Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-25

Wilfred J. Bishop of Gardiner.
Maine. who served in the End Coast
Artillery Corps. L. S. Army. at Fort
Hancock, y. J., during tho World war,
was admitted to the National Soldiers
Home at Sawtelle. Cal. some eight
months ago for treatment in the hos
pital. the examining surgeons SAYING
that he was tubercular. Last evening
tall. 1.-the. deeply bronzed young
man, with clear eyes and the alertness
of perfect health. came into the Ken
nebec Journal office and introduced
himself as Wilfred J. Bishop. formerly
of Gardiner, Me. and more recently
of Sawtelle. Cal. He said he had just
arrived in the city, which was the
destination of a 3200-mile hike from
California. and had beaten his sched-
ulc made on a wager, by q days.
Bishops father Thomas Bishop, lives
at 65 Bridge street in this city.
There certainly was no indication
that the capable young man who told
the story of his coast to coast hike
last evening was sufferer from bad
lungs. and in response to question ne
said that he could not be more fit than
he now is Bishop is now "a years old
and when he reached this city Friday
evening he was completing his second
most interesting story which Bishop
related. The young man was unaSsum-
ing and diffident to g. degree and it was
only by questioning him closely that
he would tell of severa instances in
which he figured during the trip in a
manner to bring honor to himself.
The stakes of the wager which in
duced Bishop to make his long hike
this time were mostly nominal The
conditions were that he should hike
from the Pacific coast to Augusta,
without accepting any manner of a
ride or lift" until he reached Con-
cord. n. H.. and with only SIS, in
less than 1870 days. which was the
time he made about a year ago when
he did accept rides along the way.
Bishop started on his cross continent
hike on May 10, and reaching his
destina ton last evening, he has made
the entire distance in 1913 days, which
is an average of a little better than
81 miles per day.
After reaching Concord, NJ H.,
without riding one foot of the way,
from which point he was to be per-
mitted to accept any offer of a ride.
Bishop walked to Dover. and then got
his first ride of his trip. Yesterday
he was particularly fortunate, and
the last lap of his journey was made
in>style, he getting ride with an
interested and obliging motorist from
York Beach to Augusta. Bishop
CAME by way of the Lincoln high to
Chicago, and then by the Chicago
Pike through Toledo, Erie, Buffalo,
Syracuse, Manchester, concord, Dow
er and Portland.
Young Bishop started out with
pack and a blanket roll, and was &C
companied by a young coach dog,
but he outwalked his four footed
companion, which went lame. and IN
spite of the fact that Bishop made
a set of mocassins out of birch bark
and canvas for the animal, he could
not stand the gaff" and his master
was forced to dispose OF him near
Des Moines. Iowa, after he had been
in collision with an automobile;
Young Bishop lost his blankets, ana
all his clothing except his shirt ana
shoes and S14 in cash at Gary, IND.
He had stopped on the river panK
for a refreshing swim and while IN
the water heard a call for help around
a bend. Swimming to the succorot
what he believed to be drowning per-