Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1879 — The Great Pedestrian Contest. [ARTICLE]

The Great Pedestrian Contest.

- _L- New Tons, March 15. The last nightibf the great pedestrian contest equaled, indeed exceeded, the opening night in point of both numbers and enthusiasm. At seven o’clock fully 7,000 people were present The pedestrians were encouraged by the most hearty applause. .Ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and threw several bouquets at the contestants as they Eassed along, and men threw their ats in the air. and yelled themselves hoarse. The excitement was .something tremendous. Early in the afternoon it tvas conceded that Rowell would take ' the belt. Interest was then centered upon Harriman making the 450 miles necessary to secure a share of the gate money. Harriman walked very lame, and appeared to suffer great pain, but he struggled along, gamely and steadily, nearer his goal. Ennis was in tine form during the evening, and made some very quick miles. He was quite fresh, and entirely free from lameness, lie made spurt after spurt, both running and walking, and the applause that greeted him was immense. About 6:30 this afternoon Rowell, Harriman and Ennis were all on the track together, and Rowell, overtaking Harriman, linked his arm and walked around, talking with him. TJie cheering was loud, but when Ennis came along and linked with Harriman on the other side, applause bur-t forth in, a deafening roar. They marched around arm in arm, and dozens of bouquets were hurled at them. The judges announced that two laps were taken from the score of each man for having received support while going twice around the track. Ennis completed his 455th mile at 4:23:26, bie 460th mile at 5:38:45** and his 465th at 7:32:16. He left the track at 6:39:20 and returned at 6:23:55, and left again at 7:33 for a short rest. Harriman finished his 435th mile at 3:32:40, and his 440th mile at 4:47:55, and his 445th mile at 7:31:22. It then became certain that he would turn his 450 fuiles and earn his share of the gate money. He left the track at 4:48:30, and took a good rest until 6:14, when he again appeared. He had evidently more friends in the building than the other two. Rowell finished his 48lst mile at 4:13:17, and kept on walking and running alternately, finishing his 485th mile at 5:13:44. Remaining on the track, at 7:29:30 he had completed his 491 th mile. As Harriman neared his 45<Mi mile, and Rowell was closing up to Sis 500th, the spectators became perfectly wild with excitement, and, as Harriman turned his 450th mile, and great white figures on the blackboard announced the result, a storm of applause seldom heard burst forth, and lasted fully ten minutes. He completed his 450 miles at 8:42, and a man had to carry around before him several immense bouquets, presented by his lady friends. He carried a small American flag over his shoulder, and this incident increased, if it were possible, the enthusiasm. When the figures 500 went up opposite Rowell’s name on the blackboard the excitement can scarcely be imagined. This was three minutes to nine o’clock. Then he put on his ulster and carrying the American flag over his right shoulder and an immense bouquet in his left hand, he marched around the track twice, a Captain of police on one side and his trainer on the other. The band played “ God Save the Queetr.’i The enthusiasm hiah. Rowell then left the track for good with n sooro of eoo Ho went at once to the Ashland House, was bathed and rubbed down, and went to bed for four hours, when he is to be waked up. He was received at the hotel by some twenty ladies and congratulated. Ho seemed to be a pretty well used-up man. Harriman completed 450 miles and 3 laps at 8:45:40, and then he retired from the track for good. He was surrounded by a host of friends, who brought him out of the garden by the Fourth avenue entrance and placed him in a carriage, and he was driven to the St. James Hotel. He was accompanied by his doctor. Various floral gifts given to Rowell and Harriman were taken to their hotels after them. Ennis alone remained on the track* and he was walking to win a bet of $1,500. He had backed himself to make 475 miles and was determined to win it He was cheered lustily, the crowd remaining notwithstanding it was generally known that both Rowell and Harrituan had left the garden. Ennis continued at a good pace and turned his 470th mile at 8:53:25 and completed 475 miles at 10:57. The applause was tremendous, Ennis running his 475th mile in 6 minutes and 55 seconds, the fastest of the contest. This concluded the great walking match, and the vast crowd slowly dispersed. The official score for the match at ten o’clock, when it closed, was: Rowell, 500 miles and 180 yards; Ennis, 475 miles; Harriman, 450 miles 3 laps and 140 yards. The men were off the track during the whole six days as follows: Rowell, 38 hours 42 minutes and 60 seconds; Ennis, 86 hours 21 minutes and 33 seconds; Harriman, 38 hours 1 minute and 21 seconds. The total receipts durhtg the contest were $51,000. At the beginning of the match it was decided that SI,OOO should be set apart out of the receipts for the man or men who failed to cover 450 miles. O'Leary thus will receive SI,OOO. At half-past ten the lights in the main building of the garden were turned out, and the great international pedestrian contest for the championship of the world was settled for th e present. The total number of miles made by each man on each day of the match was as follows: Bnrri- — Smrdf. ——<na«. Fin* day HO jj* MS Third day-.., gS '8 §§ Fourth day 77 §6 55 Sixth day....... 72 ___ 70 60 T0ta1....7r... 800 478 450 —Several years ago Gov. Carroll, of Maryland, and S. Teakle Wallis, of the same State, had a falling out over an election. At the alumni dinner of tho John Hopkins University, on the 22d of February, it was arranged unknowingly that the two gentlfemen should sit side by aide. As the company rose to go to the table there was a general falling back, leaving the two at the front. Mr. Wallis with much grace advanced and grasped Gov. Carroll’s hand* they linked arms and walked in together, exchanging the first words since tho quarrel. As they sat down Gov. Carroll expressed his regretslhat there had ever been any misunderstanding, and Mr. Wallis hearflly returned the sentiment. — N. Y. Evening Post. ' /■' trk' - ' 4 \ —JohnC. Howard, who died recently, in Paris, Ky., was the tallest man in the Stal^ a half inches high. He weighed Y 67 pounds. His parents and children 4 are all more than six feet high, f ~ _