The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-19
HAsrER MorTDAxl
The Eight Hour Pedestrian Contest
Laying of the Corner Stone of the
Fire Department Building Parade
OF the Good Samaritans.

Fire Department Building Parade
Of the Good samaritans.
Easter Monday was a genuine Anril div
minus showers--made up OF clouds and sun'
shine, light and shade. 1t is always held as
holiday In this section, and some general
amusement INDUCED in. Last Monday was
prolific IN that line, and was gala day for
Mestmnster5 The most important event of
inc oecasionNwas the eight-hour go.as.you.
please pedestrian contest on the grounds of
The Carroll County Agricultural Society, which
was nearly an all.day affair. The interest in
TINS contest was manifest throughout the
county, and large representations from every
section were present
The contestants were all Carroll county
amateurs, and the affair was a social and
friendly one, II was free from all the brutal
characteristics which mark the gambling walk
ing matches IN the cities, and free from their
low surroundings. Indeed il was ENJOYABLE
throughout, the best of good humor and order
prevailing. The Silver Run and Grays bands
OF this city, were present, and toward the
close OF the walk cheered the pedestrians on
their weary way by lively airs. The specta-
tors, too, vociierously eheered aud appauded
the contestants us they crossed the score, with
q heartiness and unanimity which indicated
thFt no one possessed preference among
them.
The contest was for purse of $50; SIS to
the first, SIS to the second, and $40 TO the
third Half OF the gate. money was also to be
added IN the same proportion. The entrance
lee was two dollars, and the following en-.
tered, drawing positions in the order named !:
VIM. Copenhayer, John Croft, g. H. Walter,
VIM. ii. Bell, Benz. Gist, X. Palmer, Jacob
heinaman, Samuel Croft, Henry Himler, s.
IL. Blakesly, all residents OF this city and vi.
elnliy except Copenhayer, who halls from
Silver Run, and Blakesly, from Mexico.
The start was a good one, but u eonsidera.
Bile scattering took place before the first lap
half mile-was finished. Copenhayer came
under the wire first, in 3.42, closely followed
by John Croft, both on run. The others
followed at various distances behind, g. II.
Walter bringing up the rear. John Croft
came IN first on the first mile, in 7.4ll, and
first also in the second mile in 9.3g. Croft
made the fifth mile in 9.53. Samuel Croft
was close behind his brother at this time,
Benz. Gist next, Henry Himler next, and
several others close up, with Palmer and Wal.
ter behind, on steady walk. At the close
OF the first hour each had made the number
Of miles opposite his name, as follows John
Croft, ~; Copenhayer, O; Walter, 8; Bell, 6;
Gist, q; Palmer, 81; Reinaman, 81; Samuel
Croft, "; Himler, 9; Blakesly, 6. In this
hour all made excellent records, and the
opinion prevailed that all would have to leave
tho track before the eight hours were up, at
this rate Of speed But there was no slack
ing, or little, as the following records on the
second hour will show:-John Croft, III Co.
penhaver, III Walter, %; Bell, l2l; Gist, 1873;
Palmer, liz Reinaman, lll; Samuel Croft,
i24i Himler, IL IL Llakesly, II. In this hour
John Croft made miles, Copenhavsr 6, Wal
tiers 40, Bell 81 Gist "A, Palmer 6, Reinaman
6, Samuel Croft 6, Hinler %, Blakesly 6.
All kept the track we'll, at a rapid gait, aud
at the close Of the third hour John Croft, who
had led from the first, was still half mile
ahead of Gist, his closest competitor, and
Bell third, mile behind Gist. Walter left
the track just before finishing his fifteenth
mile, Samuel Croft at the close of his TWEEN.
teeth, Blakesly after completing twenty.onc
aud hall miles, Reinaman on finishing his
twenty sixth, Hlmler on finishing his thirty.
nth, COpenhaver after making twcnty.three
miles and n half This left the track to Croft,
Glst, Bell and Palmer, who held their places
in the order named until the end Of the sixth
hour, In the seventh hour Bell closed up
the distance between him and Gist, and gained
half n mile. In the eighth hour the interest
IN the contest was very great, and at least 600
people crowded around the score opposite the
judges stand Every pedestrian was loudly
cheered as he passed under the wire, and the
two bands played almost continuously. Croft
was too far ahead to be oyerhauled, and it
was evident he would be the victor. Bell
soon passed Gist, and was good for the second
purse, and Gist, who was several miles ahead
OF Palmer, WAS sure to get the third money.
Palmer stuck to his work and walked the time
oUt, although it was evident after the sixth
hour that his ouly chance of getting either
purse lay in the giving up of the other contes
tants. In the eighth hour, had all the others
rested, Palmer could not have won, yet he
remained on the track and completed 3gI
miles. As walking record, Palmer was,
perhaps, the best He did not run more than
two miles OF the distance made by him. lie
never seemed in hurry, and walked as leis.
urely as though he were walking out to his farm
work. For his pluck in remaining on the
track the whole time, when there was no
chance of success, purse Of Sl2 was raised
among the spectators aud presented to him.
Below We give the distance made by each con
tesiant la each of the eight hours: