“Glib and vulgar” Item, Cycling Life, 24 January 1895, 14.
“Did you see the scorching” Item, Cycling Life, 24 January 1895,14.
arrived in Hong Kong Item, Hong Kong Daily Press, 22 February 1895. (“We had a visit yesterday morning from Miss Londonderry, a young lady in a Bloomer costume who is a bicyclist, traveling around the world. She crossed the Atlantic from that port to Havre, wheeled from Havre to Marseille, took passage by the Sydney at that port and will go on by her to Yokohama, where she will tranship to one of the Pacific liners, and from San Francisco, or whatever her port of arrival may be, she will travel on her machine back to Boston.”) [emphasis added]
“describes herself as a journalist” Item, Hong Kong Daily Press, 22 February 1895.
“I left Boston last June” “Got as Far as Shanghai,” Boston Daily Globe, 30 March 1895, 20. According to the Daily Globe, Annie’s note was dated February 21, 1895. Either Annie misdated the letter or there was a reporting error, because she had just arrived in Hong Kong on February 21 and wouldn’t reach Shanghai for several days.
Annie wrote a note “Around the World Without a Cent,” Celestial Empire, 1 March 1895, 293.
“at once informed her interviewer” “Around the World Without a Cent,” Celestial Empire, 1 March 1895, 293.
“[W]hen I reached Shanghai” “Around the World on a Bicycle,” New York Sunday World, 20 October 1895, 29.
“The result proved” This contradicts later reports that Annie arrived in Chicago $100 shy of the $5,000 needed to win the wager and sold her Sterling back to the company for promotional purposes.
“Admiral Ting sent a flag” “Weiheiwei Surrenders,” North China and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette, 15 February 1895, 215.
arrived in Nagasaki “Shipping News,” Japan Weekly Mail, 9 March 1895. Though she traveled under her real name on La Touraine, she was listed among the Sydney’s passengers as “Annie Londonderry.”
the Belgic The only surviving page of the Belgic’s manifest, held in the National Archives in San Bruno, California, establishes that the Belgic sailed from Japan on this date.
“with a bicycle” “Around the World on a Wager,” Japan Weekly Mail, 9 March 1895.
“The general run of American consuls” “Miss Londonderry,” El Paso Daily Herald, 27 June 1895.
was a workhorse By 1895, laws restricting Chinese immigrants to the United States had been passed, so by the time Annie sailed on the Belgic her fellow passengers would have included many Japanese but probably few Chinese.
“I found out what they liked” “Around the World on a Bicycle,” New York Sunday World, 20 October 1895, 29.
Chapter Six: Annie Is Back
“Annie is Back”The Bearings, 10 May 1895.
“[W]hen I reached San Francisco” “Around the World on a Bicycle,” New York Sunday World, 20 October 1895, 29.
“Annie Londonderry has proved” “The New Woman on a Tour,” San Francisco Examiner, 24 March 1895, 8. The Examiner story appeared in its entirety a few weeks later in the Washington Post (“A Girl Globe Trotter,” 14 April 1895) and, in summary form, in the Chicago Tribune (“New Woman on a Tour,” 13 April 1895, 16). It was, in effect, Annie’s reintroduction to her countrymen and her opportunity to begin building the legacy she hoped to create.
“considerable latitude” “The New Woman on a Tour,” San Francisco Examiner, 24 March 1895, 8.
“buxom young woman” “She Rides a Wheel,” San Francisco Chronicle, 24 March 1895, 20. If Annie indeed kept a diary, it has not been found.
ridden across India “Made Her Way on a Wheel,” San Francisco Call, 24 March 1895.
“a long fatiguing journey” “She Rides a Wheel,” San Francisco Chronicle, 24 March 1895, 20. A few days after her arrival in San Francisco, Cycling Life reported, “Annie Londonderry, who is now in Spain, writes that thus far the Morgan & Wright tires with which her machine is fitted have not yet been punctured. The roads, she declares, are wretched.” (Item, Cycling Life, 28 March 1895, 20.) The message was apparently contained in a letter; there’s no other logical explanation for why it took so long to reach Cycling Life in Chicago. But, Annie was never in Spain and we do not know how this information reached Chicago.
“7,280 miles” “Made Her Way on a Wheel,” San Francisco Call, 24 March 1895.
had sent only $1,500 “The New Woman on a Tour,” San Francisco Examiner, 24 March 1895, 8.
“She is fully capable” “Made Her Way on a Wheel,” San Francisco Call, 24 March 1895.
“The two men rode on ponies” “The New Woman on a Tour,” San Francisco Examiner, 24 March 1895, 8.
“proposals of marriage” “A Tramp to Strause,” El Paso Daily Herald, 26 June 1895, 1. None of these letters, unfortunately, made it into Annie’s scrapbook.
“Miss Londonderry, about whose fate” Item, Le Petit Parisien, 29 March 1895.
“a postal message from Saigon” “Miss Londonderry Found Again,” Radfahr-Chronik, 3 April 1895, 1027. Despite the existence of the telegraph, news didn’t always travel fast in 1895. A few weeks later, on April 27, the same journal reported that a French cycling journal, Le Vélo of Paris, “got sign of life from the courageous American from Yokohama, and…. another one from San Francisco.” According to the second dispatch from San Francisco, the cyclists of the city organized a concert for Annie’s benefit, the proceeds of which “filled her bag and gave new cause that she will win her bet.” (Item, Radfahr-Chronik, 27 April 1895, 1201.)
“just to learn the road” Item, Santa Maria Times, 11 May 1895.
“through Morgan Hill” Item, Morgan Hill (CA) Sun, 2 May 1895.
But the very next morning The various newspaper accounts of the accident conflict about the date it occurred. But it was either April 10 or 11.
While riding downhill Annie’s accident near Stockton was reported as far away as Trenton, New Jersey, in the 12 April 1895, edition of the Trenton Times (“Accident to a Woman Girdler”).
“The couple were going” “Bicyclists Hurt,” Stockton Evening Mail, 11 April 1895, 1. This story suggests the accident occurred the previous day, April 10. However, a story in the 12 April 1895, edition of the San Francisco Daily Morning Call suggested the accident occurred on the morning of April 11 (“Injured Near Stockton,” 11 April 1895, 12).
“Her bicycle was damaged” “Bicyclists Hurt,” Stockton Evening Mail, 11 April 1895, 1.
“[a] black eye” “Bicyclists Hurt,” Stockton Evening Mail, 11 April 1895, 1.
stereopticon views This is a reference to Annie’s lantern slides, which were not true stereopticons.
“a high fever” “It Rounds the Form Well,” Stockton Evening Mail, 13 April 1895, 1.
“almost three-quarters of the journey done” “Around the World,” San Jose Daily Mercury, 19 April 1895.
Asked about her route “On a Wheel,” San Jose Daily Herald, 19 April 1895, 8.
“the longest ride ever undertaken” “A Long Bicycle Ride,” Salinas Weekly Index, 2 May 1895.
“Here I met the famous Anna Londonderry” “Winder’s Wendings,” Illustrated Buffalo Express, 2 June 1895, 11. Winder’s book, Around the United States by Bicycle: Entertaining Sketches of the Fun, Pleasure and Hardships, the Sights and Scenes Incident to 274 Consecutive Days of Riding, was self-published in 1895.
“according to her own story” Well, at least according to one of her own stories. Her story had infinite variations.
had ridden through England “A Lady Cyclist,” Salinas Weekly Index, 2 May 1895.
“Smart girl, Annie Londonderry” Item, Cycling Life, 11 April 1895, 13.
“Folks will pity” Item, Cycling Life, 30 May 1895, 8.
“she is not elevating” Item, Nairn’s News of the Wheel (London), January 9, 1895, 105.
“What are you giving us” Item, Sandusky (OH) Register, 29 April 1895, 8. This report apparently originated in the American Cyclist for the exact same item, crediting the American Cyclist, also appeared in
the Watertown (NY) Daily Times, 18 May 1895, 10, and other newspapers.
“According to original plans” “News Notes for the Wheelman,” Chicago Tribune, 30 April 1895, 11.
“to girdle the globe” “A Fair Globe Girdler,” Olean (NY) Democrat, 3 May 1895. This story was likely picked up from another paper without attribution, most likely the Chicago Inter Ocean. Dr. McIrath, who sent regular dispatches about their two-year bicycle trip to the Inter Ocean, was determined that his wife earn the title of the first woman to circle the world by bicycle and he was intent on discrediting Annie. A couple of months later a British paper would report that, “[u]p to the present…the bicycle hasn’t given her [Annie] much trouble—sea trips seem more in her line.” “Miss Annie Londonderry,” Penny Illustrated Paper, 6 July 1895, 19.
expected soon to be in Mexico Item, Paso Robles Record, 4 May 1895.
According to the Los Angeles Times “The Plucky Girl Who Is Cycling the Globe,” Los Angeles Times, 15 May 1895, 11.
Had the cyclists ridden Annie arrived in Los Olivos with another cyclist named Cox. Mark Johnson had gone ahead to Los Olivos so as not to be late for bicycle races scheduled there.
“the biggest day” “The Races,” Santa Barbara Daily Independent, 14 May 1895, 1.
“nothing less than the earth” “The Races,” Santa Barbara Daily Independent, 16 May 1895, 1.
“nearly exhausted” Item, Santa Maria Times, 25 May 1895.
“the worst part of her journey” “The Globe Wheeler,” Los Angeles Times, 24 May 1895, 7.
When she arrived in San Bernardino “A Girl Girdling the Globe,” San Bernardino Daily Sun, 30 May 1895. But the Daily Sun also reported Annie had earned more than $2,500 in Paris and Marseilles, though perhaps that was before expenses, and we know she earned money in Boston and en route to and from Chicago. The math is, to coin a phrase, “fuzzy.”
“Good looking?” “A Girl Girdling the Globe,” San Bernardino Daily Sun, 30 May 1895. By this time Annie was almost always riding in pants. Perhaps she donned a skirt to go about town.
“Annie Londonderry, who is supposed” Item, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 1895, 11.
“made of cheese-cloth and paper” “The Globe Girdler,” Riverside Daily Press, 31 May 1895, 3.
albeit over short distances The world record for a flying start quarter-mile at the time was twenty-three seconds by John S. Johnson.
“The Bearings has always been opposed” “The Women Again,” The Bearings, 25 July 1895.
a train engineer named Ziegler “Around the World on a Bicycle,” New York Sunday World, 20 October 1895, 29.
Annie would later say “Around the World on a Bicycle,” New York Sunday World, 20 October 1895, 29.
Multiple reports See, e.g., “A Woman on Wheels,” Arizona Republican, 15 June 1895. The Los Angeles Times reported Annie had reached Indio, California, about half way between Riverside and Yuma with her bike “badly wrecked.” (“Indio,” 19 June 1895, 11.) According to the El Paso Daily Herald, Annie “nearly perished crossing the Yuma desert” carrying her broken down wheel on her shoulder “all but 18” of the 61 miles she was forced to walk. (“A Tramp to Strauss,” El Paso Daily Herald, 26 June 1895, 1.)
“She started from [Indio]” “Indio,” Los Angeles Times, 19 June 1895, 11.
Chapter Seven: Tour on a Bike
“Tour on a Bike”El Paso Daily Herald, 21 June 1895, 1.
entered Arizona Territory Item, Tucson Daily Star, 13 June 1895.
“In speaking of her trip” Item, Tucson Daily Citizen, 19 June 1895.
“She has had an exciting time” “A Woman on Wheels,” Arizona Republican, 15 June 1895.
“threw her hands up” Item, Arizona Daily Gazette, 16 June 1895.
An ad in the Arizona Daily GazetteArizona Daily Gazette, 15 June 1895, 5.
“clever exhibition” Item, Arizona Daily Gazette, 16 June 1895.
After she left Phoenix “Miss Londonderry Arrives,” Tucson Daily Star, 19 June 1895, 4.
So anticipated was Annie’s arrival Miss Londonderry Arrives,” Tucson Daily Star, 19 June 1895, 4.
“Quite a little party” Item, Tucson Daily Citizen, 18 June 1895.
“All the Tucson riders” “Miss Londonderry Arrives,” Tucson Daily Star, 19 June 1895, 4.
One of the riders remarked “Miss Londonderry Arrives,” Tucson Daily Star, 19 June 1895, 4.
“Annie Londonderry, Globe Girdler” “Hotel Arrivals,” Tucson Daily Star, 20 June 1895.
“Miss Londonderry, the lady of the bike” “Miss Londonderry Arrives,” Tucson Daily Star, 19 June 1895, 4.
“fancy riding” Item, Tucson Daily Star, 20 June 1895; Item, Tucson Daily Citizen, 20 June 1895.
She also spent the day Item, Tucson Daily Star, 21 June 1895.
the party passed through tiny Vail’s station Item, Tucson Daily Citizen, 21 June 1895. Bert got a bit lost on the way back and his friends grew worried until he finally returned about 6 P.M. (“The City in Brief,” Tucson Daily Star, 22 June, 1895, 4.)
Annie reached Wilcox Item, Lordsburg Western Liberal, 28 June 1895, 2. The Liberal reported that Annie had arrived there by train from Wilcox and left on a train for Deming.
During her stopover “Miss Londonderry Interviewed,” El Paso Daily Herald, 25 June 1895, 1.
“What make of bicycle” Item, El Paso Daily Herald, 25 June 1895, 1. Annie probably told the reporter she had ridden but one bicycle on her journey because she was now engaged to promote the Sterling brand. But it is also possible she said so because her circuit of the earth, for the purposes of the “wager,” had now begun in Chicago where she acquired the Sterling.
had now earned $3,000 “The New Woman,” Deming (NM) Headlight, 28 June 1895.
“the El Paso cyclists are preparing” “Tour on a Bike,” El Paso Daily Herald, 21 June 1895, 1. From other stories in the El Paso press, it appears Mr. Williams may have been a journalist who was involved in organizing Annie’s El Paso visit.
“Preparations are now being made” “Tour on a Bike,” El Paso Daily Herald, 21 June 1895, 1.
“Say reader” “A Tramp to Strauss,” El Paso Daily Herald, 26 June 1895, 1. Before retiring for the evening Jim Williams sent a telegram to the Herald’s competitor, the El Paso Daily Times saying “Met Miss Alice Londerery [sic] here at 10:45. Found her tired, but will leave here early morning for El Paso.” (“Miss Londonderry this Morning,” El Paso Daily Times, 26 June 1895.) This suggests Williams worked for the Daily Times.
“She is a bright, vivacious woman” “A Tramp to Strauss,” El Paso Daily Herald, 26 June 1895, 1.
“horrified city fathers” Item, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 1895, 6.
“against the law of Texas” “A Tramp to Strauss,” El Paso Daily Herald, 26 June 1895, 1.
“She says the native princes” “Miss Londonderry,” El Paso Daily Herald, 27 June 1895.
“The impression is prevalent” Item, El Paso Daily Herald, 27 June 1895, 1.
“such a sweet…smile” Item, El Paso Herald, 2 July 1895, 4.
“But in eighteen days” This may have been what Annie said but she left Chicago on October 14, 1894, and eighteen days later, on November 1, she was in Buffalo. She didn’t reach New York City for another two weeks.
“the hold-up racket” This is a reference to Annie’s story about being robbed by highwaymen north of Marseilles. Also, it took Annie more than two weeks to reach Marseilles, not six days.
“Thence she went” The reporter’s grasp of geography was a little loose.
“a doctor of divinity” Probably a reference to a missionary. Annie later write that she was accompanied at times in China by newspaper correspondents and a missionary.
“the stereopticon exhibition” Unless there are images that I have not found, it is doubtful Annie took any of the photographs she used in her lecture. For one thing, how would she have carried a camera? There were no miniature cameras at the time. Of the seventy-five lantern slides, referred to in this arti
cle as “stereopticons,” located at the home of Annie’s granddaughter, many bear the logo “G.W.W.” for George Washington Wilson, a Scottish photographer who sold popular travel images. Many of the others are meticulously hand-tinted color images.
the desperado Martin Mrose Professor Dennis McCown, of Austin Community College, who has extensively researched the life of John Wesley Hardin, provided this account.
Selman’s son Coincidentally, Selman, too, was a cyclist, “the only police officer so far that has attempted to ride the steel horse.” (Item, El Paso Daily Herald, 27 June 1895, 1.)
“I am opposed to the bicycle” Item, El Paso Daily Times, 30 June 1895, 6.
“All those who have ridden” Item, El Paso Daily Herald, 2 July 1895.
“the pace was too much” Item, El Paso Daily Herald, 2 July 1895.
“make the pace” Item, El Paso Daily Herald, 2 July 1895.
“pulled Bart Allen” Item, El Paso Daily Herald, 5 July 1895.
“to cover herself” Item, El Paso Daily Herald, 2 July 1895.
She cleared $52 Item, El Paso Daily Herald, 5 July 1895.
“look over her freight train load” “A Tramp to Strauss,” El Paso Daily Herald, 26 June 189, 1.
“as far as their nerves” Item, El Paso Daily Herald, 5 July 1895.
Around the World on Two Wheels Page 27