Nuusbrokkies

Wheelbarrow Walkers

This article appeared in the Vernon News on 5 May 1927, and was sent in by Pat Bayliss of Vernon, British Columbia, Canada – gaplanda@shaw.ca

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Globe walkers reach Sicamous

DJ le Roux and Wife, Walk and Push Barrow 11 377 Miles On World Tour

SICAMOUS, BC, May 2 – About 4:30pm last Saturday anyone looking East along the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railroad) track would have seen two khaki-clad figures walking toward Sicamous in a manner that indicated their expertness in that mode of travel.  The taller of the two, who was well over the six-foot mark, was wheeling a large sized wheelbarrow, which contained their baggage.  Traveller number two was much shorter and proud to be a member of the fair sex.  It soon transpired that these two people were DJ le Roux and his wife of Kimberley, South Africa, who had undertaken to walk around the World, wheeling a wheelbarrow.  In an interview later Mr and Mrs le Roux explained that their walk officially started at Johannesburg, which had a much larger population than their hometown of Kimberley, and was the gold centre.  The Deputy Mayor (later mayor) of Johannesburg signed the book that they carry and on the last day of the year 1922 the walk started.  Since that time many countries have been visited, the first frontier to be crossed was Portuguese East Africa, which was on January 1^st, 1924.  Eleven Capitals have been visited and as the Le Roux’s make a point of visiting the Capital of each country entered we conclude that they have passed through that number of Countries.  Many notables have been met amongst whom was Signer Mussolini.  While going through Italy, Mr Le Roux claimed to have passed within a few yards of the body of the slain deputy, Matteotti.  Switzerland, France and then England were visited landing in Hull.  These travellers noted that hotel charges in England were high;  while on all sides there was evidence of dire poverty.  Wembley Exhibition was visited and praise was accorded the Canadian Exhibits, which made a great impression.  They landed at Montreal June 1925.  For four months the winter weather held them at Ignace.  From Fort William to Winnipeg they walked on the railway track.  It was explained that the CPR had allowed them the privilege of using the track whenever they wished and that they would be warned of any danger.  Entry into BC was made at Crow’s Nest early last December, at Yahk the snow was so deep that they were forced to stay there for two and a half months.  Leaving Nelson Mr and Mrs le Roux came to Arrowhead by the “SS Minto”, walking to Revelstoke there connecting again with the main line. 

According to Mr le Roux’s figures on reaching Sicamous 11 377 miles had been covered on foot, while 11 000 miles was accounted for by water travel.  Twenty-two months have thus been consumed in travel from Montreal to Sicamous.  Asked as to the object of the walk, and if any bet had been made, the answer was that a book would be written on their experiences and that no wager had been considered in this feat.  It was also explained that a wheelbarrow was considered better than a pack as the lady’s baggage could more easily be carried that way and the temptation to accept a lift with a wheelbarrow was almost nil.  Three books are carried by these globetrotters, in which are date-stamped impressions of every post office of every place through which they pass and also the signature of the postmaster.  At each city the City Corporate Seal is affixed.  Mr and Mrs le Roux have still some thousands of miles to cover to accomplish their task, but we feel assured after having conversed with them, that their good spirits and determination will carry them through and the book, which results from this globe-encircling tour will surely be well worth reading.  We wish them the best of luck and all our good wishes.

This letter appeared in a publication of the Genealogical Society of SA. A photograph of the couple appears on page 466 of the publication Die families Le Roux in S.A. Mr D.J. le Roux was Daniel Johannes Pienaar le Roux a2b2c1d2e6f2g4h2, born 08.10.1875. He did the world trip with his second wife, whose name is unknown to us, and unfortunately died on the final stretch to Johannesburg, at Worcester, on 01.05.1929, six years and five months after starting out. 

If any reader has any more  information about this Le Roux couple, we’d like to hear it.