The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-12
WESTON IS AHEAD
Aged Pedestrian Spends Night
Mt Lakin.
Finds Good Roads In Western
Kansas.
SIX DAYS OF GRACE.
Says He VIII Beat His Schedule
to New York 10 Days.
Left California Feb. l-S0me of
His Past Records.

Lakin. Kan. March 12--Edward Pay
son Weston arrived here last evening
on his famous ocean to ocean walk, siz
days ahead of his schedule time. hale
and in fine physical condition. such in
f-ct that he says If his present condi-
ton continues he will be able TO reacn
the Atlantic ten days ahead OF the
schedule.
He says that western Kansas roads
are In excellent condition.
Weston stated that on his seventy
second birthday next Tuesday. he pro-
poses to walk so miles in "A hours
Six Days Ahead of Schedule.
Edward Payson Weston. the aged
pedestrian, who has undertaken to
cover the distance of 3.46o miles be-
tween Los Angeles and New York on
foot within 80 days. is scheduled to
make Strong City, 20 miles west of En-
poria and lisp miles from Los Angeles.
March %. (He Is now six days ahead
of schedule.) 1t is his ocean to ocean
walk in 80 days." He viii become
of youth of az years complain in
long Journeys, but west of the Mis-
souri, river he frequently will have the
comfort and good cheer afforded by
the famous Harvey hotels which strew
the way. and that is good deal. es-
pecialiy in the desert.
He Travelled westward in January on
No. 3 limited over the rails OF the
on the ties of the same line. or the
highways adjacent.
Left Santa Monica February 1.
He began at City hall, Los Angeles.
at D. m. Tuesday. February /. walk
ing westward to Santa Monica. which
lies on the Pacific shore. From Santa
Monica he turned about. facing east
ward, walking to Pasadena, where he
rested for the night; distance covered
the first day. Is miles The next day
he hit the Santa Fe right of way and,
like Halley's comet, we only get
giimpses Of him by telegraph. How
ever, unlike the comet he is beating
his schedule and promises to peg his
daily itinerary ahead OF time. For 1t
is in the bond that. although he rests
Sundays, he may take advantage of
weather and good roads. and speed
when he feels like it,
Enters Arizona on Lincoln's Birthday
February 10 he spent the night at
Needles, Cal, in Fred Harvey'S Ell
Garces hotel, and Saturday. February
IL, he crossed the Colorado river by
the Santa Fe bridge into Arizona This
was Linco1n's birthday. but he spent
the day on the road. observing Sun
day as the great emancipators ami
versary at the little station of Hack
berry.
And so he races down the valley.
sunshine and smiling landscape all the
way. At Great Bend, Kan, the course
to the exact center of the United
States, and thence he follows the rail
way southeasterly to Hutchinson Be-
You'd, over little divide is Newton,
and at Peabody he comes to the beau
tiful Cottonwood valley.
In Topeka About March 20.
Thence he travels down the valley
to Emporia, where he will meet Will
lam Allen White and eat dinner in
Mr.. Harvey's newest hotel. Here an
other little climb over divide. jog
ging along to Topeka. where he will
arrive about the goth of March. then
to Lawrence and Kansas City. Trav-
cling by way of Chicago, he is sched-
uled to arrive at City hall. New York
City, Tuesday, May II, p. m
March Is. 1909. Mr.. Weston under
took to cover the distance between
New York and San Francisco Within
100 days, but stress of heat and unex-
pected storms prevented, and he was
five days behind. Now he undertakes
the feat by route more favorable by
nature, and there is no doubt OF his
success.
From Boston to New York in 1861.
Mr.. Weston's first walking feats were
in 1858. when he was a New York
Herald pair of legs" chasing news
and doing other stunts on foot for the
elder Bennett. His first long walk was
from Boston to Washington in 1851 to
witness the Inauguration of President
Lincoln. Starting from the state house
February %, he reached the national
capitol March in time for the cere-
453 miles within 20S hours.
Accomplished Remarkable Feats.
In 1867 he walked the distance of
1926 miles between Portland Me.
and Chicago. ILL.,. within an hour and
20 minutes under 26 days. On this
walk he learned to conserve his
and take care of his feet. and
thereafter he was able to accomplish
feats He was on foot
most of the time. performing many
long distance journeys, until 1874.
Then he dropped out awhile. doing