Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-04-11
sedot furnis

VIII Lon us IT, Seiot furnls
an old pioneer story. -,&S reason why Is
because We got it. Yes, sir, Mr. Editor,
we have got it. The tidal wave has hit us,
and we have got, and have taken it the
natural way. 1t took us first last week,
and we have all had it ever since. What
| mean by it is the pedestrianism. How
it happened was some one got hold of an
eastern paper with the account of the four
tramps that done such a good job of walk
ing in Mr.. GilmOur's garden. Well, The
paper was read to the multitudes in our
place, which created no small amount of
enthusiasm over town. When they read
of the lumber of ''laps" Roweli and Harri-
man made, we reasoned like this-that if
they could make as many laps as they did
in specified time, that Frank Thurber-
who is Dan Turner's livery stable secretary.
and who is made up mostly of lap-cOuld
do as good job. Accordingly the stamps
were put up and Thurber was put
through course of training by dieting
him on brown bread and bull tripe. The
conditions of the tramping were, that the
aforesaid F. T. was 20 start at COnneaut
depot and walk TO Geneva depot and return
to Ashtabula in season to take the accom-
mediation train bound east, in the evening.
The distance 33 miles, time II hours.
Well, he won the race and had 10 minutes
to spare. 1t well paid to see the immense
crowd at the arrival of the accommodation
train that safely landed Frank Thurber.
Had it been announced that Dan Rice
would be on hand with old Excelsior and
make him stand erect and walk on his hind
legs the crowd would not have been half MS
large nor as enthusiastic rs it was then.
Vac th.,ra Of llyar.,
town at this date, and every one that has
money is willing to back his opinion on his
own or some of his neighborS legs. This
mania is with all classes-especially with
the printers, and Reig, of the Reporter,
will leave Highland Mary" in her stall
and tramp from his residence to the Office
"a mile ava" Then there Is Father Brooks,
the old Junior, will make three trips day
on foot, and good time at that, i'll search
of his regular meals. Davidson, the boss
Of the EIpresS, makes long strides daily
rather than to take the street cars or the
buss. He makes fine showing tOO-On
the home stretch. Another printer who is
gaunt as well as ambitious, offers to wager
Il portion of his pile that he Can make the
run to Cleveland in 10 hours. But no one
to take proposition. Now, Mr.. Editor, l
don't wish to boast, nor don't believe IN
gambling, but if any of my friends will
furnish the stamps l will bet a hundred
dollars that if l can have the free use of
the north track of the Il. ). 4 NJ. 5. l
will make the trip from Conneaut to Cleve-
land and back to place Of beginning inside
of 16 hours. ] shall reserve the privilege
of carrying the stakes with me until get
back. Mr.. Editor, if the walking mania
has not reached AShLabula yet, and you
have any printers there that are web-fOoted
and are ambitious to make display with
their legs, and at the SAME time win the
bottom dollar from some of our sports, just
give them the hint TO come down and see
US. The fever runs so high that the larg-
est hall in town Is chartered for the biggest
footed and largest winded chaps in this
vicinity to test their skill at going on
circle. l have already made application
for an umpireship and if successful in being
promoted will keep your readers posted
of the pedestrians of Conneaut. H.
April /, 1879.