Weston's Great Walk.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 52, 31 May 1884, Page 5

Weston's Great Walk.

Amid a scene of great enthusiasm on Saturday evening Edward Payson Weston brought his extraordinary attempt to cover 5,000 miles within 100 days to a successful issue at the Victoria Palace, WaterlooRoad. The task, which was under taken under the auspices of the Church of England Temperance Society, was commenced on November 21st, and since that period Weston, in strict compliance with the conditions governing the walk, has covered a distance of fifty miles every secular day except Christmas, and then the necessary miles were made up, according to stipulation, during the same week. He has suffered from two serious drawbacks on the tour. The first was a severely blistered heel, which from the first neglect developed to such an extent that it threatened to break him down, and he was told by several medical men that he would inevitably have to stop. He, however, in spite of the pain, struggled on for the first 3,000 miles, and then, notwithstanding the continual strain, the sore healed over, and, though at times it caused him some anxiety, it gave no serious inconvenience during the rest of the journey. The second drawback was of a financial character, but that, a\ ith the help of a few friends, was also tided over, and he re-entered the metropolis on the 8th instant, after an absence of nearly sixteen weeks. During the effort he has travelled over the greater part of England. The last 300 miles nave been covered at the Victoria Palace, where he commenced the one hundredth day's task shortly before seven on Saturday morning. He walked as freshly and as well as on any previous part of his labours. He marched the last few miles jauntily in step to the music, and was frequently the recipient of bouquets. Just before the end he started to make a fast mile, and, spurting from end to end, he managed to cover the 4,999th mile in 9.17, the quickest by over a minute during the whole task. After this outburst a speed Watson settled down to his old gait, and at 9.30 o'clock completed the 5,000 miles, and placed on record a performance without parallel in the annals of pedestrianism. At the finish the entire company rose up and cheered vehemently, Weston bowing his acknowledgments from the stage.— " London Standard," Marcli 17th.