The New York herald., 1879-07-08
"DAN" O'LEARY.

DAN ~ LEAK Y.
THE PEDESTRIANS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
PLEASURE TRIP TO EUnoPE-wHAT HE HAS
TO SAY OF HIS BREAKDOWN IN GILMoRE's
GARDEN AND HIS VICTORY OVER cRossLAND.
Daniel O'Lesry. the ex-champion pedestrian. ar
rived In this city yesterday from Chicago and regis
tered at MacNevin's Hotel He took Fall River
boat for Boston in the afternoon. where he intends
sojourning for few days. when he will return to
New York and take steamer tor Ireland After visit
ing the leading places of interest in the Isle
he will make tour OF England and Scotland, and
arrive in this city in time to superintend the pedes
trian tournament at Madison Square Garden during
the month of October.
Mr.. OLeary is in excellent health and good condi-
ton. His late walk with the English pedestrian.
Grassland. in Chicago has convinced Mr. OLsary
that all he needs is and training to qualify him
TO- regain his lost laurels Grassland was considered
the most formidable opponent q heel-and-roe
walker that could be found in England to compete
with O'Leary. Their contest in Chicago the
final heat. which was to decide which the better
man. and resulted in an easy victory for O'Leary
They had walked two matches previously, O'Leary
winning the first contest and Grassland the
second. AS there considerable discussion
to which could vAnquish the other their
particular champion, the Chicago match was the
result. the stakes being for $1,000 side. In the
first twcnty-four hours Of the OLeary fell be-
hind fifteen miles. He troubled greatly with
sick stomach. Proper and timely medical attend
ance however. soon got him to rights, and he there
upon regsned all his old time Aeeness and endurance,
finally leaving Grassland twenty-five miles in the
rear at the finish. The latest victory for the
Chicagoan has restored the dormant enthusiasm of
his friends and admirers. and OLeary is pressed
all sides by sporting who know his grit and
domitable endurance TO place himself III training aud
to be OF tho competitors against Weston tor the
Sir John d. Ashley champion belt.
O'LEARYs INTENTIONS
O'Leary has never practised running. The go-as-
you-please innovation IN pedestrian exercises
the beginning OF his decadence. 1t is thought that
with careful handling good and competent trainer
could in o comparatively short time qualify O'Leary
TO hold his own runner with any of highlands
picked Champions and to outdistance Weston 8 phe-
nomenal record. These considerations have been
weighing on the ex-champion's mind and influencing
HIM to shape his conduct accordingly. There
match Ill contemplation between himself and Guion.
but OLeary considered thas he would be but perpet
uating his old folly OF overtaxng his physical re-
sources to take part in it, aud has broken of the
negotiations. 1t s his settled purpose to preserve
himself for supreme effort which will again
place the coveted champions belt in his possession
In a conversation with a HERALD reporter yester-
day OLeary discussed these subjects unreservedly.
Il know" he said. that my stock ran down below
par when was forced to let Rowell walk away with
the belt. was the best abused man in the country.
and my character assailed every side. People
thought was invincible, and they were unreason-
able in their anger No one knows but the very few
aud superhuman task it is to undertake to
go on tramp for six days; walking al.
or nourishment Under such Conditions the
most trivial circumstance may be disastrous
to the success of pedestrian II there is the slight
est flaw in the constitution, il the mind is
citabe. or the nervous system impaired, or if the
digestive organs not in good condition. the
aud tear OF the strain will soon produce the newt
able natural results at the critical moment when
| ones energies should be at their best The human
body, in its most perfect state, is not such an
infalibe piece OF machinery to be proof against
| the numerous ills which flesh is heir to. man.
| feat of strength and endurance at one par
| ticular period of his lire, under favorable
constitutional conditions and ignominiously fail
| the next time he essays the task. That IL just
what happened to me; aud that is what happened to
| Blower Brown, man whom consider second to
please contest. In his last he broke down on
the second day. and although several miles ahead Of
Brown practically out OF the before half the
distance had been covered, and he knew it, but he
kept on the track in the hope Of saving his gate
effort he fell tar behind that figure his strug
gle. Notwithstanding he was stimulated to do his
utmost by having a Yankee competitor.
WHAT LED DEFEAr.
II. too, could have remained on the track with
Rowell during the week and have made perhaps 500
miles. but had lost all confidence in my ability to
win. saw that the plucky little Brton run
ming Winning race aaa a,,; WAS 5ong up m,les & IKE
lous stomach still defying all the efforts of medical
skill to reduce it to subjecton. As Ihave animated
l was sanguine at the start, but becoming sick
when I was but comparatively a few hours
my London time fretted considerably. This worry
had a most disastrous effect upon me. struggled
on. however. thinking that my sickness would wear
away and that could regain lost time Notwthstand
ing the fact that Rowell led by twenty miles, my
friends still kept betting heavily The knowl-
edge OF this fact assured ~ was that would he
beaten, added to my mental worriment and to
save my hackers from further loss determined
to leave the track and preferred to sac. ice
the probability of my maintaining second place
than to remain in the race and thereby tempt my
friends to continue betting their money me in
losing game. The ncxt time try shall every
possible precaution to avoid the mshaps which lost
the belt. With that end In view intend starting
in few days OH visit of pleasure to the old
country. hope thereby to lay in stock of health
and to return early in the fall like giant
freshed.
PRAISE ron WESTON.
~ do not say positively mt this time that shall
be one of Mr.. weston's competitors. That will de-
pend future circumstances. should like moth
ing better however. than to meet my old friend and
professional rival. regard him as the pedestrian
wonder OF the age: He is certainly surprise to
everybody. i doubt II his record will ever be
beaten. lie deserves well of his countrymen for
gallantly wrestling the belt from England and bring
ing it again to America. / should not consider It
such conquest, in u national sense. to win the
trophy from Mr.. Weston I should
Englishman to be the holder of the prize. II by any
accident or mishsp Mr. Weston in danger
of losing his well lxures, and the belt of being
lucky person that would vanquish the foreigner. I
hope Mr.. Weston will enjoy the trophy and retain
the title of champion pedestrian Of the world during
the remainder OF his days. be this as IL may 1t Is
glory enough day that the belt returns us.
II was said by many that when Rowcll took it away
an American pedestrian would never secure the prize
again.
to take place next October the games which will be
of u varied character. will continue for the entire
month. aud that already forty entries have been
made