Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-02

walkers or walking matches because
no matches of importance have ever
como of in this vicinity, and no tramp
of education and renown has visited
us for many years if we except
Weston, who ranks asan educated gen
tleman and who paid us a visit a dozen
years or so back. We have had SO
much to do with hordes of dis
reputable tramps that no very great
interest has been manifested for the
genteel order.
However, there are those among us
who have seen some lively tramping.
A celebrated pedestrian named Els
worth, over two dozen years ago,
walked a thousand miles in a thousand
hours, at Hyde Park st. Louis. and his
first mile was covered inside Of nine
minutes, while his last was done
in a little over eight minutes. During
his long forty.two day walk he had an
attack Of Ague, lasting nearly a week,
yet he never missed his mile each
hour, shake or no shake, and during
the early morning hours or the night
time be generally occupied from IF
teen to nineteen minutes in covering a
mile, but when in the afternoon visi-
tors we're numerous, the time was
shortened to between ten and twelve
minutes. This great walker went
to Nicarauga afterwards and
lost his life there. During the match
mentioned, which was witnessed by
persons now living in this city, the
wonderful tramp was visited by many
people Of note, including Geo. Will
kins Kendall, Of the New Orleans
Picayune, various Mandan and Sioux
Indian Chiefs aud people ofprominence
from the Eastern States, a fine trotting
horse, known as June Bug, was
matched on several occasions against
Ellsworth, but somehow the latter al
ways won.
The foregoing reference is a little of
Just now, for there have been many
matches in later years Of more interest
at this date, many, for example, in
which 0'Leary has figured promi-
~nently, and to a few Of these sllusion
will be made:
Mr.. 0'Leary's first match occurred al
Chicago in July, 1874 He then walked
100 miles inside Of twenty-feur hours
and won a purse of $500. At the tim'
mentioned no such feat had ever beer
recorded.
The next match Of Mr.. O'Lear.
was also 10 Chicago in a walk Of 10
miles, against ninety miles walked b,
a competitor named Venice, tn
wager being $500. 0'Leary mad
the distance in eighteen hours ant
6fty-seven minutes, the best up t
: that time ever recorded.
After that, at the same city, in
match with Weston, Mr.. O'Lear
walked in six days SOP miles, beatin
Weston 51I miles. This was in No
vember, 1875. The gate receipts dur
ing this exciting contest exceede
$40, 900, and Mr.. 0'Leary's share wa
$1,000, it being divided after expense
between the rivals Mayor ColviD, {
Chicago, started the two men in thi
race. The interest in the match wa
intense, and extended to other cite
besides Chicago.
After that Mr.. O'Leary went I
San Francisco, where he wake
against four men for $500, beatin
them all, and where he made oyt
. $4,000 in the several matches j
which he engaged. He has in b
pocket at this time a magnificeI
watch, worth full $500, attached
which isa fine chain, aud the inscriI
ton on the inside case Of the watC
tells its own story. It reads as 70
lows:
Presented to Daniel O'Leary on Il
completion Of his 5OO.mile walk in l;
e consecutive hours, % minutes, APP
9Th, 1876, by Sheriff Nunau, on beha
of the citizens Of San Francisco"
In 1877 0'Leary went TO Englan
and at the Agricultural Hall, Londo
in a wager for 500 pounds again
Weston, the latter being backed
Sir John Ashley, he was again Il
victor. On this occasion he walk
six days, making $40 miles, again
$40 made by Weston. The gate I
ceipts on this occasion we're near
'e $500 pounds, and the usual divide @
o CURED, MAKING il the most pro6taf
4. to O'Leary of any in which he ey
J. engaged. Mr.. 0'Leary remained
England six months, and engaged
ID other matches, but they we're of min
RS magnitude, compared With the 0
It, with Weston.
Of Another visit to England was ma
n by Mr.. O'Leary in 1873, and in
in match with II others, he won what
C. known as the Ashley belt, valued
ne elOO, or $500. This was a six-C
or match, and 10 the walk of 144 hol
O'Leary covered J2Oi miles, agaiI
800 made by bis closest competitor.
For some time after the foregoi
no more important contests were
gage. in. but at New York in Mar
1878, at the Madison Square CARD
he walked against Rowell, Harm
and another man. In this mat
O'beary was dciested by Rowcll. ]
%. teuse interest was aroused By {