Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1879 — Weston’s Walk and Failure in England. [ARTICLE]

Weston’s Walk and Failure in England.

Weston’s attempt to cover the unprecedented distance of 2,000 miles in 1,000 hours has failed, after a gallant struggle with all the worst of luck throughout in the shape of one of the most trying winters known for many years. With all the bad roads in the kingdom to travel over in their very worst condition, and with large crowds at every city, town, and village to contend with, Weston has just failed by twenty-two and one-half miles to complete in the specified time an almost unparalleled task in the annals of pedestrianism. On his arrival at Windsor on Tuesday evening he had sixty-five miles to go, and twenty hours to do it in; but the excitement of his reception playing upon his highly-strung nervous system completely prostrated him, and he failed just as the prize appeared within his grasp. He left 4he Castle Hotel at 11:35, accompanied by one of the judges, in a close conveyance, and proceeded as far as the twenty-second milestone on the Bath road, when he dismounted, and was soon trudging away on foot at a good pace until the fourteenth stone, when he turned and came back to the twenty-first, making the fifteen miles at 3:20 yesterday morning. He then rested for fifty minutes in the carriage. This was sufficient, as he had to repeat his nap directly afterwards. On resuming, he reeled all over the road like a drunken man, and had to be twice saved from falling into a ditch, and he again lay down till 7, at which period all chance of success had gone. He now went on slowly, and by 8:50 had knocked of 25 miles since midnight, leaving him 40 to do, and 6£ hours to do it in. He rested till 10:25 for breakfast, when he started and walked out 3 miles on the Maidenhead road and back; this he repeated, making 12 miles. He then retraced his steps 2| miles and back, which with an extra half mile into Slough, made 17| since breakfast. While resting here, time—4:os—expired,his jjecord for 1,000 hours being 1,977| miles. He left at 5:15 in order to finish his distance. About 10:30 he passed through Hammersmith. He expected to reach the Royal Exchange about midnight.— London News-