Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-11
TOURING WORLD
j. f. Belland of Muske.
gon, Mich, in City


u csnts-cannet Beg. Steal, eor-
row, Solicit or Advertise
Straight, stalwart, snappy. with
the neck and shoulders of a fighter,
the clear, keen eye Of a scholar. the
manner Of a gentleman and the
ideals OF q Christian. ]. r. Belland,
walked into Augusta. Friday after
noon. shortly after 4 o'clock, having
been walking since May ID. 1913.
when he left the corner Of Penn
sylvania avenue and 18th street at
Ii minutes past 8 in the morning
with Ii cents in his pocket. He has
been IL years. eight months and five
days on the road. When he COM
pletes his tour Of the world which
must be done before Jan. 8, 1925, he
will receive $1OO0O0 from a number
of business men Of Washington, D.
&C.
Clad in dark blue sailor suit
with puttees of leather and leather
cap. which he carries for the most
part in his hand, this world-walker
is most practically dressed. He car
ries a cane, made from horn, heavy
and said to be most efficient in ward
ing off CANNES of vicious intents.
Strapped around his waist is wide
leather belt which is the means of
carrying various small knapsacks.
IA new kind Of hobo" "see the
dude" and the like are some Of the
expressions that Mr. Belland says
have reached his ears. But his keen
philosophy of life appears to have
been the means Of carrying him over
many rough places.
He is now IL days ahead of his
schedule. He has put Is cents in
bank in every town through which
he has passed, making total of So
O76 banks. He has deposited one
dollar in every county seat bank,
making 2,026 of those. There have
been 81 capitals thus far in which he
has deposited IS and Augusta will
make the 55th. All bank accounts
are being verified by post marks.
These he carries in cloth PACED
book. He has already passed
through Al states of the United
States, through Canada, Mexico, all
South America, Central America.
| West and East Indies, MADAGASCAR
and Japan, having travelled 69.O87
miles in all. Gracious! But don't
stop at those figures. Listen to this.
The total number Of miles that he
will have to travel are 116, 74O miles
and he ribbed off the f1gures and
facts here quoted faster than this
old Underwood can travel under
these butterfingers.
He will have been in 60 countries,
10 islands, 48 states, District Of Col
umbia and every county seat in the
country before completing his trip.
The award which, he expects to re-
ceive will be made by the National
Geographical society, as they are
buying the story of his life.
When he shakes the dust OF Au-
gusta, Me-. from off his feet, he goes
to Concord, N. H., then to Boston, to
Providence and to Hartford. From
there he will trudge to New York,
New Jersey, Delaware via Dover,
Annapolis. He is due in the latter
place, October 13. There's another
13! Then he will go. by rail to New
Orleans, Louisiana and sail for Cape
Towne, South Africa. He is due in
Cape Towne, Nov. II. He will walk
from there to Siberia, across to
! Alaska, back to Siberia, through
Russia, Poland, Norway and Swe-
den (and to make the story short as
he says) through 26 countries in all
| in Europe, British Isles being the
last place. He sails from Queens
| town, Dec. 25, 1924, due at Sandy
Hook, New York. Jan. 3, 1925. Due
at Washington, D. c.. at 9.13 A. M
Jan. 5, 1925-"and that's pay day."
Belland was in the Spanish Ameri.
can war. That's just a side issue
But folks are always interested in
I war records. Look younger thar
that, don't II" He's openly proud
of his fine physical condition. He
is on a diet, not eating any meats
fish, white grains or sugar. Wher
he started from Washington, D. c.
way back in 1913. he had no hat, nc
shoes but he did have silk Ameri-
can flag, which was presented him
| by George w. Goethals. who built
| the Panama Canal. He still has the
flag because he took it out and
passed it around the Journal Office
when he was invited to come in and
| explain his reason for being. He
says that he does not go to the news
paper Offices. unless asked. But what
| cub reporter wouldn't have am
bitions, when they saw this much
tanned man, bearing knabsacks
marked Around tho World?"
Since Saturday last he has walked
2S6 miles. coming from Burlington,
VT, coming across New Hampshire
state in one day. In that time he
had two lifts. riding 10 miles in all.
He can take ride, but he must not
ask for one. when I hear the honk
of a horn that is a warning for me
to look out for danger. I walk to the
side Of the road. But I do not turn
around facing them. If they ask me
to have ride, can do SO. People
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