Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-14
WESTON. FAMOUS PEDESTRIAN,
DIES, AN INVALID AT END
Helpless Since Being Struck
by TaxiCab Two Years
Ago.
Began Career as Walker,
Serving as Spy in Union
Army.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 14-Edward Pay
son Weston. famous long-distance
pedestrian, died yesterday. He was 90
years old.
The man who at the age of 10
walked 1896 miles from New York to
San Francisco, in 104 days and hours,
spent his last days in wheel chair.
He had been an invalid since being
struck by taxicab two years ago.
Shortly after the taxicab accident he
was found wandering about the streets
Of New York in daze.
Anne Nichols, author Of "Abie'S Irish
Rose" established trust fund for him
which yielded an income OF $3.50 a
month. With this money Miss Anna
O'Hagan, for 81 years his secretary,
cared for the aged pedestrian in his
quarters in Brooklyn.
Weston began his career as q walker
while serving as spy in the Union
Army in the Civil War. Later his re-
markable ability to cover ground
enabled him to beat rival reporters
when he was on the stan Of the New
York Herald. He was friend OF Horace
Greeley and was at the deathbed OF the
| famous editor.
His first long walk was at the age Of
| "a, when he trudged from Boston to
washington to attend the inauguration
Of President Lincoln, covering the 443
miles in 208 hours.
He began his career as q professional
walker in 1867, when he walked from
Portland. Me-. to Chicago, 1926 miles,
in IS days.
He took part in a great many contests
and exhibitions in America and Europe.
| In 1879 he won the Ashley belt, in Eng
land, by covering $50 miles In 141 hours
and a minutes.
Mr.. Weston, whose first claim as a
ong-distance walker dated back to
1861, had been i'll since he was struck
by taxicab here two years ago. Re-
Gently, after taking @ ride out in a
wheel chair on his Goth birthday. he
had expressed the hope that he might
be able to engage In walking in warm
weather.
Twice in 1925 the aged pedestrian was
found wandering through the streets Of
New York apparently in a daze. some
time after disappearing from Philadel-
phia. where he then resided. Before his
second disappearance his niece, Mrs
Anna OHagen, expressed the opinion
that he had gone away because he was
unable to bear the thought that he, all
his savings gone, was forced to live on
her slender income and might even be-
come public charge.
A little more than two years ago he
was found nearly destitute in tiny East
Side fiat. He had applied for job as a
messenger to save himself, 1t was said.
from starvation. Friends contributed
money and food and the New York
Press Club, taking the initiative because
Weston once had been police reporter
in New York, organized a committee to
administer a fund for the pedestrian
and designated 100 newspapers through
out the country to receive public sub
scriptions.
Meanwhile, the man who had walked
across the continent In 100 days suf-
fered a paralytic stroke in his little nat.
Later a $4,000 fund was set aside for
him by Anne Nichols, playwright and
producer, which assured him $3.50
monthly income.
Two years ago, somewhat improved
| in health. Mr.. Weston had a cheerful
88th birthday as guest of honor at a
luncheon of the Press Club. On that oc-
casion he was presented with solid
silver figure of a winged Victory in
Scribed to "E. p. Weston, Champion
Walker" A short time later he was
1