Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-11-12
THE GREAT FOOT RACE

THE GREAT FOOT RACE.
The following is extracted from des-
criPton Of the late foot race over the Bea-
con course:
The track was at last cleared, and, bo.
sides The lump of humanity at the stands,
there was flesh-and blood ring completely
round the inside railing Of the course. A
short speech, recommending order, was
made by the proprietor o. the course from
the judges box, and the bell was struck for
the appearance of the competitors. The
Indian threw off his cloak, and stood with
his thin and tawney legs bare, little
checked peticoat. scarce long enough TO
sit upon, depending from his waist. and
white cloth, philactery fashion. about his
forehead. The two Englishmen were
nude. with the exception OF so much as is
left of pair Of drawers when the wais,
and legs are cut away. and superb speci-
mems of athletic proportions they we're!
Stannard was in fesh-co!ord silk shirt and
drawers, long-legged and lean as grey
hound; lutte Glider was in striped shlr,
and drawers, and one extraordnary.ook
ing, white-headed lule follow, wore a
breech cloth Of br ght scarlet.
The dresses of the others we're equally
"trying," and a funny troop they looked,
standing in line before s,ar,ing
The word was given, and away they
went-each man with his number on his
back or breast-at a pace which the reader
who has rdden at ten miles the hour will
easily picture to himself. The two Eng
lishmen took the lead, the Indian and Glider
following close, and Stannard falling some
what behind. (The pacs and similar par
ticuiars OF the race, however, will have
been seen by our readers in other papera,
and we need not occupy room with them
combining ourselves TO sacn description as
is wholly untechnical)
The Engishmen came round the hrst
mile ahead, running beautifully and look
ing neither to the right nor the left; the In
dian followed, jumping and capering up TO
the stand like n madman, and Glider and
S'annerd steadily kept their pace behind
the others gradually dropping, ard one
man giving out ., the end Of the first mile
1t seemed perfectly clear, Judging by mo-
ton, thieves and sinews, that the English
couple would win the race; and if there
was doubt it was in favor of S:annard-
the Indian wasting his strength like fool
with jumping, and bunchy little Glider not
having first look.
1t was stirring scene rs they came
round, Mc'Clusky dashing the crowd open
with his galloping troop, the clean Iimbed
ing and excited crowd closing in behind
them. AS they neared the stand each man
had friend who ran beside him for few
rods, handing him a sponge for his mouth
and nostrils. and Enthusiastically enough)
the poor Indian alone went his rounds un-
spoken to, and administered to. One man,
of the bare backed runners, was Joined at
every round by friend who wiped his
body with a wet cloth. A small, neat, po-
ny-built youth in green breeches, was Sc
ected as favorite by some persons around
me, his gait was so light and free from ef-
fort; but there was soon demonstration
of national feeling. Glider and Siannard
were mnch more loudly encouraged and
cheered on than the two Englishmen a hun
dred rods in advance Of them, and though
the expressed opinion was in favor Of tho
Englishmen, the expressed hope was for
elders ovsrtaking them. To The surprise
Of all, Major Stannard fell farther and ia r.
;her behind, and Glider alone kept his prox-
unity to the leaders. The Indians pace
grew weak. Stannard seemed only bent on
running his ten miles Within the hour: the
two or three behind were overtaken by the
Englishmen-(beaten of course, by ml-)
and on the ninth round. the American hope
was has, entirely on Glider.
Head back, mouth open, and pace reso-
lutte, the little butcher tro,ted away. grad
ually through almost imperceptbly gaining
on his two whittier skinned and longer leg
ged competitors. As he had tainted in the
middle of his tenth mile on the former race
there were fears for him, hut it was re-
marked that he was red and full IN the face
at that time, and pulcr, more why looking,
and altogether in better condition now.
The interest grew intense. The crowd
within the ring rushed from side 10 side &C.
cross The field, like autumn leaves driven
before the wind, the horses knocked the
people apart before the leading runners, the
friends Of each competitor ran beside,
cheering and urging, and they at las, came
in sight from the tenth miie-the two Eu
ropeans abreast, and Glider at the same
apparen, distance. The Englishmen were
speaking to each other as they approached
the Judges stand. and seemed still light OF
the foot, and not al all distressed. No one
doubted they would win, and presumed they
were agreeing not to run faster than wa:
necessary to keep clear Of Glider for ih'
last half mile.
They passed the stand, finishing ,hei
tenth mile three minutes before the expira
ton of the hourl-Gilder was two or three
rods behind. but thought 10 be gaining I
little. They were 10 run out the hour; IN
hes n,abead al the close Of i,-and ther'