The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-08
JOHN HUGHES, PEDESTRIAN.
me- INTENDS TO NEAT O'LEiRr'S TIME,
or DIE IN ms TRACKS,.
The story Of n TIpperary Boy-The Big
nridge that O'Leary Onered to Build Joe
soburn's Presence of Mind-Ten Miles In
"a Niuutes-The Coming Tournament.

Goburn's Presence Mtnd-Ieu Miles IN
"a Miuutes-The Coming Tournament.
over 500 miles were covered by Daniel
DIeary in six days during tho recent ourna-
ment in Agricultural Hall. London. The con
ditions Of the contest were somewhat peculiar.
The men were not limited to walking. They
were at liberty to run. hop. and skip. or jump II
they wished The man who covered the most
ground was to take the money. On the second
day OLcary. apparently carried away 10y the
running Of his competitors, broke into swift
irot but he soon abandoned It, He was salts
fed that he was wasting his physical power in
n way that would prove disastrous in the end
From that time until the close he kept up
steady walk, never tagging until his victory was
Insured.
John Hughes poor laborer OF this city, de-
sired to enter Sir John Astlcy's tournament
Hughes does not profess to be n walker He is
runner. and has displayed extraordinary
speed and endurance. Tho regulations OF the
London tournament allowed him to develop
these qualities. aud he eagerly sought some one
10 nay his expenses. He found his man, hut too
late Sir John Ashley wrote him that the entries
were closed. Hughes now purposes to beat
OLeary's time His speed and endurance, as n
runner will give him longer intervals OF rest.
md he has unboundcd confidence in him
self wcll-known theatrical gentleman of
time for $500 aud the challenge has
been accepted 10y a wholesaler of shoes.
who requests that his name shall not
b. given TO the public Ono hundred dollars Is
already up in the hands Of responsible persons.
and all the money Is 10 be deposited with the
editor Of leading sporting newspaper three
days before the trial. Hughes is to run six
days In the Central Park Garden. The track is
h. be measured 10y city surveyor and the
Judges are TO be wcll-known and hghly-re-
Hpectablc men. The runner IL to start on the
evening OF the 2lst at O'Clock He must travel
around the garden thirteen times to make a
mile. The laps are extraordinarily short. but
II Ia claimed that this disadvantage is made up
hy n good open track and plenty Of ventilation.
The course runs into the open air Of the garden;
Weighs l6O pounds He says his weight has al
ready been greatly reduced by his training. lie
Tut his chest Is broad and his legs are solid and
plant as whalebone; The legs terminate in
iache. and his eyes are a mixture OF gray and
blue. His countenance is more repellant than
favorable impression is not removed He is ar
Togant and boastful, and uses a broad Celtic
broepe without the usual fine Irish humor. He
speaks Of the " thrack and talks OF Topping
around and betting instead Of beatfng"
oLcary's time. Although abrother- n-law oftre
Springs from the drcgs Of society. The poor
follow is Ignorant and headstrong. With all
IL
talk with the man without getting the i'm
preston that there is vim and nerve enough IN
him 10 carry MIN through al carefully nurSed
pad rightly applied. His record is wonderful.
He seems crazy on the subject OF beating
sonal feeling animatcs him. He accuses
OLcary of sneering at him because he talked
To- much anu Tas poor, and could not g.t the
Hughes. he towled Inc he'd have b-r-r-idge
belt for. me TO 10 over. Hes cur-r."
Mr. Hughes says that he il an honest laborer;
he certainly dresses like one. He wears a col
lnrless checked calico shirt. cut SO low In the
nGSSc ' H. woud Ike e. ss 6eer hut oH Ss
cannot afford it, Hughes was born in l.oscrca.
ago. In boyhood he developed extraordinary
speed as runner. He ran races with horses.
hunts. is aher. also was great pcics ST an
When sixty years OF age the father ran ten
ese r Hghss sas hat T 6e r Ts Several eg Ser
rnces in Ireland and was beaten only once.
That was In running a mile race against time.
The day was showery. the track heavy and he
Lost the race by one second
Hughes came 70 this country in 1863. Through
the Kindness OF John Scallon. tn" contractor. he
found u situation us IA laborer in the Depart
ncnt Of Public Works. His fame as a runner
s,X months be was matched e. run j hin Wilt
siA miles on Harlem lane. lor $500 Mr.. Joseph
put up the money for Hughes The race Gre
ated considerable, excitement among the up
town politicians. The men ran in the evening.
inter Hughes quit work. IN" poor irish hoy
went away with such burst of speed that Mr..
NNturn saw ne was gong 10 lose MS money.
and put up job to have HIM arrested. The
boy was running without shirt. aud was cap
tured on the asst mile by police officer who
accused him u appearing naked ON the public
streets. Old Capt.. Wilson discharged him and
Teprimanded the officer. asking him why, he
didn't arrest him at the beginning instead Of
the end Of the race The arrest, however saved
C'hurns money.
Hughes next ran three mile match against
Harry MunsOn On the Lane Ii was in the
shank u the evening. after hard day work;
ii won the race easily, coming out Il mile and
n Nalf ahead. His most extraordinary
run On the Fashion track in 1872. One Martin.
Acrack runner was his competitor. Hughes
wis backed for $500 10y Mr.. Dennis Murray,
how n wealthy resident Of Newark, y. j .. but
then truck driver for John Moore Of Manhat-
hnyiiic. II WAS II ten-mile race. The Irish boy
Won II In hliy-four minutes. beating Mart IN
neArly mile and a half The latter WINS greatly
cAdgrined. He died two weeks after the race.
week alterward Ben Hitchcock got up a one
me- match open to az amateurs Tor the benefit
@, soldiers orphans. Several professionals were
allowed 10 enter under the guise OF amateurs.
Hughes however. was recogn zed as the winner
o. the great len-mie race, and was not, allowed
~ start. He raised such n hnllahlllOO alter
ue men We're well under way that the Judges
shouted Letthat crazy lrishman 60" He
n'w from the goal ike an antelope. and ran the
nilr IN 1 40; but the race was given TO the man
INST out whose time was 4;4i. Hughes got the
Hughes says his last race was run in the
FOUNTAINS Of California nearly three years ago.
iurei II without weuing n hair. He went
Iriush California Ike professional tramp.
and declares that Y one day he saved by walk
hughes goes into active training to-day. He
i NO. costa l"- over huge pair OF Walk ing shoes
hWlrh 20 l"ary shoemaker. and presented 10
lmh Mr. Harry Hill. who has great confidence
IN hun. Hughes does his own training He
Hi7 rare h"ei-t"Ak, fresh eggs. and oatmeal,
amy drinks su"rry md eggs, and occasi ion
e.y a, cup u th lie is walking regular
~ ana 1ys he has averaged forty miles day
hn'r " 'hday lust On that day he walked to
iTryi"Nn AMI ta h, "a distance Of sixty miles.
90 "a ~luy Il" ran o. sing Sing and back,
.".ui -"tNuiy-tWu miles. On Wednesday he
..h hiurn up t' Jerome Park and back, and
-rN'u iiu.- around the upper reserve r.
A. 10 'If.it ui about u milo and three-quRr-
Pc on Thurs iuy gee twin" walked Ia Jerome
d. '.i 30 j., r.u around tho Central Park,
Nl'' 'F'rm slurls 10 sixth avenue. Fri
t'' ''H HWurdn> WDr sprnt IN mllar rN"r-
-'-. ID walks tI sing Sing and TarrytOWn
Do "In shoes stitched hy Hughes him
'h us r"iurn 20 l'li- city they were full Of
40 "- -fhf but his feet w.r' 80 tough
N+dI uHt mind H. Hughes chal-
'l. AIRY lN-t summer through the col
u' p' WA NtN. A grutlemau named ODDS
o.. lUll that the Iipprrury boy
l-'l ground than L'aN within
81 aus. iut rilallrngr drew no RESPONSE.
81 -'-7. 'nu lnl 'slrians speak vi Hughes
''"itl d. lis hub-tiul manner is dis