The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-26
WESTON WILL MAKE 1T.
Former Record VIII Be Beaten by
About "a Hours.

Chicago, Nov 2e.-Edward Payson
Weston, SO years old. is scheduled to
walk into Chicago at p. m. today,
or thereabouts, at the rate of five
miles an hour. and complete, at the
steps of the New Illinois Athletic club,
a Misunderstanding walk of 1890 miles
from Portland. Maine. begun Octo-
Der 20.
If Weston finishes his walk as ar
ranged-and there Is every chance
that he will. for at O'Clock this
morning he was resting at Chester
ton, Ind, but forty miles away-he
will have done what he set out to do
and beaten the record established by
himself forty years ago, when, in his
prime as pedestrian, he was one of
the champion walkers of the world.
His record for the distance made
when he was 20 years of age, was 26
secular days, for Weston never walks
on Sunday. If he finishes his present
performance in Chicago this after
noon, he will have beaten the record
of his younger days by several hours.
According to the dispatches sent
out from towns at which he has
touched along the route, weston has
been getting faster rather than slower,
in his promenade for many days past.
acute Indigestion, which hampered
his speed. OF late however, he has
been in perfect physical condition,
and has been reeling off the miles
AT the rate OF nVe per nOur WIN as
little apparent trouble as the average
broker negotiates the distance be-
tween the club and the motor car at
the curb
The New Illinois Athletic club will !
have a reception committee in auto |
mobiles at South Chicago to greet |
Weston when he hits that part of the |
route. There will also be a detach- |
ment of the First regiment as a guard |
of honor. and a bugle corps.
Not the least interesting part of /
throng that will greet Weston will be |
the old-timers who cheered him when |
he entered Chicago forty years ago. |
There are thousands of men still liv-
ing who were present when Weston
came down Michigan avenue on No
vember %. 1857. whipping his mus
''swagger'' stick which he carried.
Among the features of the reception
will be the appearance of Alderman
Mangler at Michigan avenue and
Twenty-second street, driving zone
horse shay''-exactly the same vehicle
as was used in 1867 by S. D. Nc
CURE. ST., when he drove to welcome
Weston.
The long hike of Weston was be-
gun On October 29.' when he left the
postoffice at Portland bearing a letter
to be delivered at the postoffice in
Chicago to the postmaster or his
representative. Weston's schedule
called for his arrival here by Novem-
Der 27. but he has constantly kept
ahead of the schedule. If he reaches
the city this afternoon he will beat
the record of 1857 by nearly "a hours.
Weston has met with a good deal of
difficulty on the present trip because
of muddy roads, but in spite of that
handicap he has steadily maintained
his advantage over the demands of his
schedule. The only advantage the
pedestrian has in his present attempt
in comparison with the walk when he
was a young man is that the roads on
the average are much better now
than they were then over the route
During the entire trip Weston has
been met with such enthusiasm along
the route, towns turning out en- masse
to greet him.
1t is stated that Weston intends to
make a lecture out of his experiences
on the present trip. He has already
done a considerable amount of lecture
work and is declared to have made
d success of it. Weston is most en-
thusiastic believer in the virtues of Z
which he pronounces a cure
all for the ills of humanity.
Weston's walk of forty years ago
ended on November 81. the date of
departure from Portland being the
same as on the present attempt. He
reached Chicago in the morning, and
t was estimated that he was well
,omed by throng of $4,000 persons,
who cheered his pluck and per-
'istence to the echo. The occasion
argely took on the nature of a public
and many shops closed so ..
hat the employees might take part in al
he reception. His arrival in Chi D,
,ago on that occasion was the finale
% walk which had interested almost Fl
he entire country NJ