The New York herald., 1879-03-16
BRAVO RIO W ELL!
The Little Briton Trots Away with
the Ashley Belt.
And IT'S GREATLY TO HIS CREDIT.
For He Is an EngliShman-as Well as
a Plucky Pedestrian.
ENNIS A GOOD SECOND.
Harrinan's Brave Struggle to
Make 45O Miles.
SCENES AT THE FINISH.
The Athletes Loaded with Flowers
L.
SCENES AT THE FINISH.
The Athletes Loaded with Flowers
and Congratulations.
WHAT EACH MAN ACCOMPLIS HE'D

s
The long distance match finished last night at Gil.
mores Garden has proved to DO tho most remarka-
BILE contest known in the history of athletic sports,
either in this country or Europe. 1t he's not as
sumed marked prominence from the number Of
miles covered or The celebrity of tho who last
night finished their task on the path but because OF
the extraordinary public interest in the affair and
because it decided the possession Of the championship
of the world III "sx days" match between English
and American pedestrians. The failure OF OLeary
tho former holder Of tho belt robbed the race early
in the week Of much of it's interest but. notwith-
standing this drawback. the receipts have far ex-
cceded anything hitherto recorded in like cxhi
bition and the unvurying interest displayed by the
public in the result, after the final position Of
the men o foregone conclusion. marks the affair
rs one long to be remembered The expectations Of
the most sanguine promoters of the contest were
moro than realized. and the vast crowd gathered
within the Garden the final miles were being done
would have Of itself made tho affair an athletic and
pecuniary success.
We give elsewhere tho details Of the receipts and
record of the distance covered each man. and here
it would perhaps DO Of interest to glance at the
and their doings during tho terrible ordeal through
which they have passed with varying results both to
their purses end their constitutions.
This contest has well proven stern facts
which should be regarded by the pedestrian world
generally. O'Learys failure has demonstrated that
these long contests sap tho very life and vitality Of
man and that they be indulged In only at long in
tervals, and that in the interim man must husband
his strength most carefully. Harrimons failure to
secure FIRST place has demonstrated again-as 1t has
already been demonstrated in London-that the
runner not the walker will in future be the winner
Of six days race. Harriman's condition, which,
MI reports to tho contrary Notwithstanding not
1t the outset such 1t should have been told greatly
against him, and notwithstanding his doggcd perse-
verance gradually drew him back to third place.
Rowell's success is due equally to his style OF
going and to tho careful and judicious handling he
received from his experienced and careful trainers
Now, let us consider the men and what is said Of
them, and let us begin with tho winner. Rowcll
That Rowell was aware from the outset that the
race his, and that he has not at any time been
In doubt of the result, is not true During the first
twenty-four hours he watched OLcary closely and
husbnndcd his strength for any emergency, but with
the close Of the rst day the result well counted
on in Rowell's cottage. and from that time on it
was q mere question of judgment with his advisers
rs to how long lead he should hold. His progress
after the first day in almost regular proportion
10 that Of the others. he has merely held. with
slight variatons the lead lie acquired carly in the
His ways not relished by the public. and
tho ockeying to which he resortcd TO to dishearten
his opponents. by dogging their footsteps and re-
sorting to many little devices to discourage them.
were frequently Missed by the audiences watching him.
We must bear IN mind however. two things In this
conviction:-First. Rowell has been accustomed to
giving and receiving such unpleasant attentions from
his opponents, almost oil English professional
races are thus contested. Second. If Rowell
wrong. he not alone in hts sin. as he has been
more than once similarly served in this race.
During the latter part of tho race he rather aban-
doned these practices. and the many friendly things
hc said and did to Hartman and Ennis quite wiped
out what wns held against him by the public, and nc
was near being q favorte at the close of the
match as-wel rs circumstances would permit.
An impression is abroad that Sir John Ashley Sc
lcctcd Rowcll to represent the British interests in
this match after having private trial Of his powers
which resulted in $40 miles being covered within six
days. We can here state positively that the report
10 utterly untrue. No such trial had. and con-
sequently such result reached. Rowcil's best
work. which induced Sir John Astlcy TO send him out
to America In tho competition for tho london"
belt when lie finished third to Corkcy and
Brown. Ashley was of opinion that Rowcll would
havo had second place but for bad judgment In
taking him of the track on tho NTH day. and was
satisfied ho could better his record another trial
He exhibited on that occasion the gamencss he has
shown since, and many excellent points thcn
noted IN his favor In the contest for tho London
belt his feet held sound 60 the end his appetite good
and his sleep regular and healthy. The latter for
tunatc circumstances have attended him In America,
and the only serious difficulty has been with his
feet, which have been bliscrcd the eject of
dust working in under his socks Rowell dislikcs
10 boots or shoes coming UP TO tho aniic. and
objected strongly to wearing long stockings or
CATERS on beginning his work on Monday last. Hc
Is strongly prejudiced in favor OF the lowcut shoe.
and his whim or desire iu the matter
was fooiishiy listened to. The result
rs stated, the prompt bstering Of his feet by tho
particles OF sawdust and tho oss his trainers say.
OF fifteen hours time. which sncc Monday last
have been spent In dressing his feet. Each time he
was brought from tho track these blistcrs were
course. not compatible with sleep, and tho time was
dead loss to him.
A sAwpusr TRACK
In connection with this trouble of Rowells 10
won't bc ont OF place to word about the cause
of his troublc--the track.
We have seen tho track laid down In Agricultural
Hall, London, and have examined this ono now at
(silmorc's and have been surprised that the
siffcrcncc in favor of the London method
OF preparation has not been acknowl-
edged Tho latter plan is 20 lny upon tho
and rolled. on which is laid three inches OF garden
mould, which has first been put through sicve.
rho result Is ine, sprngy track. with little or no
aust, and containing no PARTICLES of any substance
puch this sawdust. to blister the feet OF tho men
should It get into their shoes.
Another erroneous impres sion which has gono
forth through the medium Of tho press Is that Mr.
Atkinson Is 6owcus trainer. This ~ an entire mis-