has found greater wealth at his
own door.
Aside from his pluck and energy
Beamer's only capital when he landed
in Hilo was a combination hammer and
screwdriver which he had carried with
him on his bicycle Hilo was then just
becoming acquainted with the bicycle.
Beamer went into the business of re-
pairing wheels, a business that has
grown remarkably, until he is now the
head of furnishing establishment, has
many employees under him and is max
ing money in manner of which he had
never dreamed before.
When Pete Beamer, who was known
in boyhood for his desire to explore the
neighboring country rather than study
the old NcGuffey reader. started out
from his home at Wabash, Ind, in 1890
to see the world he had but 81 left after
buying his ticket for California To see
the world was his object, and he has
seen much of it since. Wading through
the mud roads of Illinois, a narrow es-
cape in the Missouri tornado that laid
waste st. Louis, getting caught in a
Colorado blizzard, and digging for
wealth in Western gold mines, were
few of the experiences of his initial
trip. He was the first eyclist who went
through old Mexico and the MANY ex-
perienees that he had in those five
months are full of interest. He covered
1900 miles on the bike and 5000 miles
aboard steamer
SAME OLD SPIRIT LEADS WAN
DERER WESTWARD AGAIN.
Writing of his return home after his
hrst Western trip he SAYS: 'sWhen |
pulled into dear old Wabash it made
tears come and | said to myself that |
had had enough, but that same old spirit
that led me from the old schoolhouse to
distant lands would not down. and ere
many fortnights l silently stole out nv
steed OF steel and headed for the set
ting sun again over the same old trail.
Ia Colorado | spent another wear, and
then l headed for California -
rms trip was made overland by bicy-
Gle through Colorado, New Mexico and
ARIZONA. Across the most barren mart
OF the United States he wheeled for
ooo miles. and did well to make thirty
TO NIFTY miles day, mostly on foot.
On the journey the Hoosier traveller
lost his way on the Great American
Desert Food and water gave ont ana
ne tell exhausted from his wbaoI go
night Then he saw light in the dis.
lance and dragging himself in a last
ehortr succeeded in reaching sheen
nero 5 hut. His reseuer proved 70 no q
< Gl"ulate Oh a TT. Wayne (Tnd.) Catho-
oI'e, spending weeks in a hospital
ms did not deter him from oon'
tInulng his explorations Af+ar $50
IN" the rest of the winter n;alyino,
ora, ranges and pulling weeds in the sugar
neet helds of California he tool, nasSe,r,
IN 1899 from San Francisco for H. H,os n
waiian Islands La
N-Atst tittS WAS nv destination
ne writes, but because the money
had to pay for the fare was not enough
TO take me any farther. All this timo
however, l was determined to see
Japan, China and on around-bow ana
when | did not know -
A few days before Beamer arrived
IN Honolulu large volcano had broken
1ut 200 mlles away, on the same ia.
Iahd' 1t was chance of 4 lifetime
TO see a live volcano and Beamer tool-
passage on little steamer. which land,
ca su a large party of explorers forty miles
s 80 the crater. Beamer had scarceIv
go co,,,t OF the 1928 that the Transportation
Soanlahy asked to take the party To the
SO, go 50 ne and a teacher procured an
-, and set out on foot. They fol.
gu onaeo an Old lava flow and their exnari-
BE- f%Ces are worth repeating, as v6ung
Wabash. 70 lrlehd IN
laiN about hard graft in the walk