The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-07-17

thousands of miles covered on Dlcycie,
a narrow escape from death while gold
mining in Colorado, once lost ON the
Great American Desert ana saved only
when near starvation, again at eter-
nity's brink on the volcanic lava how
of a Hawaiian Island, and now pros
porous merchant of IIilo, Hawaii, and
the leading American of that section of
Uncle Sam g territory, Peter g. Beamer,
A native of Wabash, Ind, has certainly
won his cpaulets as n 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
ci6c, without a penny and without
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 g
smile in Hilo, Hawaii, after risking his
life many times in quest of 1T else
where is 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
serewdriver 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, business that has
grown remarkably, until he is now the
head of hourishing 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 McGuffey 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, n 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 g
few of the experiences of his initial
trip. He was the first cyclist who went
through old Mexico and the many ex'
periences 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 hi'
first Western trip he says "When
pulled into dear old Wabash 1T made
tears come and | said to myself that
had had enough, but that same old spiri
that led me from the old schoolhouse t.
distant lands would not down, and ere
many fortnights silently stole out my
steed of steel and headed for the set
ting sun again over the same old trail
In Colorado ] spent another year, ant
then | headed for California.
This trip was made overland by bicy
Gle through Colorado, New Mexico anC
Arizona. Across the most barren par
OF the United States he wheeled 10
SSO miles, and dd well to make thirty
to fifty miles day, mostly on foot.
On the journey the Hooser travele
lost his way on the Great American
Desert. Food and water gave out an
he fell exhausted from his wheel on
night. Then he saw light In the DIS
lance and dragging himself in las
effort succeeded in reaching sheel
herds hut. HIS reseuer proved to be
graduate of ft Wayne (lnd.) Catho
he school. Beamer was nursed back t.
NE after spending weeks IN hospital
inns did not deter him from con
tinning his explorations. After spend
Inc the rest OIL the winter picking
oranges and pulling weeds IN the suga
beet helds OF California he took passag
IN lS99 from San Francisco for the Ha
waiian Islands.
Not that this was my destination,
he writes, but because the money
had to pay for the fare was not enough
to take me any farther. All this time
however, was determined to SCI
Japan, China and on around--hoW an