The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-19

ChampiOn-How tho Trick was Dis
covered-The Physique OF the Two Men
Compared.
Visitors 70 the Washington Riding Academy
during the progress OF the walk now IN course OF
performance by Edward Mullen, OF Boston, who
undertook to walk 500 miles within six consecu-
tive days, and lis miles in the first twenty -four
hours, could not have failed 70 notice the small.
ness OF the circuit composing the track.
When told, however. that 1t required
II $40 circles TO be made TO count q mile,
but few stopped to think that even this
apparently greas number of times that the pedes-
trian had to 60 round the school was short OF
what should be the case, and that fraud so far as
the measurements Of the track was concerned, was
being perpetrated. A HERALD reporter. however,
who was specially detailed to ind out whether
any attempt was being made to deceive the pub
lie, on visiting the building was at once struck
with the thought that trick was being and had
been played, whereby 1t was made to ap-
pear that Mullen had outdone Weston. The
HERALD reporter watched all that was doing
for some hours and finally concluded that the pace
at which Mullen was walking did not agree with
the time announced. This aroused Q suspicion
that there was
SOMETHING WRONG
with the track and that the walk was not an honest
lance 1t was supposed to be- In order to ascertain
how far this view was correct Mullen's steps were
counted and 1t was found that he made each CIR
cult In from seventy six to eighty-twO PAGES, &C
cordng to the rate at which he travelled. calcua
ton then made, allowing thirty-slx inches for
each step, which was manifestly longer than Null
len was taking. This showed that the distance
round the track could not be than from 22S to
24e feet at the utmost. The track was also passed
over by the reporter at his usual gait
that it measured ' from 2s5 to ISL feet. severai
gentlemen present In the building, evidently hav-
ing some idea that all was not right, also counted
800 feet in length, as 1t was said to be, that then
Mullen was each time taking PAGES of from thirty
Six to orty inches, which any one VINO has seen
him Knows to be physical impossiDility.
THE TRACK MEASURED.
In order, however, to set all doubt at rest the
herald reporter, seizing favorable opportunity
took out surveyors tape measure which ne
carried IN his pocket, and, with the assist
o the wno% 70 me sea
track, being careful to keep the tape on the out
side OF the line on which Mullen had walked. The
rwo HUNDRED AND FORTY FEET,
OF Sky PET shorter than It was given ont to be-
two circuits to be made for every mile and not
II BIO, as walked by Mullen, which is deduction
therefore, did not walk within twenty three miles
OF the 1l5 purported to have been accomplished by
him on Monday last, and Weston still stands as the
only man who has yet accomplished the feat or
walking l15 miles within twenty-four hours.
THE TIME COMPARED.
A comparison between the time made by Wes-
ton on his first days wax, when he accomplished
ll6 miles, shows thas he took but III. I'm. %. for
same purposes 2h. ISM. 36s. The latter therefore.
considering shat he Is alleged to have made the
same distance five minutes quicker than Weston,
must have performed each mile IN a small fraction
over lin. lis, providing the track had measured
fairly 800 feet Since the first commencement or
was wa "A credited with ass niles De-
37h. AIM. 37s, which he has consumed IN
resting leaves his actual walking time at Ssh,
I'm, 23s., necessitating mile to have been made
every eleven minutes and thlrty-three and half
seconds throughout This exhibit speaks for itself.
he has been ut work can for one moment, even,
think that he has walked at anything like this
rate. He doubtless Is very far walker as lar as
unfortunately he has calculated his miles shorter
than Is called for by the standard and set down in
the books on measurements and distances. Wes-
ton, to make this same number OF miles, occupied
esh 20m., and rested, besides, 2sh., 2om., As.
WESTON AND MULLEN COMPARED.
As far as Mullen's capacity of endurance Is con-
cerned no medical opinion could be obtained. 1t,
however, would appear that he Is capable OF walk
exertion. The after eject IN his case Il is
thought will be one of utter and complete prostra-
t %e or @ % His
ton is very abored alter going lew miles, max
ing IL somewhat dlfflcut for him to speak,
while the circulation OF the blood is greatly
aulckened. With Weston no such effect
"a noticeable and 1t is the opinion of the
most eminent physicians in the city that the
there is not another man possibly to be found
capable OF the same amount Of endurance. His
physique Is said to be most peculiarly adapted for
walking long distances His lungs are said to be
extraordinarily large, giving him immense breath
inr power thus preventing his being what Ia COM
monty termed winded. His circulation is not in
creased after long walk beyond what would be
the case with any one walking two three miles,
and IL is the general opinion that he could after
week or two OF rest In order to heal his feet should
thav he called, walk again without any detriment
to his health. That Mullen is physically weaker
and less able to endure fatigue than Wes- |
tom has been proved by the effect already
produced, and 1t IS question whether he viii be
able 10 keep the track at all until Saturday His
knees have both swollen very considerably, and il
r. onv nv the use OF elastic kneecaps and lrequent
rnhbtnQ in OF liniments that he 10 able to keep on
his feet, while generally he appears to be very |
mnch used up. Weston, on the contrary, when he |
had made the same distance appeared to be as
fresn AS when starting except that he suffered |
acme pair from the ball OF his loot having cracked
csnsed py the inner sole OF his boot getting ruched
mn He however, kept gamely on to the end and |
sanareiy walked the distance credited to him. |
which Mullen viii not have done, even should he |
keep on he track.