The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-13
TIE ASHLEY BELT.
sn~NTENUANCE OF the CONTEST AF
Gtt.uomE's GARDEN.

y
GILMOKE's GARDEN.
ryv an masrate.fns tsse Lead and Increases
ts,e ut,sance Retween Him and Hts
CsmpeUto Retirss frOm the
Race-sls piciOn af Foul Play.
NBy YssK, March .I2-Interest in the
walking nE,tch is unabated and there is still
much spee1Hltion as to the probable result.
After O'Clock this morning the majority ot
the spectators left Gllmores Garden, but
after o't Ock many persons came ia ana
.consideraDhs excitement was shown when all
the competitors were on the track. " OLeafy
h much annoyed at the iibes of the MOB
whose iRflnliration has been transferred 70
Rowel. The latter also hears occasionally
intimat On OF c0ckneyism made at his ex-
pense, but evlnceS no annoyance and joys
along app arently unconcerned. Ennis smiles
patiently on the comments made at his ex-
ipense, butt does not look ut the crowd, whlle
HARTMAN strikes ahead with business gait
and strai ned face and pays no heed 70 the
crowds remarks. The pedestrians show a
good del al of eoeentricity In the matter OF
sleeping. and while1t Leary, during the night
was off the track oftener than the others, his
absences were for shorter periods and ne had
less sleepthan eithepof his competitors. Harr-
man and Ennis. both put In good long maps,
the former from IL nc to 30, and the latter
from :16 to :as. They both stuck to the
track very persistently after returning.
III
minutes, and Hartman two hours and fifty
three minutes, uninterruptedly. Rowell
'adheres to hts policy OF maintaining the
lead by following closely either Hartman or
'sOLeary and making an occasional burst OF a
- few laps, gaining lap or two, and then fall
1 ing In behind one or the other oil his CHIEF
: competitors. Rowell is reported to have q
serious blister Vn his left foot, but II true, it
i does not interfere with his speed. Once
! this morning the four men got Ia q
heap on the track, Hartman leading.
Ennis attempted to pass when
Hartman quickened his pace. O'Leary and
Rowell made several efforts to pass, and they
kept In a rather absurd attitude Tor lap or
two, the crowd running along the rail after
them shouting and cheering until finally
Rowel broke the lock by brlsk run and
Hartman Stacked his pace.
The most exciting event Of the morning
was the race between O'Leary and RoweL
The latter had trOtted along his adversary's
heels for couple OF miles, and found 1t mo-
notonous. Hebraced himself up for long
stride and took the outer side OF the track at
OLearys elbow, evidently bent on ascertain
ing whether O'boary could walk In good
form. The race continued for three laps, the
crowd keeping up deafening cheers, but 1t was
too much for little Rowells legs, and he was
obliged to abandon 1t and change to run,
while O'Leary walked on without changing
his gait
/ 80 D. m.-The condition of the pedestrians
is anything but first class. Ennis is badly
used up, Out Sblll Keeps bravery hJ WoEh<
Rowells feet especially his left heel, are in a
terrible condition. Hartman Is in the best
condition, and from the style In which he Is
walking 1t is believed that IL he does not
break down he will win the race. He is walk
ing In splendid form. OLeary is suffering
from physical exhaustion. He is better this
afternoon than at any time in the race and
may yet win, but there Is little probability OF
1t. Rowelrs blistered feet Will, It is predicted,
cause his defeat. Hartman Is taking matters
nd Strpnufh
day.
The receipts up to noon to day amount to
$4,000. The rush OF spectators Is tremen-
dous. Odds of 100 tov7o are being laid that
no contestant will cover 800 miles. The bet
ting Is even on Harrimap,2 to against ROwell,
and to against OIeary and Ennis.
q :55 p. m ~ Leary gave up the contest at
I Gilmores at p. n. after covering 2l5 miles,
i O'Leary, 1t is claimed, W drugged.. He was
suffering. from great physical exhaustion
IL Is said bY OIearyS trainer that he
tOLearyJ will never walk again
sp. m-The crush at the garden tonight
was tremendous. The spectators filled the
streets for blocks around the garden. OLeary
gave up all hopes or winning the belt at 5 p.
m. He had completed ,i15 mites when he
stopped. His traina,, " L. Harding, know
Ing that It was Impossible for him to COM
plete 45O miles by Saturday night. as he was
suffering terribly, told hm it was useless for
him to continue. After a conference with his
backer. AL Smit4, oLeary, at the earnest
solicitation of his wife, who vas pres
ent In the hut decided to give up the CON
test. O'Leary was overcome, and as he lay
like dying gladiator on his cot. lie was a
pitiaole sight; AL Smith looses Sc 900 by
OJyeary's failure but I've told O'I1arv he
would give half his fortune to have Elm win
the belt OLearys withdrawal frcm the
race created quite sensation. At nuIlerous
hotels, clubs and other places Of public resort,
twas rumored that OLeary Fad beer paid
r. ts1, II al On ct tod bfb No.
.drugged by one OF his trainers. Thousands
of run0rs were flying and the unfortunate
occurrence was the topic OF conversation
0Leary was wreck when he stopped. He
hgd beea tottering all over the track and
1t took him one hour and fifteen minutes to
make his last five miles. As soon as the
news reached down town, intense excitement
prevailed. The betting men who had in
vested hundreds OF dollars cursed bitterly.
In an interview with w. L. Harding, who
had charge of o Leary, he states that . Leary
was In no condition fer twenty-four hours,
let alone a six days, contest, ana that
OLeaFy is not to blame for his first and only
failure in six days. Harding says Y Leafy y
worked down, and will never be able TO walk
again. He says aftec OLeary defeated
sport" he was in terriSle condition. having
been overworked by too many long walks.
He went TO Hot Springs to recruit his health,
Intending to stop there TIL May, blt tne or
John Ashley belt had to be competed Tor. Ia
March he had to Leave hastily. During hls
stay he lost twenty pounds. The matcn
for the belt was arranged and OLeary hau
only two weeks to build up his broken. down
health. This he failed to do and last Sunday
night it was plain that Leary Was In low
state of health, He did not look like the same
OLeary but his skeleton. After the race
commenced O'Leary walked mile Tor mile
with Rowell, and at the end of the, thirty
fifth he had 10 stop. He was then feverish
and cfaYed for wine, which was supplied him
by Barney Aaron. his other trainer, contrary
From the end Of the first fifty miles O'Leary
was out OF the race; he couldn't walk
last he couldn't eat, but he thirsted
Tor all kinds of drink and finally became
|nseQ I'D. During the last tWepty.IOur