Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-22
O'LRARY'S RETURN.

ueAtrIau-A description OF the
ChampiOuHhip BeIt-The Trouble
the ITishman had TO Gain Posses
sion OF 81. ru
New York Times. May l6.
Show dye do! Do you want to
see the belt?" said Dan 0'Leary, the
famous pedestrian, as he walked
into the Metropolitan hotel and
cordially shook hands with the
Times reporter yesterday. He was
at once pounced upon by his back
ers, Mr.. Smith, Mr.. McSwvny, and
a dozen other friends, and with a
pleasant greeting for all, led the
way to the lunch room. Here Nc
Swyny undid long, narrow brown
paper parcel and revealed the chams
pionship belt inclosed in a glass
case. 1t was made of large silver
plates mounted upon the finest red
leather, with a heavy gold center
piece, upon which, in raised letters
of gold, enameled in black, was the
inscription; "Long Distance Cham
pion Of the World" This is hanked
by two silver plates, one bearing the
raised figure Of running athlete,
the other pedestrian. Upon one Of
the end silver plates is engraved
the inscription: presented by Sir
j. d. Ashley, Bart, NJ. P, March,
1876" while upon the adjoining
plate is the legend, "Won by Dam
iel 0'Leary, Of Chicago, q. SIA.,
March 18th to 23d, 1878. Dis
tince, 5204 miles in 1873 hours and
As minutes. Beating II. Vaughan,
Chester, 500 miles; II. Bower,
Blower of Fulham, 476 miles, and
fifteen others" "There," said
I0'Leary, "is the belt that | had
some trouble to get even afterI won
it," His backer then explained
that the managers Of the race at
Agricultural Hall had been ex-
tremely loath to allow the belt to
leave the country, contending that
l0'Leary, who has to win two ad-
ditional matches before he can be
entitled to the belt, would have to
contend for it in England. Final
/ ly, however, the managers allowed
the winner to carry the trophy to
America. These two matches are
to be walked within eighteen
months, the first match, in case OF
a challenge being received by
0'Leary, to be walked in three
months, and the next within a year
afterward
81 went over to the match" +"
0Leary continued, elf not conf.
dent Of winning, at least deter
mined to make good record Of
myself. The report that | had tire
advantage of the track is not strict
| ly true, for the man who surveyed
the two tracks calculated that the
other competitors had nine miles
the advantage of me. After the
second day Vaughan always had
the inside Of his track, the other
competitors invariably turning out
to give it to him when they met
him." "Vaughan," continued Mr..
Smith, would have secured a for
tune had he won the match, for
countless sums were offered him by
English sporting men to beat the
Irishmap,' >" [0'Leary. A com
ment being made upon 0'Leary's
fine appearance after the extreme
exertion he had undergone, the pc
destrian laughed heartily and ex-
claimed Yes, l don't feel a bit
Exhausted, but just as fresh as if |
had never undertaken the feat. l
never was better in my life"
! Upon being questioned as to his
plans, he replied that he intended
to make a short visit to Chicago,
and then return to New York,
where he would walk, two weeks
hence, in Gilmore's Garden, in re-
lsponse to the solicitation of many
friends and sporting gentlemen. A
superb bronze clock that has been
presented to him by the citizens
and public officials of Cork, Ireland,
lis retained on the Idahoe, the reye-
nue. etIicial refusing to- pass it yet.
1t is an immense piece of workman
ship, as regards size, and very beau
ltifll, as regards its artistic appear
ance. The Stars and Stripes and
American Eagle, with the Irish
standard and harp, are grouped to.
gether over the top, with very pic