New Britain herald., 1921-12-27
SAILOR SINCE
 WALKS FROM N. Y.
Continued From First Page)

.nVied by men of middle age or young ,r Sixty years before the mast have 70 hardened and toughened him that h eshows none of the inhrmities of what in many others would be called ripe old age. None who met him can doubt his statement that he is good Tor 20 years more"
 Astonished the Cop
 When the venerable old seaman, Just Is days off ship, the very pie lure of familiar types of sea captains popular in song and story, walked up to Traffic Policeman Fred Wagner about 1030 yesterday morning and calmly inquired the best route for pedestrians to Hartford, that minion of the law began to feel that he had eaten too much plum pudding and was seeing things His astonishment knew no bounds when informed that his questoner had walked in from New York the day before.
 Sons of Veterans to the Rescue
 Mr. Wagner, who is an active mem Der of the l.. D. Penfield Camp, Sons of Veterans, which organization has as it's basic fundamentals, fraternity, charity and loyalty to soldiers and sailors of the Civil War, was at a loss what to do. He could not leave his post, so he turned his new friend over to a Herald representative, who is also member of the same organization, and MT. Wheeler's wanderings, now probably are over. Today he expected to be settled down in his future home, In Ma n hi,cptt ba1 Ia of his life.
 Worked on 76th Birthday
 Seventy six years of age, on March 13, 1921, George Wheeler celebrated his anniversary on board ship by box ing compass, splicing ropes, sewing canvas and doing other jobs which fall to the lot of able seamen. Although q member for over half q century of Kearsarge Post, G. A. R., of Boston, he still was in active service. A few weeks before Christmas his last cruise eX- pired and he decided to give up the Sea. He left his boat the British mer- chantman Roena at Liverpool, from which port he had shipped, and on December IS, a Cnard liner owned by the same company deposited him at New York.
 Comrades Gave Help
 But true to the sailor type he had little money. He had decided to spend his declining years in the soldiers home at Chelsea, Massachusetts, near his birthplace, Birmingham. He did not have enough money for carfare so decided to walk to Chelsea, trust ing to his comrades of the Grand Army to look after him at night along the way. That this was done is shown by the statement of the husky veteran, Although ? days on the road I slept in q bed every night.
 Spanish War Vets Help
 T thought I'd never get out of New York" he added, stating that he went as far as Stamford the first day. At this town he met his only rebuff from G. A. R. veteran, who told him the way to get to Chelsea was to put his feet on the road and move on. How ever a veteran of the SpanishA mer- lean war, took him in, gave him sup per and breakfast, a bed over night and started him off in the morning with some cash in his pocket. Sunday evening he arrived in New Britain, having turned off the main road, and spent his last dollar for a room and breakfast in local hotel.
 Sonnies on the Job
 Monday morning he inquired the way from Policeman Wagner. A tele- phone call to George A. Wier, of 22 Cottage Place, the problem was solved, MT. Wier is commander of L. D. Pen field Camp, Sons of Veterans. He i'm mediately took the visiting veteran to his home, got a few of the "boys" on the phone, and while the aged "hiker" was having a dinner of Christmas turkey a railroad ticket to Boston was procured. MT. Wheeler declined an invitation to stay for supper and go to Boston on the express but left on the afternoon local, saying he would get bed In the Salvation Army barracks in Boston last night and this morning would go to the state house and arrange for admission to the sol diers' home, He was supplied with lunch and some cash and sent on his way.
 All Over the World
 In his 60 years before the mast MT. Wheeler had crossed the ocean so many times he has lost count. He has had shore leave in almost every port on the face of the globe. He has seen the people of Arglntine herding cat file. has help load sheep skins in New Zealand and kangaroo skins In Aus t-alia. He has been on coffee planta- lion In Brazil and walked on the shores of the Mediterranean. He has caught fsh in China and has walked the streets of yokahomn and Tokio, He has travelled the Nile with Egyptians and one of his last vessels was q "elch boat, upon which he sailed the Eng Dsb channel and from there to New York and return to Liverpool.
 Shfpwrccked in Brazil
 Under an Austrian sailing master, n vessel he served on during the Civil War was sent down to the South American coast to capture Rebel Priyateer and was wrecked In storm. He in company with three boat loads oT fellow sailors, was washed ashore on the Brazilian coast Every country on the face of the earth that has nort. I've been in' he sai0-
 Narrow Escape
 When asked If he had ever been married Mir Wh eeler replied that he p@yer had had time 10 get married, d. tboueh he hinted at some escapade5 with feminine admirers In the earlier days. "I had marrow escape ohf tfme.- he said "A girl proposed in t1r I'm ,aor yaor and I didn't know T. 7r "