The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1909-05-22
Weston, the walker.

weston, the walker.
Way back in the SOS Edward Wes-
ton began to make walks on wagers
and has been at it ever since all over
the world, and has become famous
Mr.. G. NJ. Cox saw him in his great
walk in England in the 1905 and C.
w. Miller in his contest with O'Leary
in New York in the 7O's, while others
saw his famous walk from Portland,
Maine to Chicago in 1867 and New York
to Chicago in 1876 At pm. on March
18th, the day he was Il years old, he
left New York City on a trip to walk
1855 miles to San Francisco in 100 days.
Grainfeld is just half way and he
reached there on his Sind day and feels
miles yet to walk, an average of forty
two miles day. He has been watched
by crowds all the way so far and feels
as chipper as the day he started. The
papers have had full accounts of hs
trip and the big city papers keep re-
cord every day of his location and sue
cess. The great New York Times is
paying the expensee of his trip so he.
asks no favors, ellis nothing but just
keeps pattering on his way. AS no
told Mr.. Carrick, cit is not question
of walking fast, but one of endurance.
Can he keep it up 100 days? President
Roosevelt showed its Importance by
requiring army officers to take long
walks or rides, to see what they could
do IN case of war, and every old soldier
remembers his long marches in the
army life.
The telephone here very kindly kept
our people in close touch with his trav-
els when he reached Russell, later Vic
toria and then Toulon. Our people
turned out in crowds to see and greet
him. The Kansas City Star man, with
two photographers, Miller and Wood.
took REQ auto and met him out be-
yond the Mcclure timber claim, four
miles out, and got good pictures of
Weston on the tramp, showing how he
looked and walked after fifty days of
travel, and those with the ones Have
took showing his reception in Hays,
will be published in the K c. Star and
New York papers. The Star man
walked with him to town to his hotel
and started him west on his journey.
Mr.. Thomas Carrick met him east of
town and gave him pail of iced milk
from his dairy which gratified and re-
freshed the old walker.
At the Bell hill, over a mile out, 3
crowd met him and walked with him
to town. Frank King and Will Roenn-
feldt proved expert walkers and good
body guards to keep back the crowds.
A novelty that pleased him was for
ladies' to accompany him in his walk.
Miss Maggie McLain and her cousin
from Vermont, Miss Averill came out
a couple miles and walked into town
with him, showing their interest in the
old man. At the bridge east Of town
a big crowd greeted him, while Juniata
street was crowded with watchers, and
the Boys Band, with Or. Marty as
leader gave him warm welcome, and
his telegram to the N. Y. papers said:
cat Hays he was greeted by the whole
population and the Boys band in full
uniform and escorted to the hotel for
dinner. He was overjOyed at his re-
ceptiOn at Hays and the Band boys
turning out was gratifying to the ole
man.
/ After rest of half an hour and din.
ner he started up Chestnut street anC
out South Main to Reeder's. where h.
took to the railroad track until ne cam
to the road again, and was aeconpani. {
by large crowd, who grad Tally dropp, {
out, but the young boys Lawrence Cole
Lester Jewell, Ciaud Wilson, Franz
Jewell and Joe Coleman, walked witt
him all the way to Yocemento.
He does not walk fast bu- he's
steady, quick gait and walks on nj
toes rather than his II -els, wirh his cd.
bent forward to- give him elasticity
He reached Ellis on time and went o.
to Wakeehey, the tweniy-nine mile
and reached there about midnig ht
making fifty-six miles for the day
He rested at Wakecney until Monday
as he never walks Of Sunday, following
the instructions given by his mother
of resting on the Sabbath day.
Several Of our people who had kodac
got fine pictures as remembrance Q
the OcassiOn. He had never been j
3 Kansas before and was much please
with its climate and general show o
prosperity and its hospitality. He ha
read much about Old Fort Hays an
wa well posted rs to its past histOxy