The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-30 00:00:00

THE GREAT WALKING MATCH.

The six days' pedestrian competition at the Agricultural
Hall in London; closed on Saturday evening shortly after
eight o'clock, when O'Leary, who had travelled 52cl miles,
and beaten all competitors by 20 miles, was declared the
winner of the first prize. The distance accomplished is
stated to be the greatest on record.—We extract the fol-
lowing particulars respecting the match from Monday's
Standard :

The great walking match that commenced on Mon-
day, March 18, at the Agricultural Hall, at one
o'clock a.m., was brought to a conclusion on Saturday
evening (23rd), when, at ten minutes past eight,
O'Leary, the American long-distance champion, left
the track after walking 520 i miles, the greatest dis-
tance ever walked in the time; Vaughan, of Chester,
winning second prize after walking 500 miles; and
Brown third prize after walking 477 miles. '
The present match was promoted by Sir John Astley,
who guaranteed a silver belt value £lOO and a money
prize of £5OO to the first man, £lOO to the second, and
i',so to the third, the conditions being that each com-
petitor should make the best of his way on foot, either
walking or running, whoever accomplished the greatest
distance being declared the winner. The start took
place on Monday last at one o'clock in the morning,
and the hour for the finish was appointed at half-past
ten on Saturday.
Of the eighteen men who started those only whose
performances render them worthy of notice are
O'Leary, who finished first with 520 i miles to his
score Vaughan, who came in second, having gone
500 miles exactly; " Blower " Brown, third, who
walked and ran 477 miles 2 laps; George Ide, of
Woolwich, who went 405 miles 4 laps; J. Smith, 394
miles 6 laps, fifth; and W. Corkey, sixth, with 335
miles 2 laps.
Both O'Leary and Vaughan retired to rest on Friday
night about midnight, O'Leary having a lead of 14
miles. Vaughan was the first to return, as at 37
minutes past two o'clock he stepped once again upon
the track, looking very jaded, and commenced walk-
ing very stiffly at first. At three o'clock, however, he
was followed by O'Leary, who, like Vaughan, com-
menced walking very stiffly. O'Leary never again
left the track, save for a couple of minutes once or
twice to change his boots, till ten minutes past eight in
the evening, when he left, having won the greatest walk-
ing match on record. At three o'clock in the morning the
respective distances walked by each competitor were
—O'Leary 457 miles. pnd Vaughan 443. It soon be-
came apparent that Vaughan would be quite incapable
of decreasing this lead. At times Vaughan ran, and
between five and six o'clock increased his speed to six
miles an hour, but all in vain. O'Leary maintained one
steady pace throughout the day of close upon four miles
an hour, and gradually increased his lead, eventually
winning by twenty miles. At ten o'clock in the morn-
ing O'Leary had walked 48 i miles to Vaughan's 459,
by one o'clock 493 to Vaughan's 469, and by three
o'clock 500 miles to Vaughan's 477; O'Leary com-
pleting his 500 miles exactly at 47 minutes 7 seconds
past two o'clock, being 56 minutes better time than
the same distance has ever been walked in before. By
six o'clock O'Leary had gone 512 miles to Vaughan's
492, and by eight o'clock 520 to Vaughan's 500. At
this time there must have been nearly 20,000 persons
present in the hall shouting themselves hoarse, O'Leary,
though a foreigner, receiving quite as much applause
as his opponents, while the reserved enclosure, where
half-a-guinea was charged for admission, was occupied
by several hundreds of persons, amongst whom were
many members of both Houses of Parliament. Vaughan
had faired at 38 minutes past seven, and it was soon
rumoured that he did not intend reappearing again.
O'Leary had already equalled the best time on record
for a six days' walk, and consequently, after walking
round twice more, he very wisely retired also at ten
minutes past eight o'elock, the band playing "See the
conquering hero comes," the tune apparently working
up the already too much excited spectators to a state
bordering on frenzy. For some time, however, the
police, with considerable difficulty, restrained them.
Blower Brown, G. Ide, C. Smith, &a., persevered on
having all done really good performances, while they
were joined by some others who, having really done
nothing worth noticing, evidently desired to show
themselves elf before the multitude of persons present.
At last, at half-past eight, the mob broke through the
barriers, and all was over. The band played "God
Save the Queen," vigorously as a hint to go, while the
police gave the still broader hint of turning out the gas.
At last the 'huge multitude was dispersed, and the
great walking match was over.
O'Leary walked 117 miles on his first day, 83 on his
second, 88 on his third, 86 on his fourth, 83 on his fifth,
and 63 on his sixth and last day. Vaughan walked
102 miles on his first day, 82 miles on his second, 86
miles on his third, 90 on his fourth, 81 on his fifth, and
59 on his sixth and last day. . . .
O'Leary suffered considerably on the last day, having
caught a chill which affected his limbs, his legs being
very much swollen. His general health was, however,
good, and he was not so much fatigued as after his
walk with Weston. O'Leary was not in good training
when he started, having only just arrived from
America. His performance is, however, a most
wonderful one, and as an exhibition of pluck and
power of endurance is almost unequalled. O'Leary 'is
32 years of age, is a naturalised American, weighs
10st. 61b., and is 5f t. 81in. in height. He is a most
temperate man, never taking spirits, and as a rule one
pint of ale only in ordinary times, but none whatever
when walking a match. On visiting O'Leary on Sun-
day afternoon he seemed very well, the swelling in his
legs having nearly gone down. His feet were a little
blistered, and he was using sandpaper to reduce the
thickened skin that had collected in some places.

William Howes ha 's challenged Daniel O'Leary to
a six days' walking competition for £5OO a side, and
Sir John Astley's challenge belt, which the latter now
holds. The match is to take place within the next
six months, and Howes has already deposited £lOO as
evidence of his earnestness.