(Daily News Hull, England)
ROUND THE WORLD ON A BICYCLE
Mr. K. M. Creelman in Hull
Interesting Interview - April 28, 1901
Mr. Karl M. Creelman, the young Nova Scotian who is making a cycling tour round the world, passed through Hull yesterday and was interviewed by a News representative. He arrived in Hull from Egypt having worked his passage on a trading vessel.
Mr. Creelman is a sturdy young fellow of 23 years, and, questioned by our representative, said he started from his native town of Truro, Nova Scotia, on the 11th of May, 1899, his object being, as he put it himself, “to have a look around and gain a bit of experience”. Having commenced his journey, he struck off through New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, the city of Detroit, Michigan, on to Chicago, up to Lake Milwaukee, right across the state of Wisconsin to the Mississippi River, to Ohio striking off in the direction north from Minnesota, and came across Canada over the prairies along the side of the Canadian Pacific Railway, walking the passes, and at last reached the Rocky Mountains. Here he had, to use his own words, “a very lively time, having to walk 300 miles through continuous snowstorms and waded ten streams one afternoon, being lost and found with some regularity”. Emerging from this dangerous locality, he struck off through Washington down to the borders of Oregon State on to Puget Sound, Tacoma, along the coast to Vancouver. “And then”, he continued, “I had finished with America”.
He then tried to get a ship on which to work his passage to China or Japan, but being unable to do so, went on board an Australian vessel, signing on as an ordinary seaman. After a three months’ passage he arrived in Melbourne on the 1st of March, 1900. Here he cycled up to North Queensland, right across the vast continent, and tried again for a China vessel. Being unsuccessful, he wheeled back to Newcastle and got a ship for Ceylon. After a tour around Ceylon he shipped again to Calcutta and cycled through the country 800 miles to Benares, and there he became victim to malarial fever and was an invalid for three months. Having recovered, he started west for Bombay on the 18th February 1901. Shipping again, he went on to Port Said, Egypt, and next through to Cairo and down along the river Nile to Alexandria, having to walk most of the way, the road being terribly bad. From Alexandria he worked his passage over to Hull. “And here I am,” he concluded.
“But you have not finished yet?” our representative remarked.
“Oh, no,” replied Mr Creelman; “I leave Hull tomorrow for the north of Scotland and shall come down to London, calling to see the Glasgow Exhibition, and then go on to Dover and on to the Continent. I wish to go through Germany, Switzerland, Bavaria, Italy and up again through France, come on to Dover, cycle again through Cardiff, ship to the south of Ireland, and then go right back up to the North of Ireland, come back to Liverpool and home via Halifax.”
“What is my mode of living? Well, I neither smoke nor drink, live plainly, don’t, don’t eat too much; and the fresh air ensures good health. I have gained two stone in weight since I commenced my tour”.
“Any exciting incident en route?”
“The chief one was in Western Canada where I was chased by a herd of wild cattle, but a couple of cowboys saved me in the nick of time, for both my tires had burst on the cactus and I was riding on rocky soil on my rims. It was a narrow escape,” wiping his brow, “but I never lost heart, though I thought my tour was to have an early and rough termination.”
“Any others?” Well a brush or two with prairie wolves and a misadventure with a beastly cow in Wisconsin. I yelled at it because it was in my way; it started up, and before I noticed that it was tied to some fence, the rope becoming taut, I was precipitated about seven yards on my face.
“How many miles”? Well, I have cycled up to date 11,000 miles, with 1,300 miles on foot, and 31,000 miles by sea. This is my third suit of clothes and ninth pair of boots. My bicycle is a Red Bird, Canadian make and I have used that all through, with scarcely any mishap, with the exception of punctured tires. I have worn out three sets of tires. I carry 45 lbs on the bike - change of suit etc.
“How do I manage to get along?” I lecture here and there, and in the States I sold silver polish. I expect to reach home after finishing my tour in November this year.
And so dear reader, next week we start our adventure travelling north from Hull.
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