The New York herald., 1879-03-11


SIX DAYS ENDURANCE MAruH BxrwxKS
WASHINGTON. OF CHICAGO. AND ErsoH. ov
PouoHxrxrny. March ~. fs7p.
Tho walking fever. after the usual prcmonisory
symptoms Of smsteur matches between local rcics-
trians mas at last broken out here in fun force.
fvo minutes past twelve this A. NJ. . slx days cndnr
ance match was stsricd IN wnghss Hall between G.
Washington OF Chicago. and Alfred Eison. champion
Of New Bedford. Mass Washington is forty-nve
years old. feet II inches In height AMI weighs fcs
pounds. He has been ON the track for seven years.
most Of the time In Illinois. Kentucky and
Tennessee. His fastest mile. made at Lynch
burg. Va. is recorded u sm. ek.. and
his best nfty-mile record in sh. scm.
19s. On February 1 he finished go mi,e walk
at Washington. ID. c.. In l2is hours. ALFRED ElSon
bases his claim to excellence In swinging the heel
and toe ten miles OF tan bark az New Bedford.
Christmas Day no two miles in I'm. ais lie is
shorter and stouter than Washington, and, though
ne mas Wesh,ngtos nao, h ISnser ana s,l
and his legs scmi-angusr and thtn but closer ex-
animation shows that the long bones are covered
with compact wiry tendon and inusrlc. The roursc
has thirty laps the nile and he In rm and elastic.
and situated in with good light and ventilation.
that two sporting gentlemen. one Of this city and
one Of New York. heavily interested respective
sides. The contest s TO close At eleven O'Clock pre-
mined to win. walking with air Of aogged deter
mnation round and round tho little track hour after
hour. Only few witnessed the start ct Ave minutes
past twelve this morning. but there has been fair
attendance throughout tho day ana many small bets
have been quietly TAKEN the men standing about
in the public estimation. Washington made his first
mile in lin. $685.; his hrst Ave miles In 5tm 3os;
his first ten miles In In son.. and hts nrnt hfty in
l1h 4Sm. 2Os Elsons first mile was made in Ism. lss
his first five miles in III. 05m. 3s his first ten miles
in 2h O9m. 5Os., and hts first fifty mics in 11h aim.
At six p. M. Washington had been of the track 4h.
19In 43s., in periods OF from forty to six minutes.
Elson had closer to business and had been OF
the track in all but In. 2,n 25s At this time WASH
ington within y few laps OF finishing his sixty
ninth mile and Eson was working away on the
seventy fifth. Since morning the betting. which was
first even, has changed greatly. heavy odds bcing
given on Washington. This is caused by tho fact
that Washington shows greater signs OF endurance.
while Ellison makes hard work occasionally. When
both men are on the track Washington gains on his
thirty or q mile. The lank Kcntuckian seems
to be Just getting warmed up TO his work. and
moves hts long body swiftly and more gracefully
Elson does great deal Of work with his shoulders
and his face o tired look. But the effort has
brought out his muscles into prominence. and no
looks sturdy and plucky and determined to give his
lengthy opponent q hard battle. The men eat ~
the charge Of physician from New York. Tho
Chicago professor stnrdily abstains from all
stimulants taking only beef ten - beverage. Eson
occasionally takes . glass of sherry and eGg. II
is probable that the will walk steadily into the
small hours of the morning before either takes any
sleep. Both claim to be perfectly fresh and - I'M
woar1ed Ut the start. The attendance hes been
quite large this afternoon and rush to the hall Is
anticipated this evening.