In 1886, destitute and disabled, James Gordon pulled a wheelbarrow from Dundee to London and back as a stunt to earn money for his family. He sent money home and updates to the press from every town he stopped in.
Long distance wheelbarrowing became *the* craze for 1887 in Scotland. Gordon himself probably got the idea from the Lyman Potter who walked across America for money in 1878. Gordon had lost three right fingers which made it hard for him to find work.
The nation excitedly followed his progress in the newspapers. He was briefly the most famous Dundonian. You can hear a detailed account of his story (and others from Old Weird Dundee from Erin Farley @aliasmacalias, who does excellent videos about Dundee’s forgotten past.
References
Farley, E. (2020) Leisure and Culture Dundee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COIK1ItWMuQ&feature=youtu.be
Illustrated London News. 11th December 1886. pg. 11
