Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1898 — Talking Tailor Turns Tall Traveler. [ARTICLE]

Talking Tailor Turns Tall Traveler.

From Friday’s Dally: Bion Zimmerman, the merchant tailor, has struck a new vocation. He has turned pedestipn and is walking against time—(he’ll pretty near think its eternity before six o’clock tonight.) He has bet $5 against $lO with George Strickfaden, that he can walk to Monon in five consecutive hours. The distance is just about 16 miles, as the crow flies, and the last few miles are each about 700 rods in length, at least “Pud” is expected to find them so. He started from our depot at one o’clock this afternoon, and will have to land in Monon by six o’clock to win his wager. A little better than a three mile an hour gait will be needed. It is a comparatively easy matter for an ordinary walker to knock off a few miles at that rate but to keep it up for 5 hours in a stretch is a pretty hard feat for unaccustomed walkers. Mr. Zimmerman is following the Monon traok, and Johnny Adams is going along with him, in Strick’s interest, to see that he don’t jump on a handcar or bribe some old farmer to give him a lift in his wagon. Verne Robinson has gone over to Monon by train to spread the word of the great approach, and a big demonstration is probable on his arrival—if he ever arrives.