The Elbert County tribune., 1909-07-15

breeze, as If in greeting, seemed to
rise out of Golden Gate, San Francis
co and make the home stretch to the vwm
Frisco city hall more pleasant vNM
Greeted by the people of San Fran vTz#
cisco with even more hospitality than vzX#
he had experienced along the route, II
such condition were possible this
interesting old man indeed at the
height of his glory.
Think of it-you who brag about r.
ten-mile feat of pedestrianism-this
72year-old New Englander during his
years of walking, has traversed more
than $4,000 miles, which is the dis
tance around the world. land and wa.
ter included.
His latest achievement was accom-.
plished at a rate of 46 miles each dav
hard proposition in consideration of
the fact that Weston returned the
public's little courtesies by address.
ing his admirers along the route Il
Some days over level country where
fast time was possible, he would me-
gotiate SO and 60 miles. The record
was set when on his walk from Port.
land, Me-. to Chicago year ago. he accom-
plished a stretch of 80 miles in a 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 audience as well as he
can walk long distances. never lost sight of
".
hale hearty and picture of color, he laughed
gayly at mention of the vicissitudes which he
compelled to undergo in making good in
his determination to span the continent afoot.
Facing the sun-baked western deserts he
wore the 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 dawn break over the
town of Lucin, and he several miles to the
west. walking with the same steady stride
which marked his progress along better roads
in the east
He suffered a slight injury from a fall in the
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
trtan. 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 VI iiiihois "hich
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 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 a tramp of 61 miles. and he