The New York herald., 1879-03-01
THE ASHLEY BELT.

RowEIL, THE ENGLISH PEDEsTRIAN-PRELINII-
NARY CONFERENCE BETWEEN THE FOUR CON-
PETIToRs IN THE COMING CoNrEsr-ExcITE-
MENT AMONG SPORTING MEN.
The steamship Parthia of the Cunard line. arrived
at her dock in Jersey City about half-past eight
yesterday morning, having on board Mr.. Charles
Rowcll of Chesterton. Cambridge. England very
important member Of the quartet that to start
on the morning of Monday. March 10, in the COM
petition for the Ashley belt. Mr.. Rowell was accom-
panied by his two friends, Mr.. Charles Asplen and
Mr.. j. Simpson, who will look after him during
his stay in America The rather early ar
rival of the steamer prevented the presence
of the large reception committee that would
otherwise have greeted Mr.. Rowell his arrival in
New York. but his most formidable antagonist, Mr..
Daniel Leary, the present holder of tile Ashley Belt
prompt on time to welcome the Englshman.
As they stood side by side the deck of the steamer
the two presented rather striking contrast in
point of build and stature. OLeary is about three
inches taller than Rowel but much slighter in build.
looking quite delicate man compared with the thick
set, compact form of the Erglishman. The meeting
between these two athletes in six days contest. go
as they please, will be fair test of the runner
against the walker In England they are now salts
fed that in six days match the runners can beat
the walkers, and in recent tournament at Agricul
tural Hall the walkers were literally nowhere the
runners finished first. second and third. O'Leary
may be classed as a fair heel and toe walker.
though he occasionally runs few laps. while Rowell
is runner, and will at least four-fhs of his
journey in jog trot. Rowell was evidently pleased
with the visit from O'Leary and introduced him to
his two friends. Aspen and Simpson. After tho
baggage had been passed the party went on shore
and came over to this city.
INSPECTING THE GROUND.
About noon yesterday the three Englishmen walked
into Gilmores Garden and took look at the place,
in which the walk is to be decided After looking
around for few minutes they took walk down
town and returned to the st. James Hotel shortly
before three p. NJ. where they met O'Leary, Harri-
man and Ennis, and had talk the arrange
ments for the walk. The first point that was
brought up for discussion was the division Of
John Ashley provided for one-half going to the
winner. and the contestants We're anxious to decide
upon the division OF the remaining. Rowell said
he did not think that man deserved to get any
share of the money that did not cover 450 miles
Ennis Immediately signihed his Willingness to ac-
cept these terms and did Hartman and O'Leary
After further talk on the matter it was finally
decided to let that question stand until the arrival of
Mr. Atkinson of the Sporting Life. who is to act
agent for Rowell and who is expected here on Mon
day Tuesday next. They then agreed among
themselves that the walk should commence in Gill
and on motion of Mr.. OLeary the quartet also
decided to vest the management of the affair in
the hands of Mr.. j. Kelly. The scoring will
be done by members of the athletic clubs, each
club taking charge for twenty -four hours and each
| of the walkers will name two men. whose duty it
shall be to call out and put up the numbers of the
laps they make There will be five men attending to
the scoring department all the time, two putting
down the laps, taking down the time, one keep
ing sheet for the inspection of the press and
| other acting general superintendent. Each of
the contestants will have separate house, contain
inp helr
probably be located ut the four corners OF the Gar
den. The question OF reversing was raised before
the meeting and it ruled that the man going the
regular route should always have the inside track
| During the talk Rowell was taking good look at
| O'Lcary and Hartman. He was personally ac-
quainted with Ennis as he had defeated him in Lon
don, but the other two pedestrians that he had
only heard OF. Ennis appeared 70 De N very good
too lengthy to walk with little men like themselves
and that he should be cut down to regulation
| length. After some little playful badinage the
! party broke up to meet again early possible
the arrival of Mr.. Atkinson of the sporting Life
ENGLISH ATHLETES RECORD.
Before the Englishmen left the HERALD reporter
had short talk with Rowel who seems to be u very
! pleasant young fellow. something like Hanlan about
| the face. He said that he had rather rough pas
sage and not scasick, although both his friends
placed hors de combat for few days He did not
| get much exercise on board, the weather too
| rough to make it an easy task to walk the decks.
There were two days, however. in which he managed
He was evidently quite satisfied with the arrange
nents that had been made and began TO feel that if
| he could win the belt he was going TO get q
| thoroughly fair chance. His friend, Mr.. Simpson.
said that Rowells early years were passed as water
man. lie was attached to Searlcs' Boat House at
Cambridge. and first acquired his taste for pedes-
trian exercise while running with boats. lie once
rowed mile race on the Isis against Harry
Casper. whom he defeated easily. lie has
appeared quite number of times as
runner going all distances from halt mile up. lie
nine and half miles inside the hour and nineteen
miles in little two hours In six hour
running match, at Settingbourne. against man
named Vanderpcer. he ran thirty two miles in fonr
hours, and stopped as his opponent had left the
track. In the six day contest of last October he
finished third with 47O miles. but twelve hours
OF the track. Rowell comes from Chesterton.
Cambridge, is twenty-sx years of age,
five feet six inches in height and weighs
40 pounds. Mr.. Simpson appears to have
great confidence in his man. and thinks he is the
best i'll England. He believes that runner can beat
walker. and says that Rowell will probably 20 10
miles in the first twenty -four hours
John Ennis, of Chicago, another of the contest
ants arrived yesterday morning from Chicago. look
ing in excellent condition. He has been taking
plenty of exercise lately. and. recently skated 100
miles in rather short time.
The spectators have commenced work already,
and there u walk in this country that is
likely to create much betting. At present the
odds 100 to $50 against OLeary. 100 to 50 against
Rowell, 100 to 80 against Hartman and 100 to 10
against Ennis. There IL considerable disposition to
bet on the distance made. Even money IL freely
offered that 500 miles is beaten and some few small
bets have been made that $40 miles will be covered.
One gentleman, McCarroll. OF South street. has
offered bet $4,000 to 5000 that man $50
miles. IL the distance made $40 miles that bet