The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-18
PhnntnRns of ito Walkers,

Nine cots with excelsior mattresses, stand
beneath the tents ut the side Of the track.
Weston and Rowcll sleep in rooEs at the
eastern end of the Garden. Gnyon rests
in the Putnam House, near the Fourth
avenue entrance. All the other walkers
slocp in their tents. The hours Of uncon-
ritt had slept only seven hours since the
hardly be called hours OF rest. The weary
pedestrian is spongcd or hts bath. lie
pitches in his cot. lie is wrapped in his
blankets. The lights in his tent are cxlin-
guishcd. lie closes his eyes and enters a
world of phantoms. The cheers of the
crowd, tho music of the band, the clapping
of hands, the mlrmur OF vast hive of
bees, and the tread Of many feet fit through
his sleep. His body is rackcd with pain
There is on appalling heat in his feet. His
temples throb. The blood becomes stag
nant and frequently nightmare follows
The dreamer is still on the track. He secs
his competitors passing him one by one
and Is unable to increase his own speed
OLeary says that during his walk for the
belt in London he never went t. sleep with
out the shadow of Vaughn before him. 1t
would follow him around Il phantom track
with looks of cXultntion in it's eyes. At
times 1t would bar his way. 1t would
stand facing him at the curves, making
grimaccs and contOrti0ns. Up to the mo-
mcnt of walking Vaughn's shade never left
his sleep. Guyon hos similar experience.
On "Wednesday night he slept the sleep of
the damned. The pain in his feet was so
intense that it had turned his stomach
Weston was ever before him. When he
turned In Merritt had passed him and taken
second place. Weston was doing splendid
work, and rapidly ovcrhauling him. A
ghostly Weston pursued him IN his dreams.
Whichever way he turned Weston was at
his heels. Nor was Weston the only plan-
tom. The dials assumed the faces of the
other contestants, and taunted him IA he
passed. a spirit Krohne fifty feet high
was walking over him. Although he was
in the Putnam House, far removed from
sight or sound of the garden, he heard the
murmnr of the crowd, the roar of brass in
strumcnts, the tread of thousand feet, and
pcals Of laughter. When he awokc toward
morning he found a tumblcr beneath his
pillow. The pillow was drcnclcd. lie
was unable TO account for it until he re-
mcmbcrcd that in his dreams he had Il
spirited contest with Weston. The dreams
of the pedestrian are based on tho condi-
ton of his stomach. When the stomach
refuses nourishmcnt threatening apparitions
frequently appear. In one case a pcdcs-
tran fancicd that he was rolling among old
logs covered with thousand-lcggcd worms.
In another case the pedestrian thought him
self on the track, but unable to walk.
Upon glancing at his feet he was shocked
to see that they had turned into hickory
saplngs, and the saplings grew with such
rapidity that they raised him in the air.
The agony of these hours of unrest is in
creased when the haplcss walker awakcs.
His blo0d is still stagnant. There is a
prickly heat upon his skin. He feels as
though he was being prickcd by million
of needles. Ncuralgic pains throb through
his muscles His joints are stiff. His eye
lids seem paralyzed. Worst of all, his feet
and shinboncs are numbcd. Every move
ment sends a thrill Of pain through the
body. Ho is oiled and rubbed a swallow
of warm bccf-tea, or some other dccocton,
puts him into a little glow and infuscs him
with painful energy. lie hobbies upon
the track, and the noise, the lights, and
the dark shadows Of his competitors confuse
him. The cold air strikes him unpleasant
ly. He makes one lap, and the impulse to
re-cntcr his cot ls frequently SO great that
he finds it irresistible. Before coming Oh
the track he lies upon his cot in semi-un-
conscious state while lie is rubbed and clad.
lie hardly appreciates the situation before
he finds himself upon the track. If his
slloos have been changed during his rest,
his feet feel like humps of lead. The sore
spots smart more than ever, and 1t is with
the greatest difficulty that he can lift his
feet from the track. lie occasionally feels
a nausea about the stomach, and his nerves
arc strung to the utmost tension. The
swapping of whip, a dcformed face,
wide-brimmcd hat, or peculiarly shaped
bouquet eXcitcs his mind, and he becomes
i'll measure insane. Weston has peculiar
adherence of tobacco smoke. 1t probably
affects his stomach. At times the sight OF
q pipe or cigar throws him into nervous
spasm, and he becomes so excited that he
frequently leaves the track.