The New York herald., 1877-10-16
PROFESSIONAL PEDESTRIANS.

LESTER @. DOLE, OF NEW HAVEN, VS.. HARRY
THATCHER, OF LONDoN-FoUR MILES FOR
ONE THOUSAND poLLARs-DoLE THE WINNER.
The four mile walking match between Lester c.
Dolo OF New Haven, aud Harry Thatcher, OF London,
for $500 side, came Off yesterday afternoon on the
grounds OF tho New York Athletic Club, at Mott
Haven. Tho articles OF agreement ratified while
Thatcher was the Atlantic, but his backcrs here
were OF his undertaking the performance In due
time after arrival, and with postponemcnt Of
days order to give the stranger opportunity
OF fully recovering from Dis ocean voyage, the
prclminarlcs were duly proceeded with. Both
men have excellOnt reputation for spe,d aud
endurance. Dole visited England year ago
with The view OF meeting the best pedestrians
saw and accomplished n the various handicaps IN
which no took part Thatcher claims TO be the next
best after the renowned Perkins In the whole Of Great
Britain, and his numerous victories about London
would lead one TO believe the mayor portion OF bis
statements. Dole Is twenty-five years old, i've feet
and half inches In his stockings, and weighed
yesterday 1S3 pounds. Thatcher twentyfour years
OF age, i've ioet four and half inches without his
shoes, and stripped on the track ll9 pounds. There
were less than Two hundred persons present
About hve O'Clock the tirnekseper ana lap recorder
announced their readiness TO have tho men started
whom tho called tnem TO tho scratch, and AZ
5h. I'm. they were despatched. Both men were
stripped the bum Dole wearing blue aud Thatcher red
trunks The former was In excellent health spirits
whio Thatcher complained that MS training had been
cut short by an accident at Ravenswood l.. l., last
week, wnen lis right knee was injured The difference
In the style OF the quickly noticed Thatcher
has a rather short stride and incnes his head and
shoulders forward. Doles style OF progression Is
long, sweeping stride, with head and shoulders bont
backward. Thatcher burst away with the lead and at
the end Of the rst mile four feet in front OF Dole
| the distance bong accomplished in I'm. los Tho
referee watched the men closely-and as 1t had been
| agreed that coaching should be allowed and the
man that did not walk fairly should be ruled OF with
the usual cautons-hat ofhcias task and rcspon-
sibility sufficient TO keep HIM wide awake. On
tho hJh last lap OF the first mile each Of the mon
bont his knees considerably, and the rel.
| stuck 10 Thatcher so closely that at the
| end OF sho second mile the former had only
| throe feet the best OF It In 16m. 27s Very fre-
quenty the Englisnman would spurt away from his
opponent but these attempts proved exhausting, as
| he Invariably back TO him. The third mile was
recorded with Thatcher leading three feet the time
beng 23tn. Ala and then the trends Of the pedcs
trans urged them TO do their level cos '43rummy"
Meadows, Thatcher's trainer, creating much amuse-
ment by his cries Of larry, now give i'm lance"
For four laps o tue mile the walking was superb, but
on tho backsiretch Of the last lap Dole madc his
effort and, quickly passing Thatcher, the latter gave
IL up and stopped. The referee advised him 10 con-
tnue however and ho did so, but Dolc beat him out
| slim. 49s Thatcher's time 32m. los There
were many objections by the Englishmsn's
friends TO Doe's style OF going tho last
lap, but the reiercc did not heed them The time
mado g not extraordinary. Perkins walked mo uis-
tanco II Lille Bridge September 70, 1870, Ia ISM
59s., and Harry Armstrong, amateur, member OF
the Harom Athletic Ciub, In the Gouldng handicap
games OF last September, on the same grounds, Was
credited with 30m. 50 2-5s for the same distance.