Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1877 — Gale’s Great Walk. [ARTICLE]

Gale’s Great Walk.

The number of persons who passed through the wickets of the several entrances to the hall as the end of Gale’s one-thousand-mile walk drew near exceeded 10,000. Whatever doubts had previously existed among these and other people as to the Cardiff man’s power of accomplishing this feat—and if there had been no doubts there would have been no wagers—the universal feeling on the last day was one of certainty. It was almost a foregone conclusion that Gale would not only finish his performance, but would do so in perfect health and with positive ease. His only drowsiness has been at night, when, in fact, most other people are inclined to sleep, and so remarkable a control has he acquired over his habits of body that he can and does sleep as he walks. From 10 p. m. till 11:30 has been the usual period of his fast sleep. Then he would become wakeful for an hour or two; then sleep pretty soundly for half an hour, and finally take a doze, or halfslumber, between 4 and 6 in the morning. After that he was wide awake for the day, and could always talk briskly about himself and his undertaking. At 9 o’clock on Saturday morning Gale ate a mutton chop for breakfast; he had a good dinner of roast chicken at 2, and at 5 he diecussed a sole. But though his appetite was nearly as good as on Friday, when lie was not only well in health, but calm and self-pos-sessed, the excitement of the finishing day, with its crowds, noise and preparations for a public demonstration affected him naturally enough. He felt sick, his pulse was somewhat weaker than on any previous day, and, for the second time only since he began his walk, a small dose of Draniiy was given him. This had a complete restorative effect, and shortly after it he had tea, toast and an egg. The only alcoholic stimulant he has taken since the beginning of his task has been brandy, the quantity in all amounting to four table-spoonfuls. He had increased his pace notably in all his last quartermiles; and with this excessive energy came a feverish heightening of the pulse, easily to be accounted for by the shouts, the loud music, and the general tumult of the incoming crowds. His last quarter-mile but one was actually raced in 2 minutes 42 seconds; and the little crowd that followed had to break into a scrambling sort of trot. Then his pulse was as high as 120, but it subsided in about a minute to 112. Then, at 10:50, the bell rang for the last time, and Gale came out of his tent amid great noise of cheering and triumphal music. Every one expected he would make an attempt to beat his hitherto best time—2 minutes and 25 seconds—but few thought him equal to the wonderful pace he actually showed. A little crowd again went round with him, but not one of them could maintain the walking step, and the extraordinary spectacle was beheld of the fresh men trotting to keep up with one who had all but walked a thousand miles. Cheer upon cheer rose from all parts of the crowded hall, drowning the most strenuous efforts of the band and sending the excitement up to fever heat as the last few yards were rapidly covered and the great task was finished. Then, without waiting a minute, Gale was escorted through the crowd to the judge’s stand, where Sir John Astley girded his waist with a belt of crimson velvet and massive silver. But the belt was too large, so, amid much applause and some little merriment, it was slung across one of his shoulders. —London Telegraph.