Inspired by the novel "Around the World in Eighty Days," Nellie Bly, a fearless investigative reporter, set out on November 14th, 1889, to prove she could circle the entire globe — and do it faster than fiction.
The Journey Begins
Nellie Bly stepped aboard the Augusta Victoria at 9:40 a.m., heading first for London. From England, she crossed into France, where she paused briefly in Amiens for a memorable encounter with Jules Verne himself — the very author whose book had sparked her ambitious quest. Her route then carried her through what is now Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. Along the way, she dispatched updates to her editor using the cutting-edge submarine cable networks of the era. Back home, her newspaper, the New York World, kept the public buzzing with the "Bly Guessing Match," a contest daring readers to predict her arrival time as precisely as they could. Initially, the prize was a free trip to Europe, but surging public interest led to the addition of a cash reward to sweeten the deal.
Arrival in New Jersey
With multiple continents behind her, Bly was ready for the homeward stretch, boarding the Oceanic, a White Star liner headed for San Francisco. Unfortunately, rough weather slowed the vessel, putting her two days behind schedule.
Her employer, Joseph Pulitzer, wasn't about to let that stop her. He chartered a private train — dubbed the "Miss Nellie Bly Special" — which covered an impressive 2,577 miles over the course of 69 hours, averaging 37 miles per hour, a record-setting pace at the time. Bly disembarked in Hoboken and made her way back to the New York World office, completing her extraordinary journey in 72 days, 6 hours, and 11 minutes from the moment she had originally departed. Remarkably, her record wouldn't stand for long — just a few months later, George Francis Train would surpass it.