South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-08-05
BY WALTER sTANDow.


Special Correspondence
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal. Aug. o.
I've just walked 1000 miles, 1t took
nearly nine months,
/ left New York Oct. 3, 1912. with
Frisco Spot. a fox terrier. for COM
paniOn, and walked across the CONT
nent TO san Francisco. arriving July
is, 1913-three weeks too late 10 win
a scholarship in the Pulitzer school Of
Journalism. offered by my uncle as
an incentive TO make the trip in eight
months. Illness, caused by exposure.
delayed me.
traversed Is states, enduring
hardships such as fall 10 the lot Of
few. and lost my way but once.
Starting without a cent, / had $40
tossed 10 me by my well-wishers be-
fore i left New York. / paid NY
way by selling postcards OF myself
Henry Danes, a bosom friend, had
accompanied me from New York. In
Pittsburgh we both lei in love with
the same girl-Eva Hallam. We de-
cided on walking race TO St. Louis
along separate routes. the winner TO
marry the girl.
/ chose the old Cumberland pike.
With lacerated feet. the blood Oozing
out Of my shoes and completely eX-
hausted. / entered st. Louis, confident
I had won, only TO find Harry Danes
serenity awaiting my arrival.
After notifying Miss Hallam, we
continued the journey west. sudden
ly Danes mOckingly blurted out what
j had all along suspected-he had
cheated.
When the smoke of battle cleared
we were occupying adjoining cells in
a st. Louis Jail!
Spot did not appreciate his sur
roundings and howled until the police
released us-prObably to get rid of the
din!
Danes returned home and Spot and
] continued westward.
Through the st. Louis papers. Miss
Hallam learned how Danes had won.
In Jefferson City, Mo-, 1 received a
letter containing her promise 10 mar
~ me.
on the south shore of the Missouri
river / waded knee deep through mud
and water and crossed the GascOnade
river on an ice foe.
Here 1 met people who didn't know
that the Civil war was over. and were
apprehensive of raids By Quantrells
Guerillas and the James and Younger
brothers outlaw bands!
1 arrived at Kansas City in three
months. Here l had ptomaine pois-
oning.
Under the auspices OF the National
Old Trails Road association, l fol-
lowed the historic Santa Fe trail, ac-
COMMANDED by Bill Brown, Alaska mail
driver and his team Of wolves and
dogs, encountering arctic weather and
nearly losing my life in blizzard on
the Kansas prairfes.
/ had a fearful trip through the
Royal Gorge and across the Rockies
10 Cripple Creek. Here L went down
a mining shaft 100 feet.
A short cut through South Chey-
enne canyon enabled me to beat
passenger train of the Cripple Creek
Short Line
After failing TO scale Pixies Peak,
/ spent a week in Denver resting up.
/ followed the Union Pacific through
wyoming TO Utah and on the Mormon
trail / passed Pulpit Rock, where
Brigham Young preached his first
sermon in Utah.
Distances are deCeiving on the
desert Intending TO follow the noun
tains in Nevada for what seemed only
10 miles to Humbolt canyon, the scene
OF Mark Twain's former activities, l
left the only safe rouJe-tne railroad.
Three days later / was found hair
naked W. ne little fox terrier
clutched IS. ~ arms. staggering along
with swollen. blaCkened lips and pro-
truding tongue, unable TO speak.
entered san Francisco with Just
three dollars.
on my tramp / wore out nine pairs
OF shoes. extra soles, five suits,
countless pairs Of socks, suits of un-
derlcothes and shirts. There were
many days without food. many nights
without shelter, and for every kind
ness there were scores Of unfriendly
acts. Nevertheless. I've had expe-
riences of priceless value, which more
than compensate the rigors OF the
trip.