Evening journal., 1910-05-02
BIG WELCOME
FOR WESTON
Aged Pede Strian Royalty Re-
CeiVed on His Arrival
at New York

NEW YORK, May 2.-When Eide
ward Payson Weston has proved to
his own mind that walking will bring
health and strength TO the most sick
ly. The old man, he was seventy-one
on March 10. today completed his
walk across the continent in seventy
eight walking days, and he finishes, he
declares. In wonderful health.
Weston reached One Hundred and
Twenty-hfth street and Broadway,
Harlem, at 1890 o'clock a half hour
ahead Of his planned schedule. He
was accompanied by a troop OF miunt-
ed policemen and crowd of amateur
walkers.
Weston continued on his way to the
Ansonia at Seventy second street and
Broadway for luncheon.
The veteran pedestrian was given a
continuous ovation a she walked down
Broadway. The street was lined with
men, women and children who cheer
ed as Weston, surrounded by mounted
and fot police, marched steadily south
ward
He reached the Ansonia Hotel at
i2 O'Clock He took a short rest and
ber Of raw eggs had been beaten.
81 feel in fine enough fettle to start
right back again, if 7 had to-" said
Weston. 81 am glad TO be able to
show that the old fellow is far from a
back number"
He said he expected to take the lee
ture platform within a few days and
preach the doctrine Of health through
exercise.
While Weston was in his hotel the
crowd grew to such proportions that
the police reserves had to be called
out.
Weston left the City Hall at Santa
Monica. California. on February 1,
1910. bearing a letter from Mayor
George Alexander Of Los Angeles to
Mayor Gaznor Of New York. He said
to-day:
HAD I been As instead Of Il, I
should have been able to walk the
$500 miles across the continent in sixty
instead Of rs days. But il was a
great walk all the same and suppose
it viii he my last long one. But I'll
keep on doing 10 or u miles every day
to keep in physical condition"
When he left Yonkers this morning.
l
lighter than when he started from New
York last January to go TO California
by rail.
But his eyes are just as clear and his
step as firm.
Weston is glad to be away from Cali
fornia
IF I owned a house in san francisco
and one in Hell I'd rent the one in Fris-
CO." he declares. Los Angeles isn't much
better. There are lot Of unprincipaled
people out there"
Since he left Santa Monica, the aged
i pedestrian has been handicapped by a
number OF accidents. In Arizona he fell
| through a trestle and severely injured his
left leg, but continued his walk. on March
% ,one week after his list birthday. he
was twice overcome by the heat. After
leaving Chicago he encountered wretchoc
weather. but ended the journey twelve
DAYS ahead of schedule.
Weston was born in Providence. r. L.
March Is 1889. As child he was weak an6
sickly As boy and young man he show.
ed no especial powers OF endurance ol
athletic prowess. From the time he begar
pedestrianism, in his eighteenth year n,
has been in wonderful health.
In 1861 Weston walked to Washington
from Boston, to attend the Inauguration
OF President Lincoln. He covered the As
miles i'm 2oS hours.
Weston began his career as profes
sional walker In 1865 when he walked from
Portland, Maine, to Chicago, 1926 miles n
26 days. In October, 1868. over measure,
road In West Chester county, he wake,
100 miles I'm % hours and 10 minutes. II
January and February. 1869, he wake,
through New England for distance o
loss miles in 30 days, most Of the tim,
IN the snow. Two years later in ST
Louis, he walked 200 miles in a hours
making two Of the miles backwards.
In 1875, in Newark. he walker 50 mile,
IN Industrial Hall IN I'VE days % hour,
and sS minutes. In 1906. at the invita-
ton Of physicians, he walked from tn,
City Han IN Philadelphia to New York
100 miles, in % hours 81 minutes sleepint
but thirty minutes
On October %. 1901 Weston started Z,
beat his Portland. Maine to Chicago wall
and took % hours of il.
Starting March Is. 1909, from New York
Weston tried to walk TO San Francisco b,
devious route in 100 days. Owing to thu
terrible weather he encountered he accom-
plished only 1895 miles in 1Oi days an,
! seven hours