The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-04-02

Couches and guerdons had furs, cloaks,
lace and embroidery Disposed upon
them.
International Walking Match.
Seldom has New York city witnessed
such scenes of excitement as prevailed
during the six days international Pc
destrian contest at Gilmore's garden.
Night after night the immense building
in which the match took place was
packed with eager throngs of men and
women, representing every grade of
metropolitan society, from the million
aire of Fifth avenue to the squalid
denizen of Five Points. Day after day
anxious crowds surrounded the bulletin
boards which we're to be cen at every
point, and which gave hourly reports OF
the progress of the match. The whirl-
wind of excitement which pervaded all
quarters extended even to the ladies,
hundreds of whom visited Gilmore's,
watching the walkers for hours at a
time, and testifying their individual
preference by enthusiastically waving
their handkerchiefs at sight of their
favorites or loading them down with
flowers. The match was for Sir John
Astley's championship belt and $500 a
side, and the contestants were Daniel
O'Leary, of Chicago; Charles Rowell,
of England Charles A. Hartman, Of
Boston ; and John Ennis, of Chicago.
The belt had been won by O'Leary in
London last year, the conditions being
that it should be won three times in
succession before becoming the win
ner's property. Having defeated
Hughes in q match for the belt some
time ago. it was only necessary that
OLeary be the victor this time in order
to retain permanent possession of the
trophy. The four men started on their
long tramp at l A. NJ. in presence
of a dense mass OF human beings, whose
terrific struggles for admission almost
ended in a riot at the very outset of the
match. On the first day Rowell GOV
cred ITO miles, Hartman 100 miles,
Ennis ninety. five miles, and O'Leary,
who had the: sympathy of the great ma
jority of the spectators, only ninety
three miles. The second day Rowell
made eighty-seven miles, Hartman
eighty-six miles, Ennis seventy eight
miles, and O'Leary seventy one miles.
Confidence in the latter, however,
was undated, as it was believed he
wal outstanding his strength for
the last days Of the race. But this
confidence was misplaced, as on the
third day O'Leary left the track after
having made 215 miles IN all. O'Leary
claimed to be utterly exhausted and un-
able to proceed further. The sympa-
thies of the vast audience were then
transferred to Hartman, who had been
walking steadily and rapidly with a long
stride. The third days record showed
eighty-six miles for Rowell, eighty-four
miles for Hartman and seventy-eight
miles for Ennis. On the fourth day
Harrfhan's strength gave out, and he
accomplished only ffty-fve miles to
Rowell's seventy-seven miles and Ennis
eighty-fve miles. Once more the SYM
pathies of the spectators underwent q
change, and all looked to Ennis to pre-
vent the belt from going back to Eng
land by defeating Rowell. whose short,
compact figure fitted around the track
on an incessant run that placed mile af-
ter mile to his credit. At the close of
the fifth day Rowell had made sixty
eight miles, Ennis s~ixty-nine miles and
Hartman sixty.fye. All the energies
of the latter were now bent toward
making $50 miles, the articles of agree
ment making it necessary for each con-
testant to accomplish that distance in
order to obtain a share of the gate
money. Notwithstanding Ennis was
twenty-five miles behind Rowell, and
the chances for his coming up to the
sturdy little Englishman were very slim,
the crowd and enthusiasm were as great
as ever on the sixth day. Hartman
was utterly exhausted, but kept pluckily
to work. A great deal of feeling had
been engendered in some quarters
against Rowell, and it was asserted that
violence would be resorted to in order
to prevent him from winning. he had
been Kissed repeatedly as well as
cheered, and extra precautions we're
taken to see that he received fair treat
mept. But the words of encourage
ment with which he cheered Hartman
on the last day gained the Englishman
numerous friends and he was vocifer-
ously applauded to the end of the race.
On the last two days the price of ad
mission had been raised from fifty cents
to one dollar, with no apparent diminu-
ton in the attendance. The record of
the sixth day gives Rowell, the winner,
seventy-two miles, Ennis seventy miles
and Hartman sixty miles. Total for
six days, Rowell, 500 miles; Ennis, ATS
miles, and Hartman just the $50 mics
necessary to win his share of the gate
money. The amount of gate.money
divided among the three men, after all
expenses had been paid, was about
$40, 900, of which Rowell got $4,000,
Ennis, S12, 900 and Hartman $4,000.
Among the hundred thousand visitors
during the week were Senator Blaine,
Sir Edward Thornton, the British min
lister, and others we'll known throughout
the country,