The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-10-14
WALKING MATCH.
The Storm Necessitates the Postp onement
of the Last Half

| OIL inc L9et Hail.
Last Tuesday there appeared 10 one of tn
morning paptrs challenge from Stanley
Chapman, a we'll known young man of th
city, to james M. Driscol, another young mar
belonging here, proposing to walk him TWEEN
ty-fve or fifty mile walk, for $25 side, the
match to come off in this city within two week;
from signing the articles. In the course of the
same day Drisooll accepted the challenge; and
fifty miles as the distance, Saturday, at ga. m
as the time, and the Western Promenade as the
| place was arranged upon 10 this connection
we would say that Mr. Drscol first came into
note as walkist last Fourth of July, when he
walked % miles in Tours and / minute upon
| about the same course as was used Saturday,
thus winning wager Of $25, the wager being
that he should do it inside of five hours, since
which time he has figured quite prominently in
walking circles, having walked several matches
| with fai- success.
A more dsageeeabe morning than that of
Saturday was, for pedestrian contest out doors
could hardly have been selected, it being cold
and very windy with a storm brewing, and
taken In connection with the conte t field, be-
ing the Western Promenade where the chill
ing northeast wiods have plenty of play ground
it can we'll be imagined that the overcoatless
lookers.on did not sweat much.
AT 9 o'clock, the time set for starting, some
200 hundred men and boys had collected on the
Promenade at the head of Pine street, this be-
ing the point the contestants were to start
from The course extended from here in a
southerly direction to a stake at the top of the
hill at the head of Bowdoin street, the distance
being quarter of mile. The road in which
the contestants were to walk between these two
points was in good condition.
At this time (9) both men had put ia an ap-
pearance, evidently 10th of them being in excel.
lent condition for the race but there seemed to
be an absence of judges and time -keepers which
looked bad, though not so very unusual. Mr..
I. B. Hawley, who stood by, kindly consented
to keep score for while, and so Driscoll, who
was as yet unprepared for the start stepped
aside short distance to prepare himself and
while thus engaged, it now being about one
minute pas nine, Chapman, who was already,
to the surprise of those who stood by, started
off without Driscoll, bis motive being, as he af-
forwards said, to start on time, but in minnie
or two Dfiscoll was hard after him. Chapman
at the end of his first half mile again surprised
the spectators by his waiting for Driscoll to
catch up with him. srating as his reason for SO
doing that he wished to give Driscoll an even
start. Driscoll taking advantage of this passed
Chapman on the next quarter, which position
he held to the end of the walk.
In the course of the first half dozen miles
the distance between them was heightened out
to about half q mile, which on an average was
about the distance between them throughout
the remainder of the walk DrscolPs gait
was quicker than Chapman's, the latter having
a long, swinging, steady gait, which he main
tanned throughout the walk, and which would
have told before the fifty miles had
been completed Driscolps was more labored
and spurty. The first mile was made by Dris-
coll in ten minutes aud by Chapman in eleven.
A driving rain storm having set in about
noon, in the course of the succeeding hour the
men being soppiag wet, and being advised by
their friends to quit, it was agreed that at tn,
end of the twenty-fifth mile the walking of the
twenty-five miles should be post
poned to the first fair day.
At / o'clock Drscol completed his part,
having walked his last mile, 10 which he
onds, which was the best mile time made 10
the walk. When Driscoll stopped, Chapman
was SOL me more than half mile behind him,
aud came in about six minutes later.
The walk didn't appear to tell very. much
upon either of them, perhaps less upon Chap
man. but both being, if the weather had been
dry, in pretty good condition to continue. I'm
til it commenced to rain the attendance was
quite large, among which was a sprinkling of
ladies'. Matthew O'Bren officiatsd as judge.
Driscoll, who is a coed, healthy looking
man, % years of age, weighing 100 pounds and
8 feet 81 inches high, was attired
upon this occasion in whts shirt and tights,
scarlet breech-3lotb. red and white skul-cap'
blue socks, and heavy walking shoes.
Chapman, who appears to be of lighter
build, but who in reality is fifteen pounds
heavier, his age and weight being about the
same, wore dark felt hat, white shirt and
tights, black breech-cloth, red socks, aud heavy
shoes, and had handkerchief tied about the
throat
1t has been decided to finish the walk next
the arrangements as to judges and time
keepers will be more perfect
Drscoll is confident of winning; though he
says Chapman is the best man he has ever
tackled. He also says that he did not have a
fair show in his walk with Toole at Bangor on
the I'd inst, every one seeming to be against
him. and that in the proposed walk of fifty
miles for fifty dollars side, to come off in this
city on the 22i inst. between them, he feels
certain of winning.