Gilpin observer., 1909-07-15

life came when the cool afternoon
breeze. II in greeting. seemed to
rise out of Golden Gate San Francis
and make the home stretch to the n
Frisco city. hall more pleasant vB !
Greeted by the people of San Fran e
cisco with even more hospitality than 49,
he had experienced along the route II
such condition were possible. this II
interesting old man was indeed at the 25
height of his glory.
Think of it-you who brag about a
ten-mile feat of pedestriansm-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 day.
a hard proposition in consideration of
the fact that Weston returned the
publics little courteses by address
ing his admirers along the route
Some days over level country wbere N
fast time possible he would me- N
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 30 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 an audience as well as he
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 sun-baked 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 ut 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 $3.50 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 .....,.,. IHh. lH. r.
He suffered a slight injury from u 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 ut 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
trian. 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 II
such was the case young Mr.. Weston failed to
see the lack OF hospitality. rrlf.1E
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 61 miles. aud he