Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-10-16
O'LEARY KEEPSkTHE'BELT.
He Makes us Miles Less Than in Lon
don and 93 Miles More Than Hughes.

tory for O'Leary. 1t closed with arecord
SO inferior to those previously made by
the champion that the inquiry natural
y occurs what was done for the $4,000
which was received by the contestants.
It must be remembered in the first
place that Hughes in this match was q
challenger, and deposited his $500 with
Sir John Ashley, which was a necessary
condition to his walking for the belt
OLeary originally intended to walk
with the sole aim Of beating his London
and championship record The unex-
pected circumstance of Hughes putting
up his 5000 occurred, and SO the walk
became a match Hughes's record
hardly qualified him as competitor,
but the money was up and there was
no choice. The first DAVIS
work was done by O'Leary with
the honest purpose of walking against
his record, even though he had an
opponent. Hughes's condition after his
forty mile run showed that he was
practically out of the race, and the
choice left to the champion was to walk
for glory and let Hughes share the pro-
ceeds Of his great effort or to keep
Hughes on the track and let his last
days performance do as much as might
be done towards attracting a paving
audience. To whoever the credit be-
longs, the fact is that the walk has
been the most successful pecuniarily
that has ever taken place on this side
the Atlantic. Not less than 10000 people
have seen OLeary walk and Hughes
limp. The Indifferent performance of
Hughes yesterday was attributed to
desire to save his strength for SUI
preme effort on the last and most i'm
portant night-Saturday night. His
four miles made on Friday and made
with great pain, coupled with his pro-
mise to run all Saturday, were taken as
earnest of something to Gene. The
crowd certainly was present and was
enthusiastic either over OLeary's fresh
ness or Hugehes's pluck.
The retirement of the men ON Friday
evening proved to be for long rests.
Hughes having made four miles during
the day, was, of course, entitled to his
rest and champagne. OLeary went off
the track with a very sore heel. Even
McSwyny' shoes and active sand paper
ing could not keep the blister from
spreading and even the short distance
covered made blister which spread
over nearly half the sole of his left foot.
Although Hughes was far behind,
O'Leary could not sleep and lay awake
while the chiropOdist worked ON the
sore heel. While the operation was in
progress Mr.. j. c. Bennettwas admitted
70 oh 10 III n
learned lecture upon the requirements
of walkers shoes, and showed just where
McSwyny's were at fault. He en-
gagged to walk three miles in the even
ing, after the 142 hours had elapsed,
and one of them was to be the
quickest mile on record. Finding
Hughes awake and groaning in his tent.
he offered him $50 to walk a mile, but
Hughes did not feel like walking even
with such an incentive, and Mr.. Ben
nett left promising O'Leary q check for
$3.50 at the end of the walk
Thereafter O'Leary and Hughes both
rested, but only the latter slept. O'Leary
upon the track at 9:O4
o'clock yesterday morning. Already a
considerable number of spectators had
gathered, but OLeary did not feel equal
to walking more than a lap, and he
took further rest of 1h. 5m. After
that he walked less than an hour and
took another rest of ten minutes. He
had N meanwhile finished his 375 miles
in total elapsed time of 130h. 2Sm. IS.
During the day up to P. NJ ne made
only fifteen miles. Resting from 5:4S
P. NJ until 7 AZ P. NJ he returned to the
track, promising to remain there until
the completion of the 142 hours. This
promise he failed to keep. .ta-
Hughes made splendid record for a
man whose object was to earn his share
of the gate-money as easily as possible.
After his retirement on Friday evening
he did not reappear until nearl y noon
yesterday. He then went on the track
wearing the same circus-rider's attire.
His face was pale and his left foot was
wrapped up in many stockings instead
of shoe. Even the gaiter part Of his
right shoe was cut Oft and he limped
around on two very sore feet for
thirteen minutes, during which he
made two laps. When he retired he
needed scientific treatment for his
w Cd1 leu dllu SNOlICH lCSS. lIl0 " l1G .
care was not exactly what he required,
even to enable him. to walk for the
purpose, of keeping up appearances and
claiming gate-money. He walked once
more, running a few laps at less than a
four-mile gait, and wound up his record
at As P. NJ. with a total of SO miles
and6 laps. The incidents Of the even
ing performance were the. attendance,
and bouquets presented to the cham
pion, and q medal with which his
friends surprised him at Top. M. The
attendance was the largest of any night
of the walk and more than eqalled that
of the hippodrome on its best nights.
The medal is one that O'Learys friends
had been preparing as a surprise for
him almost since the beginning Of the
walk 1t is circular gold disk, on
which is a sun, and surrounded by
laurel wreath and a. star.
The motto is 'Faug a bal
lagh," which is Irish for "clear the
track" His name and title as cham
MON Of the world are engraved 1lnOn it,