National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-05-24
THAT WALKING MATCH.
Harry Brooks Announced as Eaving Accom-
nlishad the Raat.

In The REPUBLICAN of Saturday morning there
was a short notice and some comment on the
walking match then in progress at the Theatre
COmique, and some facts were given which could
moi fail to threw suspicion at least upon the re-
putcd performance. 1t was then stated that IN
order town the wager Brooks, who claimed to have
been walking continuously since Monday at uoon'
or little after, with the exception OF forty min
utes' rest would continue his feet until Saiur-
day at midnight, making an aggregate of one
hundred and twenty nine hours Of continuous
walking. 1t Is barely p9ssible that under certain
peculiar and exciting circumstances human
being, possessed Of extraordinary endurance,
could do this, but 1t is
NOT EvEN PROBABLE
that Mr. Brooks did it last week. The strain would
be too great for man of his mental and physical
calibre to bear up under, and he is possessed OF
which it might be done would be intense physical
suffering. an intense excitement, or surrounding
OF the performer by Q crowd who would conti1u-
Cusly cheer aud encourage him 10 his labor. Mr..
Brooks had neither of these. He started upon
his task, in limited space, on wooden floor, for
a comparatively small sum of money. During
the early part OF the walk the visitors during the
dav and early evening were comparatively few,
and in later hours (say from to a. m. the doors
were Locked and no one admitted. Think of
man ike him walking in that almost deserted
room during
THESE STILL, QUIET HOURS,
by the dim light of a lamp, which, IL burning,
terrible. Add to this WHILE If he were walking,
thee would hive been present in his thoughC5
the fes- Of failure haunting him to the VERGE Of
ins8rity, and both his mental and physic Il na-
lrue would have given way under the strain.
On the contrary, however, on Saturday, morn
i7g he show no more signs Of phys al fat!sI
than he had on the pre- edlng day. To k" oD up
the farce, his t-a ner went through the form OF
bathing his Il ct IN wFisky while ne TOIld yell,
but neither his feet, legs. hands or arms were
swollen to any extent, and while walking his
face DID not indicate the suffering 1t was "a d he
endured. About nOCl, for the purpose o. attract
ing attention, he
SUDDENLY WENT CRAZY.
He threw bis hands in the sir, talked about peo-
pie att9 cK'ng f'm, ask, that they be kept off,
and reformed other antics, but vita a wonderful
method n his me iness kept up the mOlOtOnOus
walk. While all this was going on a we'll known
physician. who is something a humanitarian
steUp; in, End there he met a member of the de-
tCcIye corps, and to him expressed the positive
opinion that the walk should be stopped, he, OF
course, hasing his opinion upon a superficial lock
at the Halklst. AS he was SO much in earnest
about the matter, the detective stated that he
would consult with Superintendent Richards on
the subject at once, anu started to do so. When
he returned to the theatre, however, he found
that by miracle the crazy II had passed of, and
Brooks was
HIMSELF AGAIN.
The walking continued during the afternoon
and evening, with far attendance Of spectators,
until about IL O'Clock F. ~, when the crowd,
anxious to see the last Of it. rushed ia and occu-
pied ali the available space. A brass band was
also brought in, and, with their music and the
constant cheering of the crowd, the monOtony OF
the proceeding was RELIEVED. At ll45 it was off,
cialIy announced that the time had expired, and,
10 response to the prolonged applause, Brooks
kisS' bis hand to the crowd and eeaset walking.
He was at once taken out of the building by his
friends and carried through the thrOng which had
cOngTegatcd IN trent Of the building to carriage,
thence TO the residence Of Mr.. STAIR, No. AL ID
cat, where he still remains.
AsF1 eN .denre of his exhausted condition. and
proof Of f'sl, operative powers, Brooks IS al
nOr1ced 10 walk a mile on Thursday evening
ne Xt at the Summer CJmiOUe theatre, in seven
minu'es. He g CeTi ''1ly TIE champion walker;
II at is Il be and his friends are to be believed