, 1879-01-05
.PEDESTRIA.NISAI.


During the recent pedestrian contest in New
York between O'Leary aud "sport" Campaua,
The TRIBUNE gave to its readers BY telegraph
full reports Of the alleged match as it pro-
c1essed. Now that the matter is thing OF the
past this paper feels called upon in the interest
Of true sport to enter vigorous protest against
any more such sssnide " exhibitions and frauds
on the public. It may be true, as claimed by
the friends of O'Leary and Campana. that in the
recent crawling match there was bona fide
stake, but this cannot alter or disguise the fact
that the public was deceived and defrauded OF
the money which it paid at the box office to see
these men walk. People had rig ght to expect,
from thepreyious:. OF O'Leary, that
he would do something worth seeing, and
it was this confidence ia him TINT induced the
press Of New York to indorse aud advertise the
exhibition which resulted SO fayorably for those
who took part III it. If the match was made in
good faith, as the friends Of O'Leary Claim. the
least be could have done vas to have gone on
and won the 81 900 which it is claimed the back
ers Of Campaua put up, and having done that
retired from the track. By the articles OF agree
ment which both men signed, and which ap-
peared in these columns, it was stlpula lated that
in case the loser did not complete $50 miles he
should be entitled to no part OF the gate money.
Several DAYS before the time set for the ter
mination OF the contest it was apparent that
under no circumstance could Campana cover
the required distance, When this fact dawned
1non tie minds Of ''Sport - and bis baekers7 a
consultation was held. The time for making a
strong bluff mad arrived. and the bluff was
made. The O'Leary end OF the scheme was told
that unless matters were "hxed'' to the salts
faction of the stSport crowd, their man would
he taken from the track. OF course, with but
ha NmnEnf n
nothing, and the attendance ditto. Conse-
oueutly settlement was made, the terms OF
which, as nearly as can he ascertained,
we're that Campana should receive. s., 00)
of the gate-moneY In consideration OF
remaining on the track in some shape Ut other
until Saturday night. He managed to hobole
aopg the required time, aud O'Lcary completed
his .tyictory,' a1 the close OF the 400th mile.
This is the plain truth Of the matter, and does
the Chicago man no credit. Heretofore he has
claimed that in no shape would he be party to,
or in auY way encourage, hippodromes, but he
can make the claim no longer. 1t now looks as
II there never was q match, aud most people
will Incline to the belief that the u contest "
was gotten up as O speculation, the parties to
the scheme being we'll aware that the publlc
was ripe for humnug.
The testimony Of the men themselves on the
mint of how much Campaua received is inter-
esting aud as follows, being from tue New York
Herald:
.'IIow much of the gate money does Campana re-
ceiye, Mr.. 0'Leayy:" m,
lie gets pretty good little pie,-about 81, GOO,
think ,....
"WeI, Campana, did you make as much as you
lost in this match!" 49,
~ lost the stake of 81, o0O, but made ten
times that. made enough any way to buy house
and lot for my wife. !"
The New York World expresses its opinion Of
the scheme as follows:
Considering that the times are alleged to be hard,
and that the sport cxccrably bcd the fact that
at the recent crawIing-match over $40, 600 gate
money was extracted from the pockets OF New
Workers. does not inspire one with much respect
for the average wisdom OF the community. There
are some thousands of wstthy, honest, and edu-
Gated men doing nearly 40 much walking in this
city every week in search Of the work they cannot
find, and, so far the attraction Of physical SUI
lies. II we are to have any more pedestrian
matches let the competitors start at Sandy HOOK
and 70 due east.