The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-10-25
A Pedestrian Discovered.

contests said old Diffenderfer to
Judge Van Snyder, as they crossed
on the ferry the other afternoon,
shall never forget walking match
down at New Orleans just after the
war, at which acted as umpire. "
Remarkable time, eh?" asked the
Judge.
"Well, the time was good enough.
/ believe, but that wasn't what made
the contest peculiar. You see there
were twenty-five entries, and the I
walking took place in the Lake Pom
chartrain race track. 1t was a fifty
mile walk, and all the money in town |
most was backed on the New Or
leans champion. However, there was
u little bullet headed Canadian, with |
black eyes, who jumped right
into the lead at the send of, and got
away from the rest in fine style. OF
course, all the knowing ones laughed
at this, because they knew the Cam
adian would be all used up and
pumped out after the first ten miles,
when they'd easily pass him. But
somehow he didn't let up his gait un
til he had scored twenty miles, when
he went to his tent to rest. We took
it for granted, that was the end of
him, when, to our surprise, he jumped
into tho track again in about five
minutes, and pegged away apparent
ly as fresh as ever Well, sir, that
little cuss kept it up for about twenty
miles more, and when he stopped
again for rest, he was over six miles
ahead of the crowd. The New Or
leans champion was doing his level
best to reduce this lead, when behold
out pops the little cast iron fellow
for third time, and apparently, in
better trim than he had been during
the whole match.
"Hard man to beat, that, put in
the Judge.
Why, it was just impossible ID beat
him. He won by couple of hours,
and the crowd were SO excited ever
his performance, that they carried
him in town and gave him dinner
at the st. Charles. l sat next to the
winner, and the way that that little
Canadian tucked away tho grub was
a caution. After while he asked to
be excused for minute and went
out. When he returned to the table
he braced up and started in on the
provisions again, just as if be hadn't
eaten anything for week. The way
he got outside of a couple of boned
turkeys and three bottles of WINE
was something awful to behold. Just
as he was getting to look sorter filled
up at last, waiter brought him a
note, and again he asked to be ex-
cused, and left the table. Presently
back he comes once more, and the
manner in which he walked into q
cold ham and made roast pig look
like frame house struck by light
ming, just paralyzed the whole com
pany, which was waiting for him tc
get through so as to reply to toast
Just then / saw the note he had
received under his chair, where he
had dropped it, so Iquietly picked il
up. 1t read:
DEAR NED: Don't be so ALFRED long
, winded. Jack is most starved. Come
out and let him reply to the speeches
Be sure and come right up to the room
! and keep out of sight while he is OF
, deck. Bob.
/ kinder saw through the whole
thing at once, SO, as passed the pc
destrian another pie, said carelessly
"Kindcr good appetite this evening
Jack"
'.Yes, walking makes me powerful
hungry" said he.
) ashanti order you few hard
boiled eggs, Bob?" said |.
He looked at me sorter sideways {
moment, and then said:
) mo, | guess I'm doing pretty
? WE'LL"
+ "Don't you think couple of por
r ter house steaks would kinder brace
you up, Ned?" says I.
He turned white as sheet. @Fo
), heavens sake, speak low he whis
pered, 81 see you know we are trip
let's, and have put up a little job OF
/ the boys. Don't give us away, Mis-
7 ter, and we'll divide the gate none,
9 and stakes with YOU
"But you didn't accept his offerf
said Judge Van Snyder much inter
!. ested.
! "Well-I disremember exactl,
S about that" said old Diffenderfer
d vaguely, ats been a good while ago
n and"
But just here the boat landed, an,
they were separated by the crowd
but all the same, the Judge will g
to his grave convinced that the col
n facts in the case of the great New
n Orleans walking match have neve
l. been fully stated until now.