Wo were surprised yesterday by the sudden apparition of two American geutlemen travelling on bicycles overland trea Tashkent, Russian Transcaspia. They are Messrs. Alllen and Sachtleben, both of St. Louis, who on the day after graduation from college left for a pleasure ride that has been prolonged into a journey around the world. They have just accomplished what Mr, Stovens unsuccessfully attempted, bicyel wing Constantinople last the actual crossing of Central Asia by autumn they proceeded by way of Teheran and Askabad to Mery, Bokhara and Tash-kent, where by the kindness of the Russian thorities, they were allowed to winter. It is needless to say that during their stay in Russian Turkestan they gathered much valuable information, of which the English publi will be interested to learn. Leaving kent in May they crossed to Kuldja Th, where they were delayed They were strongly dissuaded at this point from attempting the journey across China, and were repeatedly assured that the attempt would cost them their lives. They left, however, in mid-summer, knowing no Chinese and carrying only such supplies of money and clothes as could be to the handle bars of their machin route was by way of Urumtsito the burder of the Gobi at Hami. They were twelve days in crossing the desert, the sand being firm enough for them to ride the greater part of the way. At Subchau they struck the western end of the Great Wall, the line of which they followed for nearly 400 miles to Lanchow. Brom this pi they were obliged to strike south-east Singan in Shensi, whence they have come by way of Pingyan and T'aiyuan to Paoting-fu. Continuing to Peking and Tientsin their journey across Asia is completed. The entire distance, with the exception of the short stage across the 'I'ranscaspian desert, was made on their wheels.
They have been singularly free fom accidents. Their bicycles, which are of the Safety pattern and cushion-tired, would have held out almost without breakage had not the hind wheel of one of them been kicked by a mule; two spokes were broken in this way; others followed until the rim iteolf succumbed, and when the machines were led into Paoting Fu, the injured wheel was useless, It is now undergoing repairs. They have been followed by mobs—chiefly good-humoured—ever since leaving Kuldja, but have only on two or three occasions been in actual danger. At these times the flooring of their chief opponent, and once or twice the show of the revolvers which they carried, but never used, was sufficient to bring them out safely. The officials showed them the greatest kindness, and through the Eastern provinces detailed a aquad of cavalry, as a rule, for their escort,—apparently rather as an honour than for protection. The magistrate of Suhchau, through the kind offices of the resident Belgian customs official Ling ta-jen, farnished them with officially stamped squares of cloth to hang before the machine handles, bearing the words Vu li wu jén—travelling scholars—and telling to all and sundry their nationality and destination—somewhat as one fastens a tag upon a child consigned to distant friends. In no cases. did the literati or officials show themselves unfriendly, and-on oae occasion when no keep out the mob, the bicycles were sent under guard to the governor's yamel: where they remained safely incarcerate until their owners were ready to proceed.
They have carried a Kodak camera throughout the journey, and have taken up to date more than 2,000 photographs which will be used to illustrate the forthcoming, volume which, in this case, is sure to be more than ordinary interest. Their success, where others ave failed, has been due partly to the excellent credentials they were able to obtain from the Chinese minister, to England and from the Rusaian government, and still more is it a deserved triumph of the splendid pluck'and determination with which the undertaking has been carried through, Their plans for the future include the crossing of Japan, whither they proceed at once vid Shanghai, and of South America, or if the route is practicable, the southora portion of the United State: ould be said that they are travelling in the interest of no journal or literary syndicate, but for pleasure merely.
30th October.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.