By Davy Crockett The “around the world on foot” craze of the 1890s was first dominated by Americans, but eventually spread to Europeans. Some very interesting individuals, mostly from Germany and France, appeared in New York City claiming to be making a global journey on foot. Most were usually highly educated and impressive. Why would someone leave their well-respected careers and endure the hardship of being on the road for months and years? But the biggest question is why the public and news press could believe in such a hoax. Well, some figured it out. Here are three stories that were followed in newspapers across America. In a way, this was their way of following a continuing reality show that was often printed on the front pages of newspapers. These three stories are among more than 60 included in my new book, Around the World on Foot: The Early Globetrotters. Three German Barons Some young men in New York City had an ingenious scheme to escape depression-induced poverty and get treated like royalty. On June 10, 1896, three men professing to be German officers took the city hall in New York City by surprise, when they came into the building dressed in military uniforms. They handed their cards to a policeman and explained who they were: Baron Otto Von Sarkmitzlaff, Baron Friedrich Ferdinand von Levetzow, and Baron Alexander von Kawezynski. Since they didn't speak English, an interpreter was promptly summoned. Through the interpreter, a story unfolded that they were German officers on a furlough and were walking around the world on foot for a secret wager. They wanted their travel book to be signed by Mayor William Lafayette Strong (1827-1900) “As they advanced toward the mayor, they saluted with their right hands.” The mayor signed the book, and the city seal was stamped in it. For an unknown reason, the three individuals were hesitant to sign their names in the city hall visitor's book. They also would not reveal their around the world route, except to state that they were going to “foot it” to San Francisco. Their next near-term destination was Albany, New York. The three had their skeptics and after they left the city, some were puzzled. “Friends of the trio are at a loss to account for their action at city hall, as two of the young noblemen have resided in New York for the last three years. What their object could have been in getting the mayor to sign a voucher for an alleged pedestrian trip around the world, no one seemed to be able to explain.” A week later, two of the “barons,” including a new one, were 180 miles to the west in Sunbury, Pennsylvania instead of going north to Albany. They now spoke English fluently and finally came up with a story. They claimed to have begun their journey from New York City with no money and were required to report to the mayor of New York within two years after going all the way around the world. Instead of being in uniforms, they were now dressed in $5 suits they had acquired from a pawnbroker. They said they could not ride on trains, but oddly could ride in farmer’s wagons. As proof of their identity, they pointed out the New York seal in their book, signed by the mayor. They claimed that a year earlier in Berlin, Germany, they were in a café where some Americans were bragging about the U.S. Army's superiority. Levetzow then boasted that he could walk around the world, and a wager was established. After their visit to Sunbury, a man, Burgess Stern, let the city know that the two were frauds. “Stern claims that he has positive proof of the facts, as he saw them riding on the train cars, which they claimed they were not allowed to do and that they are two frauds who make it a business to fake people out of all they can.” Davenport, Iowa As the men arrived in cities, they would seek out any German immigrant populations, let them know they were barons, and would then be treated like royalty with the best room and board available.