Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-19
ALONG DASH.
Little Giant" Edwin Checkley, the Ath
Iefe. Renches Wheeling.

Prof. Edwin Checkley, Of Brooklyn, y
Y. Familiarity known as The Littl,
Giant, " reached this city Yesterday in his
attempt to break the long distance bicycle
record between New York and Chicago
The Professor left New York Saturday
morning. the 9th inst. thus reaching
! Wheeling. Il distance OF at least 500 miles
in nine days. He was delayed about tif
/ teen hours by the rains Of Sunday, or b,
would have been here that much sooner
/ In case Chicago is reached by Saturday
next. Mr.. Checkley will have broken the
record. made by Chas b. NekOn, who
wheeled the distance in fourteen days anc
/ twentv-three and a half hours, actual tray
| cling time.
The eroutepursued by the Prof. was rs fol
! lows: Leaving the foot of Broadway at IL
a. m Saturday, Mr. Checkley crossed 10
| Brooklyn, and thence went to St. George
Staten Island. Perth Amboy, New Bruins
wick, Princeton, Camden and Philadel-
phia. where he was met by the League
men. at the Colorado Hotel, Saturday
night. From Philadelphia Mr.. Checkley
cut across 10 Baltimore, and getting on the
National road as soon as possible, he came
on through Cumberland and Little Wash
ington 10 Wheeling He will follow the
same road TO Columbus, and thonch he will
20 10 Ft Wayne and follow the pixies
which border the Pittsburg. Ft Wayne
ana Chicago Railroad.
Mr.. Checkley undertakes this feat with
out any special training, but wholly pur-
suant To the theories set forth in his book.
"a Natural Method of Physical Training.
This book. which has been creating such a
Juror not only among the people OF the ath-
letic world, but among the members OF the
medical profession, condemns the popular
athletic theory of special training, and up
holds a.system of general bodily develop
ment OF this new system Mr.. Checkley IS
himself remarkable illustration. He is
acknowledged to be one Of the strongest
men Of his height and weight in this c0un-
try. and he combines with this great
strength an agility resembling that Of the
professional tumbler.
THE Professor $ course OF physical treat
ment differs from the conventional method
in that he laws great stress on the continual
practice of correct position I'm standing.
sitting and breathing. and but little on
gymnastics Instead Of the latter ne ad-
vocates continual twitching movements OF
the different muscles Of the body, claiming
that the muscles would not be hardend
abnormallv by this practice but would be
kept in free, healthy condition. The
REGISTER man, however found as much
difficulty i'm twitching an individual
muscle. as he and other good Democrats do
i'm yvaggng an ear The Professor has
"A theory that the contraction OF
"a muscle does not cause the move
ment Of limb, but that the muscle is
forced together by the movement: and
the muscles are simply reservoirs of nour-
ishmcnt for the tend0ns and llgaments.
The medical profession may find this the
ory somewhat startling, but the merits OF
the Professors practical system are evil
deuced in his own physique, and the erect,
easy carriage Of the head, which he has
cultivated by 'habitually cndeavoring 10
touch the ceiling with it,
Mr. Checkley, whOis five feet five inches
in height, weighs about l25 pounds. He
can run immense distances without appar-
ent fatigue and without great change i'm
mis- singular method Of slow respiration
about six breaths 10 the minute. He can
lift two men each weighing 300 pounds and
trot with them 100 yards or more The
record OF his feats sounds grotesque and
impossible, but is fully attested.
In his ride 10 Chicago Mr. Checkley will
mount a Columbia light roadster Of the
safety" pattern. This will, indeed. be the
first long distance race against time on a
safety bicycle, and the result is awaited
with much curiosity by those who like 10
debate the relative powers Of the older
large wheel machines and the newer low
wheel machines so much in vogue. On
smooth. level road the large wheel machine
is supposed 20 have the greater speed. but
on uneven roads, with hills 10 climb and
steep descents. the safety is claimed TO
have considerably superior powers II is
pretty certain in any case that Checkley
will get out of the safety about all there
is in IL. He goes armed with mechanical
supplies in case of "A breakdown, an extra
chain, screws. wrenches. oil, etc, and will
be i'm very Eight marching order so far
as his equipment Of clothing goes.
At various points on the journey and fin
ally at Chicago Mr. Checkley will be met
Of the League OF Wheel
men. who will take his time, " etc, thus
bringing the trip under official supervision.