Fred Kenworthy had a big idea, an ambitious idea, a brave idea – he would take a small wagon, pulled by dogs, all the way around the world, starting in Grand Forks. It was a seemingly-good idea.
The year was 1896, and Frederick G. Kenworthy, known as “Fred” or “F.G.,” attempted the trip around the globe “without a cent” in his pockets. That was not a good idea. Fred was a 30-year-old tailor who owned a small business in Grand Forks.
There were plenteous stories in newspapers in that era about globe-trotters. Journalist Nellie Bly traveled around the earth in 72 days in 1889, and George Griffiths did it in 64 days in 1894. Mark Twain started a global trip in 1895. But Kenworthy’s likely inspiration was Annie Londonderry of Boston, who completed an 1895 bicycle tour of the globe, earning $5,000 along the way through lectures, advertisements and exhibitions. She reported in from various cities during her journey, and took steamships to cover the necessary ocean passages.
To prepare for his attempt, Kenworthy trained a team of massive Newfoundland dogs – Rex, Bingo, Mack, Nero, Pocahontas, and Rover. Each weighed 150 pounds and were claimed to be as strong as ponies. They would lightweight sleigh on snow and, later, a small wagon on roads.
Kenworthy left his business and convinced his friend Harry Whitnall to accompany him. Both got passports, planning to journey east from Grand Forks to New York, then by steamer to England, followed by the principal cities of Europe, then on to Asia, Hawaii, and home to ND.
All did not go as planned. As reported in the Minneapolis Tribune on this date in 1896, Kenworthy’s outfit had just started out from Grand Forks without a cent, but with hearts full of optimistic vim. Traveling in easy stages, the dog-team went to Fargo and then headed towards St. Cloud. Unfortunately, April 1st brought a snowstorm with snow too deep for easy sleigh-pulling. Frantic, Kenworthy bought a toboggan, but the snow was too soft even then. So, Fred, Harry and the dogs walked the last 65 miles to Minneapolis. It got worse when Harry sprained an ankle and had to take the train.
The dogs were dog-tired upon reaching Minneapolis and so hungry they ate $3.50 worth of beef. They were “entirely exhausted,” and so was Kenworthy.
Out of money, out of hope, out of luck, Fred gave up the round-the-world-by-dog-team quest.
Dakota Datebook written by Dr. Steve Hoffbeck, MSUM History Department
Sources:
“Dog-Trot Round the World,” Minneapolis Tribune, March 29, 1896, p. 10.
“To Circle the Globe,” Minneapolis Tribune, April 5, 1896, p. 8.
“The Dogs Were Tired,” Grand Forks Herald, April 7, 1896, p. 1.
