The San Francisco call., 1910-06-21

Wit the best part of 1000 miles be-
fore him, the record of a famous pc
oestrian TO beat and a chance at a
$1,000 purse. Jack Eldredge, an mex
. 2erienced athlete. 2e years old, set out
from Boston on March IS. He arrived
in san Francisco at o'clock last night.
The holder Of the new worlds record
across the continent and the winner of
the purse. just q days from the time
.lle set out. if allowance is made for a
days rest in Albany. \. Y, because of
an INJURY. and day in Sacramento that
2se. might deliver to Governor Gillett
q message from Governor Eben 5.
Draper Of Massa chusetts.
ile has the better of Edward Payson
Weston's record by IS days and also has
beaten the Iatter's record for a days
Wall1 by three hours, making 10 miles
il 20 hours. where Weston made -.
D. despite his final trudge yesterday
from Benicia 10 san Francisco, Eldredge
was without the least signs of fatigue
alld told with animation the details of
il1s "trip. When asked why he made
tire venture he replied:
a number Of fellows and myself be-
came interested in Weston's walking
-3ecords. and after several meetings the
p BQston athletic club offered me $4,000
If I could make the trip in 100 days
eIs>under."
Eldredge's journey ran through Al
hanr Buffalo. Chicago. Des Moines,
tt1aha, Cheyenne. ogden and Reno.
From omaha the young pedestrian took
30 the railroad ties. which he followed
for a distance Of 1000 miles. 1t was
tJ6-tween Beowawe and C5olconda, New,
1hat he made the IS mile record the day
f6llawing which he walked 90 miles
afteE eight hours sleep. During the
same week he covered the distance of
, Is miles.
."The hardest part Of the journey"
4 said the young walker. was from Og-
den TO Reno. 1t was nothing but 500
lnfres Of desert and sage brush, with
ont any water or people. That was
the only part Of the trip that fatigued
me TO any extent. In the start 1 went
upder forced drsught for a few days,
Going something over so miles a day.
That was TO get good lead But for
the day I spent in Albany because of
an injury to my left foot caused by a
failing stone in the Berkshire noun
Lains. and the day in Sacramento, I
would have arrived in the city Satur-
dsg night ] had the record and the
pBrse. so what was the use of rushing?
There were times when I wanted to
Quit sheer determination TO accom-
uish the thing / had started to do kept
me going. There were lonesome spells.
particularly on the desert If il hadn't
been for the kindness OF the railroads
IN the stretch l don't know what I
should have done. They looked out for
me all the way. telegraphing ahead for
the preparation Of meals. Where it
was particularly hot they had cold
water for me. ! want to thank them
Tor what they have done.
The weather was exceptional all
along. ] nearly got stuck in the snow
5u the mountains a couple Of times. but
was fortunate that il was no worse.
TO rthe most part ] managed to escape
by going through the snoWsheds, but
let me tell you there is much better
walking than 1000 miles Of ties. II
gets mOnOtonOus.
Eldredge is a guest Of the Y NJ c. A.
II 1920 Geary street. 1t is his intention
10 stay in this city until September and
return TO his home in Camden. N J.. by
rail His plans are rather indefinite,
but. he has IN mind another great
ramp He would like to break the
English record Of 127 miles in "a hours.
or Thursday evening he will tell of his
eHDeriences before the Twentieth Cen
fury club in the J. NJ c. A. building.