Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-15
THIRTEENS HOVER
BENICNANTLY over
LONG DISTANCE H|KER

Carrying q pack weighing exactly ~
mounds and starting on his journey
from Washington with Just $13.13 IN
his possession, Clarence Casey
Jones, youthful cross-country hiker'
arrived in this city last night after
travelling 100 miles Tuesday. Jones
is 6 feet 2 inches tall but weighs only
140 pounds. and this Is the reason ne
is travelling all over the United States.
When Jones was in high school IN
the early part Of 1925 doctors SAID
that spinal trouble. with which he had
been afflicted since early youth, would
cause his death within a very short
space Of time. and also said that
death might be avoided II the patient
started hiking. He was very reluctant
to start, and after going through 20
states on his travels he still feels the
same way about it. He doesn't like to
walk so extensively and admits It, but
prefers it to passing in his checks.
That Jones Is not a spendthrift may
be gathered from the fact that he still
has s4.56 left out Of the original sum
with which he started. He does not
smoke, works his passage by working
in restaurants or hotels or by draw
ing cartoons, at, which he is unusually
adept, and his chief expenditures thus
far have been for shoe leather and
postage stamps.
This trip is really continuation Of
one which he started early in 1925.
After travelling on one hike he went
home and attempted to take 1t easy,
but lost 70 pounds in a very short
time and was forced to start walking
again. He was called SISSY" in
school and had little fun out Of life
while attending school in his weakened
condition, but hopes to regain his
health and finish his education. He
was born November Is, 1906.
Casey" says that the number Is
Is the luckiest one in existence for
him. He also sleeps in cemeteries
along the way, where everything Is
peaceful and quiet. He believes that
red-haired people bring him good luck.
The temperature last evening was cool
enough to induce Casey to try his luck
in some warmer. If less peaceful,
dwelling.
He has plenty Of souvenirs to show
for his travels. He has had just ex-
actly 1914 rides on his transcontinen-
tai jaunt, has travelled 10000 miles,
has met Is governors, including Ma"
Ferguson Of Texas. and Nellie Ross of
SSStN
over 1000 autographs.
He was impressed with the fact that
not a single car passed him yesterday
on his trip from New Hampshire to
Augusta. They all gave him a lift and
he was in consequence highly pleased
with the hospitality shown him by ma
tives of the Pine Tree State. Collect
ing state seals is his hobby and after
brief stop in the city today he will
leave for the sesqui-centennial exhibit
ton at Philadelphia, after which he
will make his way down the Atlantic
coast to Mexico. where he will pass
the winter.
Jones is an unwilling but expert
enced long distance traveller. He walks
to keep his health and in his effort to
evade the Grim Reaper has covered a
lot of ground. His weight, which is
now increa sed to l40 pounds, bears tes-
timony that the idea Of walking to
health is something else besides a
mere slogan and intends to keep right
on circling the globe If such thing
is necessary to keep him from death.