The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-02 00:00:00

A WALKING COMPETITION.

A walking competition of a most interesting descrip-
tion was brought to a conclusion on osaturday night
last at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, London. The
walk was promoted by Mr. R. Lewis. It was to last
twenty-six hours, the man who covered the longest
distance to receive a championship silver belt and £lOO
in money, the second £29,, third, £lO, and fourth £5.
There were forty-five entries in all, but, as this number
might have proved inconveniently large, twenty of
the most celebrated were selected. The competitors
were :—Hartley, Sheffield; Gregory, Hoxton ; Parry,
Manchester; G. Ide, Woolwich Lewis, Islington;
Vaughan, Chester; 0. Hancock, Shadwell ; W.
Perkins; Courtney, Barnet; P. Crossland, Sheffield;
A. Hancock, Hackney • Mr. J. Parnum, London
(amateur) ; W. Howse, London; W. Ide; W. Taylor,
New Bromley, Kent; Elliott, Derby; Pellett, Sitting-
bourne ; W. Chillman, Bramleigh ; W. Keeble,
Walworth ; J. Harrison, Finchley.
About 5,000 spectators were present ta witness the
the start, which was made at 23 minutes to nine
on Friday evening. Chilman and Hartley were
soon well to the front, and probably caused the
other competitors to push the pace at the commence-
ment much more than they would have done. At
midnight Hartley had walked nearly twenty miles,
Chillinan and Owen Hancock being on pretty good
terms with him. Howse occupied fourth position,
while G. Ide, Vaughan, and Parry, were a few laps to
the rear. At this point Lewis, who afterwards played
so prominent a part in the race, did not seem to be at
all troubling himself. During the small hours of the
morning Ciiillman showed unmistakable signs of
fatigue, and gradually fell out of the foremost division.
Perkins retired when he had walked close on 28i
miles. At two o'clock Owen Hancock held the lead,
having walked 39-? miles, Parry being second, 200 yards
in the rear, while a quarter of a mile behind him
came Vaughan, Howse, and G. Ide. 0. Han-
cock held his lead for an hour, and Howse had gradu-
ally worked himself into second place. The former
continued his advantage until 37i miles were placed
to his account. But Howse was close upon him, and
proved the first to complete 38 miles. At this point
Vaughan, who up to this occasion had walked the
longest distance recorded in 24 hours, was going in
capital form, and his long stride seemed to justify the
confidence his friends had in his ultimate victory. At
9.20 on Saturday morning, however, he was so seriously
indisposed as to render his retirement from the contest
necessary, after having walked 68 miles 5 laps. This
robbed the race of some of its interest, few people
dreaming of the power Lewis would display, as at
this time he was proceeding along with the greatest
apparent indifference. Howse, having once got the
lead, took care to keep it. He completed his 50 miles
in 9h. 2m. 108., A. Hancock holding second place, and
G. Ide third. Lewis now began to dispose of some of
his rivals, and it was not long before he took second
place. Howse continued to walk in grand style, and the
race soon virtu ally lay between Lewis and himself. Both
these walkers covered the 100 miles in the fastest time
yet accouplished— Howse in 18 hours 7 min. 57 sec.' and
Lewis in 18 hours 42 min. 35 sec. The latter was thus
34 min. 38 sec. slower than his rival. The pair con-
tinued to struggle on, and at one time during Saturday
evening it seemed quite propable that Lewis would
overtake Howse. Despite his very gallant efforts he
was unable to do, the nearest distance he got to Howse
being about 2h miles. Lewis became very faint
tewards the close of the competion. and retired alto-
gether when he had walked 126 miles. A. Hancock,
who had just retired, finished 113 miles 7 laps, and
Crossland 110 miles 5 laps. Courtney was the only
other competitor who completed 100 miles. Howse,
at two minutes to nine o'clock on Saturday evening,
had walked 129 miles, and, as there was nothing to be
winner oafy thhee Craheaamtipoineendßelt aat nedac2hl 0
lapo.
gained by his walking any longer, he retired the
wirt measured an
eighth of a mile.