The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-19
coxrEsrAXr. lst 2d 3D. lth 5lh 0lh .7th sth

Toials-John Croft AZ miles, Bell 40, Gist
A, Palmer 39l, Himler 30, Reinaman 20,
Copenhaver 2Sl, Blakesly 2ll, Samuel Croft
20, Walter 10. These distances do not tally
with the above. They are the entire distan.
ces made by each, while those in the table
only give the record by the hour, several hav.
ing continued their tramp after the record
was taken and left the track before The sue.
ceeding hour was finished
The judges neglected to keep the time of
any Of the pedestrians except three, and these
did not know that the watch was being held
on them. John Croft made the first mile in
minutes, Al seconds and half the second
in minutes and 80 second; the fifth mile in
minutes and SO seconds; the forty fourth mile
in ID minutes and "a seconds; the last and
forty seventh mile in 8 minutes-the whole
distance in three minutes less than eight hours.
Gist made his forty iourth and last mile in /
minutes-the whole in l minutes less than
eight hours. Bell made his forty fourth mile
in II minutes and ii seconds-the whole dis.
lance in one minute less than eight hours.
Palmer came under the wire Just at the close
Of the eight hour.
z John Croft, the winner, is native of this
city, and for nine years has been engaged
in a brickYard. He was seventeen years
old last February, is FIVE feet four inches
high, of slender build and weighs ITO pounds.
w. Ii. Bell is also native of this city,
twenty.one years old aud weighs about 1880
pounds He is a blacksmith by trade.
Benjamin Gist is son Of Samuel Gist, re,
siding near this city, is about nineteen years
! old, and accustomed to farm labor.
IL was generally considered that Hmler
was the prettiest walker ON he track, and in
the outset many thought he would be near
the leading man at the end.
Other than fatigue, none experienced any
Inconvenience from their tramp, and all but
one or two pursued their usual ayocations the
following day--John Croft, perhaps, feeling
less fatigue than any other. His record, con,
sidering bis age and size, was remarkable.
William Copenhayer-s'No. |, from Silver
Run'-and G. II. Blakesly, both started of
well and made good time for number of
miles, but were no competitors for the swift
feet and nlmble limbs of the town boys Both
of these are good over the hills and roads,
and can stand an all-day tramp with little or
no fatigue, but walk on race track is diff.
ferent. II is generally believed that more
distance can be covered on good pike in a
given time than on race track, and with
greater ease The up and down grades bring
all the muscles into play-one set resting
while the other is at Worthwhile on level
track the strain is generally on one set.
The purse and the proportion Of the gate
money will make the successful ones receive
John Croft about Sl5, W. H. Bell S27, and
Benjamin Gst SIS
On the first page Of this issue will be found
an account Of Mensen Ernst, Norwegian,
whose pedestrian exploits astonished Europe
forty OF fifty years ago. His FIRST ieat was TO
run rs miles in hours. He afterwards made
1850 miles in 10 days.
THE CORNER STONE
Of the engine house OF the Westminster Fire
Department was laid on Monday afternoon
last in the presence Of large number Of PEG.
pie. Members ofDoor to. Virtue and George
Washington Masonic Lodges met at Odd
Fellows Hail. aud preceded by the Silver
Run Band marched TO the lot, opposite the
Catholic Church, formed a square and at
once commenced the ceremonies. DR.. VIM.
H. Rippard, W. NJ, called the brethren to
order, followed by prayer by Rev. J. ID. Still,
pastor Of Centenary NJ. r. Church. The
Master Of The Lodge, assisted by |. A. Miller,
S. W., and Edward Zeiglcr, ]. w, then laid
the cornerstone, the members making the
necessary responses. Hon. John L. Smith,
the orator Of The occasion, was absent owing
to indispostiou. Dr. Rippard, President OF
the Fire Company, made statement giving
IN brief history of the IRE department, what