The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-11-28
WESTON REACHES CHICAGO
AGED PEDESTRIAN COMPLETES
TRAMP FROM PORTLAND.
Greeted by Cheering Crowds of Peo-
pie as He Enters Outskirts Of
the Metropolis.

United Press Dispatch.
Chicago, Nov. 27.-Edward Payson
Weston began his triumphal entry in
to the heart of Chicago at 9:45 this
morning. Michigan avenue was lined
with people to greet the great pedes-
trian. He was escorted by twenty-five
mounted policemen to keep the people
back A committee from the Illinois
Athletic club attended him. and he
was cheered heartily all along the line.
Weston finished his thirteen hun
dred mile walk at 1876 this after:
noon. Thousands lined the route
Weston smiling and bowing all the
way. Autos and carriages followed
him. He walked from the post Office
to the athletic club, where he discard
ed his flannel shirt and donned new
suit After shining his own shoes he
put on white gloves. He shattered his
former record by a day.
Mr.. Weston arrived in the outskirts
of Chicago late Tuesday evening and
was almost within sight of the desti.
nation of his long journey. He was
greeted by concourse of people
which outdid his welcome 40 years
ago when more than $4,000 turned out
to greet him.
At that time that number was one
quarter of the population of Chicago,
but his latter-day feat aroused even
more excitement for it proved that he
still possessed the prowess of half 9
century ago.
Weston Tuesday completed the Her
culean task of walking 95.3 miles prac
tically without rest. The record-break
ing hike" was made when Weston
rapidly nearing Chicago, walked into
the Central hotel at Chesterton-4:
miles from Chicago-at 1888 a. m. He
left Chesterton at IL a. m. He begar
walking on the last lap of his long
journey from Portland, Me-, to Chi
cago, when he left Ligonier, Ind, 27
hours and 3S minutes before he
stepped into the Central hotel. In al
that time Weston stopped only twice
once at South Bend for food and again
at Laporte, Ind, where he ate supper
and rested an hour.
Mr.. Weston is seventy years old, but
is hale and hearty. The distance from
Portland, Maine, to Chicago is 1890
miles, and the feat completed today is
a repetition of similar feat performed
by him forty years ago. Born in
Portland in 1889, Weston is the son
of teacher and writer of textbooks
who was also man of rugged ply.
sique and health. Accustomed to long.
distance walking almost from infancy
Weston became a recognized factor in
pedestrianism in 1861, at which time
he walked from Boston 10 Washing
ton to witness the Inauguration oi
President Lincoln. He left the steps
of the Boston state house Feb. % oi
that year and arrived in Washington
March 3. having traversed distance
of 453 miles in 20S hours. The Bos
ton Washington trip was made in pay
ment of an election bet which he lost
but II revealed to him his powers, and
he went in for pedestrianism as pro
| fession.
In 1867 Weston aroused deep inter
est in this country in long-distanc'
walking by tramping from Portland !,
Chicago. 1t was an attempt to cove
the distance in thirty days over ordi
mary roads. On this walk he tried OF
four different occasions to cover 10l
miles in twenty-four hours, but failet
each time. At White Plains, N. Y.
Oct. 6, 1868, he succeeded in walking
100 miles in twenty-four hours. an,
later in New York City accomplished
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