Donkey Rider Identified
The old picture shown across the top of this newspaper page has been around photo studios in our area for years with accolades being paid to a gentleman from Mapleton. Recently, the true identity of this man was found in an old copy of The Springville Independent, the forerunner of the Springville Herald dated September 23, 1897, and 98 years later, the positive identification and story about this man is printed below.
Incidently, the Springville Herald was located in the Springville Bank building before 1940 which is the building in the background of the picture. The article was titled "Woodward's Wager", and ran on the front page of the Springville Independent with subtitles, "He had confidence in Bryan's election," "Visited Springville Saturday," and "An interesting story of a donkey ride from New York to San Francisco--lots of experience".
On Saturday last about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, a lean, lanky individual, mounted on a Rocky Mountain Canary, and clad in travel-stained habiliments drifted into town from the directions of Provo. He was a bright-faced intelligent looking man and was soon the center of a curious crowd.It was soon learned that the six footer with the curious gear was none other than R. Pitcher Woodward, of New York, the fame of whose wager last year had spread across the continent. His visit to Springville was in accordance with the terms of wager.
At about this time, Prof. W.E. Ryldalch happened down the street, and on seeing the stranger and his outfit, recognized him at once as the man of whom report had so frequently spoken. The professor introduced himself and invited Mr. Woodward to dine, which the latter accepted. The kind invitation was also extended to Wm. F. Gibson of The Independent, and the three gentlemen spent a couple of hours very agreeably in the professor's cozy home.
Woodward is a charming conversationalist, a man of education and culture, and a thorough man of the world. His trip has given him a fund of anecdotes and experience rarely met with, even among great travelers.
A few years ago, Woodward, who was a member of the Writer's Club of New York, wagered with a brother clubman, Benjamin Lilliard, on Bryan's election in the amount of $5,000. In case Bryan lost , which he did, Woodward was to pay the amount in cash, or in lieu therefore to make a trip on a donkey from New York to San Francisco, starting without a dollar in his pocket, and agreeing to complete the journey in a year. He must reach the goal by Nov. 3, or forfeit the $5,000.
By the conditions of the wager, he must wear the same Prince Albert coat all the way, and had to wear a plug hat as far as the Mississippi River. He is to pay all expenses out of his own earnings, and neither beg nor borrow, and furthermore, he was to visit McKinley and Bryan at their respective homes.
Woodward has to date, complied with all the curiously-imposed conditions of his wager even to the selling of photographs of himself and donkey, labeled "Two Donkeys." This last hardship was almost unbearable for Woodward is a man of pride.
He called on Mr. McKinley on March 1, at Canton, say Bryan at Lincoln on June 12. He was entertained by a committee at Lincoln, and from Mrs. Bryan first learned of the beauties of Utah.
He has called on the governors of the states and mayors of the leading cities en route, and has numerous autographs of dignitaries. At Cedar Rapids, IA, Mr. Woodward employed a valet and the two have made the trip together, with four donkeys. One of the later, Maccaroni has made the entire trip from New York and Woodward, as a matter of pride, intends to finish the journey on him, and ride him shod with silver shoes into the corridor of the hotel in San Francisco. The master will pay for the shoes, and says it will be another blow to the goldbug who started him out.
Woodward came down Provo Canyon from the Uintah Country, and left for the west the next day via the old pony express trail to Austin, NV. His travelling companion remained in Provo while Woodward came over here.
Photographer Anderson took a couple of views of the traveler and his outfit. The Kodak fiends also caught him from every angle.