The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-14
FORTY PEDESTRIANS.

OPENING OF THE EIGHry-roUR HOURS CONTEST
AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN--wooDs LEAD
ISo-FoURrEEN OF THE MEN WITHDRAWN.
Again the walk. An eighty-four hour go-as-you-
please contest. the first ever held in this city.
began yesterday at the Madison Square Gar
don. Such contests have been held in other
cities of the continent and in Great Britain.
The best record was 400 miles, done by Day Of
London, over thirty-six lap track. at Dun
dec. Scotland. OF the forty starters in the
present race. fourteen withdrew on the first
day. The remaining list contains many
formidable names and some new talent cropped up
yesterday. Blower" Brown acted much as he did,
but improved toward the close of the day, and may
succeed in maintaining his reputation before the
week is over
There was delay of one hour in making the
Starr That Immediately due to the 'scenic
artist" who could furnish time the requisite
quantity of names and numbers for the score
boards The lessees of the Garden had expected up
TO Friday last to suitcase the building for this
week. but those negotiations falling they left
only two days in which to arrange for the race.
The start, which had been announced for ten
O'Clock was put off till eleven and the finish of the
first days walk was made at one this morning, IN
stead of midnight. About five hundred people. and
hatndispensable band of musicians. saw the men oh
As they stood in lines of four, dressed in costumes
of many kinds and colors. and impatiently waiting
the word, they formed phalanx which Captain
Williams eyed with critical interest, and 'fop
Whitaker surveyed with pride. There were some wen
known faces among them. such as BLOWER BROWN
the favorite; Campana, emperor OF the tan DARK;
Hughes. the "Lepper;" Hartman. an old ana lofty
acquaintance; Krohne little older anda little more
lofty; Colston, the "Big Swede" of Hoboken. and
1acs
some faces that strange to New York audi
ence, but may be well enough known before the con-
test is over.
FIRST LAPS.
For half minute all eyes fastened on the
scorers clock, the second hand touched the
figure twelve "Pop" Whitaker shouted the word.
1t was an easy start. not much excitement ap
plause very little effort to scramble to the front
Perhaps the warming they had received that any
man fouling another would be ruled off the track
mad something to do with it. The first mile was ac-
complished by Hanlan in 6m los. After him and
in the order named came Gould. Brown, Hughes.
O'Bren. Reeves. Layton, Hartman, CahiI. Rice,
Dufrane, Perrin and Stebbns.
Among the starters a man named Bush, who
astonished the sports by appearing in pair of
goggles and dress coat The dress coat he laid
aside when business began. but he maintained the
goggles until period when he withdrew from the
little older and more lopsided than when he made
his last appearance. Weston could not have pre-
scented more deplorable front than the old soldier
from Bridgeport. while Campanas back is quite be-
You'd any ones imitation. Krohne ran while, but
tell back into that regmenta step of his. Colston
stumbled along slowly but powerfully. Lots of
men passed him. but he only put his feet the more
firmly the sawdust if to say. "Ill be here
Saturday night" Hilton did some remarkably good
running at the outset did Woods Hartman and
Stebbins.
WARY BOOKMAKERs.
Two or three firms early on hand in Book
makers Row. Before the second mile their
familiar cry resounded through the building-"Bet
against any in the race" But such odds!
One would suppose FROM examination Of their
states that they expected every the track to
win An bet against Blower Brown not
be obtained; and all the outsiders sold II there
dozen entries instead Of forty. The figures
underwent terrible of scratching and spong-
ing in the course of two hours. By O'Clock
They had assumed the following basis. with but few
lea.