Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1921-06-08
A WORLD PEDESTRIAN
VISITS BURLINGTON
Has Covered 68,771 Miles in
Eight Years-Has Four Years
More to Walk

into the city OF burlington rTluay
came John T. Bellens, who probably
holds the worlds record for miles
travelled continuity of an uninterrupt-
ed journey on foot. To Free Press
man he told an interesting story and
substantiated the recital with Gre
dentials of its truth. He said he left
Washington, D. c., on March 13,
1913, and has walked an estimated
distance of 68,77f miles. He started
at 9:13 a. M, on the March morning
eight years ago and was presented
when he left with 13 cents by Gen
anna canal. This was all the money
that he started with. When he asked
how he lived while on road, he said
that under conditions Of his contract
he is forbidden to solicit aid of any
sort, but that aid is oftentimes CIV
en- him. When he returns to Wash
ington, where according to his sche-
dule he is due January 5, 1925, he will
receive from several publications in
that city, an amount that will total
snug sum. When he left Wash
ington he was scantily clad, having
but a pair, of trousers and shirt. He
is now fully equipped.
One of the most novel features of
his trip is the practice he has made
depositing certain amount of money
in banks in each town he passes
through. In every town deposit of
13 cents is made, in every county seat
he deposits 81 90, and in every CAPT
tai of State or country he deposits
$500. Friday he made deposit of
$1.00 at the Chittenden County
Trust company in Burlington. Ac-
cording to his estimates, he will nave
made on the completion of his jour-
ney, 16,019 deposits, which he thinks,
is a greater number than is credited
to any other individual in the world.
He has at the present time more than
5000 bank accounts. He stated that
on the completion Of his tour he would
have $8,08O.27 deposited in banks
throughout the world.
He came to Burlington from Yer
gennes, where Thursday he made a
banks. From Burlington he went to
and Monday morning, after making a
deposit of $500, as it is a capital,
left for New Hampshire, from New
Hampshire to Maine, thence to Mass
achusetts and Rhode Island and Conn
ecticut. This will finish his United
States tour, having made all the
States in the Union. On October Is,
he will sail from New Orleans, La,
for Cape Town, South Africa, due to
arrive at Cape Town, November 20.
He has already made the following
countries: Thirty-nine States of the
United States, Canada, Mexico,
Philippines, West and East Indies,
Canal Zone and surrounding States
and the entire continent of South
America, as we'll as the Islands of
Madagascar and Luzon, and Au-
STRATA.
On arrival at Cape Town, South
Africa, November 20, he will tour the
continent of Africa, going from there
to India, from India to China, thence
to Siberia, and Russia, then to the
Scandinavian countries. From there
he will go to Scotland, England, Wales
and Ireland, then to the European
countries. According to his schedule
he is due to arrive at New York,
January 3, 1925, and at Washington,
where his world trip will end, at the
corner Of Pennsylvania avenue and
18th street, at 9:13 o'clock in the
morning on January 5, 1925.
Mr.. Bellens has prepared maps on
the way and on the completion of his
walk will write the story of his trip.