Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-19
6S YEAR OLD FIRE
VETERAN WALKED
AWAY FROM ILLNESS
Pop Wright Tarries Awhile
in Augusta on Hike Around
l. S.-Has Put $4,000 Miles
Behind Him in Three Years

With 22.0OO miles OF al kinds Of
highway IN practically every states CT
the Union behind him, Walter Pop"
Wright, oS Year old veteran fireman.
mas walked away from Ill health III
the past three years and also appar-
entity from the enCroachment OF old
age, and before he completes the
little launt on which he IS at pres
ent engaged he expects 10 have COW
cred total OF 5000 miles in four
years time. Pop" Tor a one hun
dT6d and twenty-five FOUNDER with
three score and eight miIestones OF
life dottiag the thousands OF miles
OF broad highway which he has
Travelled, is spry teller. and IS Jus,
as eager and alert today when tie
gong strikes In the fire house as lie
was back in the SOS, when he was
lucky.
Pop" hikeI into the Capital CITY
OF Maine, Yesterday seeking the
signature OF the Secretary OF state
along side the State seal, and also
the John Hancock of Chief Small OF
the augusta Fire Department. He
came here from Lewiston and
stepped every mile Of the way with
the exception OF about six which he
covered sitting deep in the uphul
stery or a gasoline buggy.
MS old fireman, found one day
While resting between bells In one
Or the hose houses OF the Cleveland
FIRE Dept. that his nerves were
more or less trayed at the edges and
that MS more than three score wears
OF NE were telling on him. so he
rolled up q couple Of blankets and
started down the high road in search
OF HeaIth and renewed viEor. That
ne mas found both was evident 10 the
boys at the Hartford Fire Stntinn
NHcre ne passed the evening FRIDAY
lie carries small pack, which he
sides his blankets and personal a1.-
ticlcs contains many pictures ana
momentos of his wanderings. Hc
mas crossed the continent three times
ana with the completion OF The prcs-
cht Jaunt VIII have visited every
s,at" capltal IN the United States
Iop Just naturally drifts into thc
IRE stations in the cities where he
tarrles over night. lie knows tho
ropes and he finds conEenial and
understanding fellows in those
places.
His pack bag contains buttons
"ddees ANA metals from the or,li-
i"'IIt equipment of ire lighting I'M
us from all over the country. He
mas me signatures OF more than q
thousand ire chiefs and admits rhof
ne Is as muCh OF a smoke eater" as
ever ne was and manages to ma n
pace on the standing boards of mo
IRE apparatus when he happcus 10
ne on hand at the station Wncn tbe
alarm IS pulled in now ana then
Inc hiking hoscman accepts rides
but does not solicit thcm.-he sa,s
'lat motorists are not as ready to
give mixers lift nowadays as form
cry as teEgS and thugs have spoiled
Inns freedom on the highways. For
me most part he hunks in fire sta
IONS but does not hesitate to ron
up IN his blanket with a top cover
ia " star dotted heavens when nee
cssary. He averages about - miles
Il day, but las done 90 in II hours
in an endurance test
't'op' left san Francisco on the
present hike on New Years. 1924
ana came east by way OF the south
erh states. From this city he viii
go 10 Concord, y. H.. and then on to
Boston. lie said last night that he
likes New England as it IS this time
OF the year. but don't know how he
would make it in the winter with
skis or snow shoes strapped onto his
feet.