The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-11-20
THE HUNDRED MILE WALK.
from our own Keporter.l- s-,
-EnNNEAIrr Nov. 1n-NIihninl,l

'.
CoNNEAUT, Nov. 1G-Afidnfght.
Where TO begin, what 10 say, how to
end, pedestrian correspondence, is
the question. Weston has not yet ac-
Complished the almost superhuman
feat of walking one hundred miles in
twenty-four consecutive bours. VIII
he be able to accomplish IL? Where is
be now? What is the news from Wes-
ton? and other questions, asked in all
conceivable places and ways, are con-
stantly ringing in the ear OF your PEI
destrian, railroad and ''old stage route"
correspondent. The time table on the
Lake Shore road aud the employees of
that company are being constantly con-
suited for the purpose of comparing the
differences in distance between the
same points on the ''oid stage route"
and railroad. There Is a slight differ
ence between the two, the stage route
being the longest, but the exact dis
tance from point TO point can only be
determined by the railway route. Wes-
toms time card, containing the names
of all points on the "old stage road"
with the distance from place to place,
compiled from reports forwarded Dy
the POstmasters between Portland and
Chicago, is either not correct, or the
people along the route are mistaken on
the same point. There is u discrepan-
cy of five miles between the people and
Ine reports, .IOui SILVER SEteht ~ l. ~
Ashtabula, o. At the present writing
it will be impossible To give exact state
ments on account of this discrepancy.
In addition TO the extremely uncertain
result of the pedestrians effort TO ac-
complish the one hundred miles, the
people along the route, upon the rail,
in hotels, everywhere, create addition
al excitement by jumping at conclu-
sions from the railway standpoint.
Nearly all who have taken any inter-
est in the walk have figured out the re-
suit, to their own satisfaction at least,
upon railroad distances. Now they
| are, AmeriCan-like, daShing pell-
after the pedestrian by rail and teie-
graphic wire, to-win or lose their
money.
Leaving them to enjoy or mourn the
result, let US follow the pedestrian.
Every paper iu the land, from the Me-
ttropolitan dailies to the Jimtown Ink
man, noted carefully his peculiar
adaptAbility to such an undertaking,
painted in glowing words the grand
Sheridan-like receptions which have
greeted him at every point, but no one
| can portray the earnest, honest, meek
! and unwaVering devotion Weston man
| ifests on the "old stage route" irom
Portland to Chicago. Sheridau's ride
| TO Winchester has been immOrtalized
by the poet. Other noble deeds Eave
! received like consideration. This Pc
destrian feat may be regarded as Il mat
ter too Irifliug Tor poer's pen, where
! distance "Iends euchautinent" 10 the
| bard, but ride with Weston will COLI
vince the man of Intelligence that ordi-
nary men do not possess his wonder
fully marked and sublime traits of
character. The sporting world look
upon his muscles, mind and move
| ments as machinery by which fortunes
may be realized. The pecuniarily dis
| interested and Intelligent men, and all
| the women, from Silver Creek to Con-
| neaut, who witnessed his movements In
| retired country places, free from the
| noise, dust and danger of the city. will
never forget the pleasant expression OF
countennuce he wore, or the fervency
with which their sympathetic hearts
bid him God speed.
From every passing train, every ham
let, hovel and palace, tokens ofrecognt-
ton were waved by fair hands, aud one
good woman even prayed at her bed
| side before retiring each evening, that
God would bless his family and give
hiu success. 1t will scarcely be saying
| too much and the fact is derived from
personal observation and conversation
along the route, that no one man ever
met with more ardent sympathy from
the people than Edward Payson Wes-
ton. Such expeditions are generally
controlled by unscrupulous men, who
would not hesitate to sell their most in
| innate friends to enhance theirown Pc
onuiary interest If there ia any
shadow of trickery in this movement,
ii is concealed by the brilliant light
which ilIuminates Weston's private
character t - 7i7 sf