Around the World
Having only a few days to prepare, Nellie Bly brought minimal belongings, only her small handbag, and did not carry much money, either. She would not be accompanied by anyone, but instead, carried a special letter that she would show to the captains of ships, asking them to keep an eye on Bly.
The Augusta Victoria (Right)
"Hamburg American Str Agusta [sic] Victoria," [between 1890 and 1900], Library of Congress.
“The evening before I started I went to the office and was given 200 in English gold and Bank of English notes. The gold I carried in my pocket. The Bank of England notes were placed in a chamois-skin bag which I tied around my neck. Besides this I took some American gold and paper money to use at different ports as a test to see if American money was known outside of America.” - Nellie Bly, 1890
On November 14, 1889, Nellie Bly set off on her journey around the world, climbing on board the Augusta Victoria (pictured above). People across the globe followed her progress daily through the newspapers. Her stunt was extremely popular because it was unusual for such a young girl to travel unaccompanied around the world. Her route included many well-known cities including Jersey City, London, Amiens, Brindisi, Port Said, Singapore, Hong Kong, and San Francisco, which she traveled between by boat and train.
"Nellie's Big Adventure," Public Broadcasting Service.
This map shows major stops on Nellie Bly's journey.
“The New York World, telling how and no more.
The Augusta Victoria bore away
On her deck Nellie Bly, cheerful and gay,
For her trip round the world, without stop or stay
And back to New York ‘ere the eightieth day..."
-Nellie Bly’s Ride, a poem written by Mr. George Hoey for Mr. James S. Burdett
But Bly was not really alone. Soon, the news of Bly’s departure reached editor Walker of the Cosmopolitan, who sent out his own reporter, Elizabeth Bisland, to try and beat Bly. Bly was not aware of Bisland’s move though, until the end of her trip while Bisland’s main motive was to beat Bly.
Both women traveled on trains and ships, through storms and sunshine for more than 20,000 miles and never gave up. Both women completed the journey in less than eighty days, but Bly succeeded in being the quickest and was the first to return to Jersey City.
Elizabeth Bisland (Left)
Bisland, E., 1891, In Seven Stages: A Flying Trip Around the World
