Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-12-04
TAKING BIC HIKE"
FOR HIS HEALTH
MAN WHO WALKED BORDERS OF
UNITED STATES is VISITING
IOWA CITIES.

Fort Dodge, Dec. 2.-Starl Cron
ley. of Toledo, O., who says he has
walked the borders of the United
States, distance of 1865 miles
| has been working on farm neal
here for a few days preparatory &c
resuming his trip from Clark, s. d.
I to Mashalltown. He says he has
heard his father lived in MARSHALL
town a year ago. This is the first
word he has had of his father In
eighteen years.
Crowley carries five books contain
ing postmarks Of the places he has
been in and certification Of at least
one person living in the town. He
first covered New England and then
went west and south.
Crowley said that he formerly had
epileptic spells two or three times &
week. The exercise, fresh air and
change Of scenery he declares has
decreased the spells to not more than
one a month He said he began his
trips through the advice Of physi-
cian
Has Five Log Books.
He has kept strict account OF his
Journeys and has five completely
filled 'log books" of his experiences.
He has the official postmark OF every
town he has visited stamped on his
record to authenticate it. He Is fill
ing the sixth book now.
Crowley served three years in the
regular army, two and one-half in
the Philippine Islands. He declares
that he was one of the hundreds of
soldiers who swore to shoot w. H.
Taft, then governor of the islands, If
he appeared in the hills. because Of
Taft's order not permitting soldiers
on the streets of Manila after $50
D. M, because he was tired OF seeing
the uniform. Crowley said that hal
Taft ever appeared outside OF Ma
Mia except under a strong guard he
never would have lived to be presi-
dent.
Started Out With One Cent.
"a started from Toledo, o., Oct. 25,
1907, with one cent four suits of UNI.
derwear and a s12 Winchester re-
peating rifle. After making the cir
cult Of the borders. I returned June
1. 1910, after covering 1865 miles
The distance was estimated at A.
900, but my pedometer showed the
exact distance covered. | returned to
Toledo with $3S, the one cent |
started with, and $40 six shooter"
Crowley says that western people
are more hospita BILE than those in the
east and that small money contribu-
lions are much more frequent. He
declares the east is too thickly popu-
lated.
Crowley carries his clothing and
books in a knapsack strapped to his
back. The knapsack is Of canvas
which folds into an oblong shape. The
folds are held by buckles. Crowley
says his idea was stolen by man
to whom he showed his knapsack.
This man sent the design to Washing
ton and obtained patent, he says.
After getting postmark of this
city from Postmaster S. J. Robertson
Cronley started for Marshalltown. He
did not know what route he would
take but said he thought he would
walk the railroad tracks. He de-
clared he has sufficient warning of
the attacks of epilepsy to trust him.
self on the tracks. When he is walk
ing he said he often does not lose con-
troll Of himself, but keeps on walking.
He takes especial pains to keep from
getting wet, for wet clothing brings
on an attack
Cronley says he has not ridden in
a railroad train, freight or passel
ger, since he "hit the road" He
speaks well and is clean in appear
ance. Odd jobs that give enough