This book recounts two epic tales from round-the-world cycle touring at the end of the XIX century, just as the “safety bicycle” replaced the “high wheeler.”
The book interleaves the stories of Allen and Sachtleben, who were in the same graduating class at
Washington Univ. of St. Louis nee Washington College, with that of a Pittsburgher, Franz Lenz. Sachleben and Allen started first, east-to-west, 15,044 miles in 344 days. Lenz started shortly thereafter from west-to-east. Lenz apparently fell victim to brigands just east of the Celi Baba pass in May, 1894. The last chapters are devoted to Sachleben’s returning to Turkey to try to free Lenz, or at least bring back his body. In this he failed, in part due to the “inefficiency” of the American ambassador to Turkey.
On the whole the stories are limited by the availability of diaries, letters, and press clipping, so that the reader is somewhat disconcerted by the constant switching from historical facts to inner thoughts. What comes through, however, are the prodigious distances bicycled and walked pushing the bicycles when the roads were otherwise impassable and how many miles were bicycled on railroad ties. The only comparable ride these days is the Pan American Highway where it goes through Central America.
Allen and Sachtleben recount the Athens funeral of the German archaeologist Heinrich Schlieman, who is either raised or condemned for his ham-handed excavation of the ancient city of Troy. Lenz several times
traveled via the Lancaster Pike, which is claimed to be the oldest paved road in the States. Allen and Sachtleben traveled from St. Louis to Terre Haute on the ties of William Riley McKeen’s Vandalia railroad, rather than the National Road, now U.S. 40, which was no better than a shallow, muddy stream.
Given today’s fuss over the Islammic restrictions on women’s dress, it’s interesting that Allen was arrested in Turkistan for exposing his kneecaps in public. Lenz was successful in getting eggs for breakfast by gesticulating.
In London they met the American ambassador to the Court of St. Jones, Robert Todd Lincoln. And Lenz got his “passport” documents from the Secretary of State James Blaine in person.
In short it was a “good read.”
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