Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-15
wILIIAMsON's WALK.


sem PIodsi ing Away at Hts Weary
Task---Btg Money Alleged to be
Changing Condition OF the
MAN.
John Williamson is still plodding away
at his remarK able feat of pacing between
the northwest and the northeast corner
of Third avenue and Seventeenth street
for thirty-sx successive hours, with q
brick in each hand. He commenced his
task at o'clock yesterday morning. and
will finish at tonight if he stops at
thirty-six hours tramp. The conditions
Of the contract under which Williamson
is walking we're fully stated in last nights
ARGUS, but today it appears there are
other influence and inducements at work
than the $50 for each ten hours condi.
tional tramp originally offered by Mr.. Il.
T. Hull. Williamson, as was stated yes.
terday, insists that Mr. Hull offered him
800 for hirty- six hours steady work,
with an hours intermission every six
hours for mt ais and fifteen minutes rest
every three hours. Mr.. Hull was seen
this morning, and said that while he had
offered inducements, he would not for
certain reasons divulge any of the details.
de was very anxious, however. that Viii,
hanson would accomplish his undertake
ing. This looks as if Mr.. Hull did not
expect to lose very much on the success
full results Of the tramp. so far as Will
Hanson is concerned.
MIR. Hull said this afternoon that his
interest in the case ended last night, and
that he did lot make any contract for
longer than one days walk.
This morning it was alleged that con-
siderable money would change hands on
the result, and that Williamson would be
shead more than 800. whether the feat
was accomplished or not. 1t is doubt
less true that several large bets have
b2en made. and present probabilities are
that William son will walk his time out,
and will get more money at the end tina n
he anticipated when he started.
Williamson tramped away all night,
stopping only an hour at midnight and
fifteen min utes in the forepart
and fifteen in the afterpart OF the
night for rest. From 2 O'Clock until
$3.50 this morning, the rain fell heavily,
but Williamson unnerved plodded on,
and there was no time during the night
that he did not have company. This
morning he presented an almost
pitiable. sight, as he limped along
with immense blisters on his
soles OF both feet while his hands were
frightfully swollen. his face haggard and
his back pairing him terribly from con-
slant STOPPING in laying the bricks down
and picking Them up on each side of the
street. Once he was almost determined
to give up the task, but encouraged by
his friends he kept on and will probably
stick it out now. Large numbers of
people have been attracted by the re-
ports of the undertaking.
A physician who has watched the case
with considerable interest, states that he
regards the way Williamson is sticking
out as q remarkable test of physical
strength, endurance and genuine nerve.
He had never heard of such feat before.
ANOTHER FEAT
Conversation over the probable OUT
come of Williamson's strange undertake
ing, led to wager almost as novel in the
C., r. l. s. P. yards this morning, the
participants being Jerry Mccarthy and
John Logan. both switchmen. Logan
bet Mccarthy dollar that he could not
carry on one shoulder, 1875 pound crow
bar from Yardmaster Rains office to the
water works without stopping or chang
ing the position of the bar. Mccarthy
the feat and got his 81.