The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-01-25 00:00:00

WESTON'S TWO THOUSAND MILES'
WALK.

The Times of Monday gives the following particulars of
the commencement of Weston's two thousand miles' walk :

Three years have now elapsed since Weston, the
American, took English pedemtrians by storm through
walking 110 miles in twenty four consecutive hours at
the Agricnitural hall. Since that time long, (listen,
walking has become very popular in this country, r,
it has been discovered that what a few years a
seemed to verge on the impossible is simply a feat which
many of our English pedestrians have iound easy of
accomplishment From days' walks we gut to weeks',
and here Weston had twice to bow to one of his own
countrymen—O'Leary. A week's walk having now be-
come common, the ingenious American has set himself a
task which extends over six weeks, and which certainly
has all the charm of novelty. It appears that Weston
first made his name known in America twelve years
ago, when he walked from Portland, Maine. to Chicago,
Illinois (a distance of 1,326 miles), in 25 days. A
suggestion then thrown out by the late ex-Pre*.ident
Milliard Fillimore led Weston to conceive the idea of
accomplishing a similar feat in England. Ever since
that time then (1857), the idea has been slumbering in
the breast of the indomitable American' and only took
a practical chaps within the past month or so. Weston
now proposes to eclipse his performance in the
States by walkinf 2,000 miles in 1,000 consecutive
, hours, and describing, as it were, a girdle round Eng-
land. During the twenty-four hours between mid-
night on Saturday and midnight on Sunday he will not
walk at all, so that he will have but 856 hours in
which to perform the 2,000 miles. In addition to this,
he has undertaken to deliver lectures in fifty selected
towns on the route—subject, "What I Know About
Walking." Three judged have been appointed to
verify the performance, and these, with his attendant,
will accompany Weston in an omnibus.
Five minutes past midnight on Friday in last week
was appointed for the start; but the rend&-vous was
kept a secret in order to avoid the inoonvenience af a
crowd. At that time Weston and his friends met at
the Royal Exchange, and Sir John Astley despatched
him on his long journey. From London to Foaestone
was the task Weston had set himself for the Irst day,
and he was to reach the latter place by B.3o—in time
to deliver his first leotnre. Several people accom-
panied the pedestrian as far as Greenwich; but at this
point his admirers gradually fell off, and soon after
Ca n lb ri withge
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pedestrian, who had been engaged to walk the first
day with him. Soon after Greenwich had been passed
Weston lost about five minutes through taking the
wrom; turning. This was not much to be wondered at
as the night was very dark. Bexley-heath was
reached at a little before four o'clock, when the omni-
bws waited while inquiries were made. It was die.
covered that Weston, who with Rowell had gone
on, had taken the wrong turning, and a bicyclist was
despatched to fetch them back. A further quarter of an
hour waslost by this mishap. The state of affairs up to
this point was certainly not encouraging, and daybreak
was eagerly-looked for by all concerned. Weston reached
Gravesend at 6.43 a.m., anl Strood at 8.15 a.m.—only,
three-quarters of an hour after the time he had pur-
posed getting there. hortly after leaving Rochester
snow began to fall rather fast; but in spite of this
Weston kept gallantly on his way, and reached
Sittingbourne (ovet half the distance set out for the
first day) a little before eleven a.m. So thick did the
snow lay on the road between Sittingbourne and
Canterbury that the horses were not equal to the
task of drawing the omnibus along, and a delay
occurred at Faversham for a relay. Weston persevered
on his way, however, and by the time he had walked
the 15 miles to Canterbury the conveyance over-
took him. He reached the Cathedral city at a quarter
past three, being only half an hour behind the time
arranged. Beyond some beef tea, Weston took little
nourishment, and plodded on the road to Dover,
which place he reached at 6.45 p.m., and finished his,
day's journey at Folkestone at 8.40 p.m., only ten
minutes after the stipulated time. He was then
accompanied by a band to the Town-hall, where he
delivered his first lecture to an enthusiastic audience.

Weston, with Rowell still in attendance and the judges in
a lighter conveyance than before, left Folkestone at half.
past three on Monday morning, acaompanied by several
townsmen. The early morning was dark, but very pleasant
travelling, and Sandgate was reached by 8 48. Hyika was
passed at 6 45, when the marehy district leading to Romney
was reached. it ortunately the frost kept the road tolerably
firm, and the pair of pedestrians, keeping up a good steady
pace, reached Eye at 9 45, an hour before time. An hour's
halt sr as made for breakfast, ard then the party pissed on
to Hastings, which was reached about two (Yew. k. Here
an immense crowd congregated to welcome him Pevensey
was reached at half-past five, and a halt was made for dinner.

Weston reached Eastbourne at ten minutes past eight on
Monday amid a scene of unparalleled excitement. Re was
eacorted by a little body of horsemen, who had ridden to
Pevensey to meet him, while a volunteer band and crowds
of people (some hesring torches) followed him through the
streets to the Devonshire Park Estate, where he de-
livered his second lecture to a large audience. The
crowd outside was cola' go that Weston had to leave the hall
by a back way, but he was recognised by a large number of
persons, who cheered timas he went into his hoteL After
a rest Weston resumed hi A journey at twenty minutes after
six on Tuesday morning, at which hour nry few people as-
sembled to see him start. Rowell, who bad accompanied
him from London, stayed at Eastbourne. The morning was
cold and frosty. The party stepped briskly forward, being
accompanied by about thirty or torty people. Wellington was
reached at five minutes past seven, and Polegate at thirty-
four minutes past seven. Lewes was reached at tkirty-five
minutes past ten, and a halt was made of an hour for break-
fast, when the party were again in motion for Brighton.

Weston arrived in Brighton, from Eastbourne via. Lewes,
,at five minutes to two on Tuesday afternoon. An immense
crowd met him, and so pressed upon him that he was
obliged to escape into a house for security. A bodyguard
was then formed, and he wilt ensbled to get to the Circus,
where he delivered as address.

After leaving Brighton on Tuesday the route richt through
to Chichester waa lied with crowds of people, large numuers of
whom marched for many miles with Weston. Shoreham wart
reached at a quarter toga, and Arundel at twenty past niue,
where A halt of seventy-five minutes was made for dinner.
Chichester was reached at twenty past one on Wednesday
morning About six We tot resumed WA journey, with
G.orge Ida, trio p,destriau' as a travelting companon
He seemed remark .tily fresh, and reached Havaot at
8 30, and Cosham at 9 80. Here a halt was made of over an
hour, and af-erwardahit pu-h-d on and reached Portsmou h
at noon He delivered a lecture at the Prince's Theatre,
leaving Portsmouth at one. He was escorted over a mile by
the police to keep hack tne crowd. He stopped at Covham
again at forty minutes pat one, and the party lunched,
leaving about three on their way to Stockbridge, rid Fare-
ham and Southampton.