Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-07-21
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lie came when the cool afternoon
breeze, as if in greeting, seemed to
rise out of Golden Gate, San Francis.
co and make the home stretch to the -
Frisco city hall more pleasant #
Greeted by the people of San Fran. &SSas
cisco with even more hospitality than Ks%
he had experienced along the route, If
such condition we're possible, this
interesting old man was indeed at the
height of his glory.
Think of it-you who brag about
ten-mile feat of pedestranism-this
72-year-old New Highlander during his
years of walking, has traversed more
than $4,000 miles, which is the dis
lance around the world, lapd and wa
ter included.
His latest achievement was accom-
plished at rate of 46 miles each day,
a hard proposition in consideration of
the fact that Weston returned the
public's little courtesies by address.
ing his admirers along the route,
Some days over level country where n
fast time possible, he would ne II
gotiate so and go miles. The record =
was set when on his walk from Port.
land, Me-, to Chicago a year ago, he accom-
plished stretch of 90 miles in day. Then,
however, he walked almost the entire "a hours
Always carrying regulation breakfast food
smile this quaint old character, who, by the
way, can address an audience as we'll as he
walk long distances, never lost sight OF
the optimistic side of his venture. Happy,
hale, hearty and a picture of color, he laughed
gayly at mention of the Vicissitudes which he
was compelled to undergo In making good in
his determination to span the continent afoot.
Facing the sunbaked western deserts, he
wore the same typical Yankee smile. Only
once did the relentless heat of the sands cause
him to falter That was, when in crossing the
Great Salt Lake desert on the twenty-second
of June he was forced to stop and rest almost
two hours at Lemay, Utah. He rested almost
against his will, but he realized that the little
snatch Of sleep at Lemay was for the best.
Leaving Hogup, Utah, at $50 that morning,
he started his desert tramp. That night he
was at Lucin, Al miles away. At four o'clock
the next morning he saw dawn break over the
town of Lucin, and he was several miles to the
west, walking with the same steady stride
which marked his progress along better roads
in the east.
west, and this hurt augmented by the effects
of the heat, promised to make his daily walks
shorter Sheer persistence kept him at his
task and his will power Overcame his all
ments Consequently, when he crossed the
west state line of Utah, he was in splendid
physical condition.
All was not milk and honey for the pedes-
TRAN At Laramie, Wyoming, his manager
forced him to stay indoors for an entire half
day in order to conserve his energy
Perhaps the states east of Illinois which
greeted Weston year ago when he made his
memorable trip from Portland, Me-, to Chi
cago, were not quite as enthusiastic over the
aged pedestrian as they were in 1908, but if
such was the case young Mr.. Weston failed to
see the lack Of hospitality.
One of the speediest laps" which the walk
er accomplished before entering California,
was that from Ogden to Hogup, Utah. Leav-
ing Ogden one hour after midnight he reached
the smaller city late in the afternoon of the
same day. 1t was tramp of 81 miles, and he