A THOUSAND MILES WITH A WHEELBARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2661, 26 May 1908, Page 7

A THOUSAND MILES WITH A WHEELBARROW.

On November 29, 1886, James Gor- ! don arrived in London from Dundee, ; a distance of- 507 miles, passing through Stirling, Edinburgh, Aln-.. wick, Newcastle, Darlington, York, J Huntingdon, and Koyston. Gordon, being poor, and unable to obtain em- ! ployment, hit on his novel sfcheme in order to support his wife and, family until better times arrived. He constructed a wheelbarrow for him- j self, and placed in it some articles of j wearing apparel, and an Old tin bis- | cuit-box. On the wheelbarrow was; a signboard, inscribed, "From Dun- ] dee to London and back." Setting out from his native town on November 2, he arrived in Perth the same day. Coppers tinkled into his boxes, until he had collected £l- - he sent home to his wife by his son, who had accompanied him as far as Perth. Gordon carried with him a small notebook, in which he requested the postal authorities I of each town in which he arrived to I stamp the name of the place and j the date. This some of them refused to do, so he contented him-, self with a certificate of each place where he slept at night. At Edinburgh, his appearance drew a large crowd, and the police took him into custody, while at Doncaster some Scotchmen gave him a Scotch breakfast of porridge and milk. At New castle, thousands of people ran after him, and so filled his coffers that ho was ablo to forward £6 to his wife. At Huntingdon he had the misfortune t& break the wheels of his barrow ; but a friendly blacksmith made the necessary repairs. By means of the various (local papers, his fame spread abroad, and Mr. McCullock, an hotel-keeper of Holborn, wrote and offered him free board and lodgings. Gordon accepted the offer, and his host went to Royston to meet him. He stayed three or four days in London, and many visitors came to see him at the Aquarium. Having undertaken to do the double journey in sixty days, he departed from London after a short visit, and he and I his wheelbarrow were objects of great interest and curiosity as ho set out for the return journey northward.,