Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-09
WESTON'S LAST TRIAL.

Weston the pedestrian has been more
successful in his late attempts at walking
than in his former ones. His last feat was
walking fifty miles inside of ten hours.
From the New York Tribune we copy the
following:
just as the chimes of old Trinity struck ~,
the word go" was given, and the pedestrian
commenced his journey. At first he walked
mt an easy pace, but on accomplishing the first
mile, he strobe away at the rate of five miles
an hour. He appeared to be in fine condition,
and all his friends were confident that he
would win. The band played lively airs, and
! as the day advanced, the crowd of visitors in
! creased. A colored gentleman attended to Mr..
Weston's wants from time to time, and took
every precauton that no accident should &C.
cur At the end of every mile the time was
put upon the bulletin, and the band played
the most appropriate selections.
Great drops of sweat began to fall from the
pedestrians face alter he had accomplis he'd
few miles, and at almost every round he
called for lemonade. He gained time slowly
and when he had walked 20 miles he had
several minutes to spare. About five o'clock
preparations were made for the pedestrian to
stop and rest Blankets were spread, and a
chair was placed beside the track for him to
sit in but he paid but little attention to his
friends and kept on his course. Finally he
halted dropped into chair, and was i'm
mediately covered with blanket. He ate
rapidly from bowl Of crackers and coffee,
and in an incredibly short space he was on his
journey again. A child with golden curls
threw him kisses, and as he moved away her
silver voice babe him good bye. By dusk the
white ruf1ed shirt had changed to a dingy
brown, and the ''patent feathers" were
covered with dust. The crowd continued to
increase with the speed of the pedestrian.
There were ladies and gentlemen from the
avenues, and with few exceptions, the audi
ence was composed of such people as one
would expect to see at a lecture or concert.
Perhaps it is for this reason that the members
of the sporting fraternity are so loud in their
denunciations of the great walker. By 3
o'clock all the seats were occupied and every
car brought more people to the spot. The
excitement increased every moment and the
band played with renewed vigor. Weston
continued to increase his speed as the hour
of 10 approached. The police were active
but they found it no easy task to keep back
the excited multitude. Twelve minutes ahead
was announced, and the vast building rang
with cheers. "One mile more gentlemen"
was the cry, and then the crowd swayed to
and fro and the band played favorite selec-
tions from Offenbach. Weston seemed to
gain strength he walked, and the waiter
had to run when he wished to communicate
with him. Toward the close of the great feat
a smile illumined the pedestrians face, and
an arch of uplitted arms spanned the pathway
nearly around the rink. "Thirteen minutes
and So seconds ahead" cried one of the
judges, as the hero stepped on the platform,
aud clasped his wife and child, He then
walked four times around the rink backward,
making the following time. The distance is
half mile LIST time, minutes AZ seconds;
I'd time, minutes 40 seconds; Sd time, 2
minutes 33 seconds; 4th time, minutes 81
seconds. Total, 10 minutes 81 seconds.
The time consumed by Mr.. Weston in
walking the so miles was . hours SO minutes
and So seconds, according to the City Sur
veyOr's measurement.