The Portland daily press., 1890-10-08
THE RUNNING MAN.
Astonishing Exploits OF a Resident OF
webb's Mills, Me.
fBoston Giobe.1

webb's Mills, Me,
boston Giobel
BRDGToN. Me-, Oct. 2.-Who is Edgar
WelchP
That's what the honorable board Of com
mlssioners for Cumberland county wanted to
know one fine day.
Well, Edgar B. Welch Of the little village
Of Web5s Mills, town Of Casco, in western
Maine, is remarkable character.
One warm, pleasant day In midsummer,
the aforesaid honorable board saw spook.
The scene was Mayberry Hill, situated In
the towns Of Casco and Otisfeld, a little
over 80 miles due north from Portland. The
three commissioners, Chaplin, Prince and
Nutter Of BridgtOn, Portland, and Cape
Elizabeth, respectively, had come up from
fOrtland to make an official inspection Of
tne road down this same Mayberry Hill, on
q vexed question OF change OF halfway
around the hill. Casco and Otsield were
having big fight over the question. and
/ eitner town was represented In this official
visit by an attorney. This descent was
about mile long, and most Of the way quite
steep. The carriage In which the party were
making the descent was three-seated, side
spring covered mountain wagon, a rickety
affair, drawn or rather held back by a pair
ot spirited horses, and which swayed and
tipped to such degree as TO excite no little
apprehension In the minds Of the five
passengers.
Say, Gail" suddenly exclaimed the at
torney representing the remOnstrants against
the proposed change Of location. addressing
the Hon. Q. A. Chaplin, lawyer for the
petitioners, hang me II don't believe this
Is one OF your shrewd games 10 get us into
this cOnfOunded old rattletrap, and have
Jim Tolman drive us at break-neck speed
down this hill, 0as to scare the commission
travel!"
There was a laugh all round. His brother
lawyer made no response at that moment,
but he shortly was enabled to turn the tables
with interest upon his opponent through
Juneture Of our "spo0k."
The apparition came from below, as bad
spooks are supposed to come, fitted past
them In twlnkling, and darted upward
over the precipltous highway. 1t was In the
form OF man, tall. well prOpOrtioned, and,
II human, of form 160 to 1S0 pounds weight;
had good features, short, dark brown hair
wore blue wOOlen shirt, coarse brown
trousers nearly threadbare from long use,
and an old broken-brimmed straw hat from
which fiOated the loose end OF faded silk
ribbon; and his feet were covered-with dirt
only.
This strange figure passed them at a
double e-auiek, and when the team reached
gers, like Mr.. Bellamy, looked backward,
they saw the figure still running, and IL kept
running until IL became mere speck and
disappeared over the far-off brow.
Il say, Libby" remarked "CalP' Chaplin,
the counsel for the petitioners, "this Is one
OF your sharp tricks-hiring that man, or
spirit, or whatever IL Is, to run at full speed
all the way up this everlasting hill in the
nick Of time, 50 as to fool these gentlemen
RtS tne pellet od that me grade Is SO easy no
The retoTt was so pat that the commiss-
toner's laughed heartily and clapped their
hands. Then one OF them addressed the
"For PHYS sake. Tolman, do tell us who
or what that ghost WASP"
mo ghost at all, sir" replied Tolman,
with smile, but my wonderful neighbur.
known through this region as Edgar Weleh,
the runner"
Think of man starting of across the
country at double quick for 30 miles with
out stopping, overtaking en- route and leaV-
Ing far IN the rear, speedy horses. and yet
doing all this with scarcely any WEAKNESS,
TEN.
And lyet Edgar Welch is the being In
human shape who, II his worthy aequaint-
anees tell the whole truth, aecomplishes this
wonder. His feats at running distances
region.
Edgar b. Welch is a native and lifelong
resident Of Webb's Mil. He Is Al years old.
bachelor, has an aged mother and two sis
ters, but his father has been dead some
years. He has no settled place Of abode but
makes his home with whomsOever he Is tenn
porarlly working for; labors on the farm, In
the mill, In the forest, and does odd Jobs,
having no fixed trade: Is good looking has
Keen eye, soft, pleasant voice. and Is a
ready conversationallst But he abounds In
eccentriclties, the chief Of which Is an Oft
recurring mania for lOng-disLance running.
In form and muscle he Is an ideal athlete
with him running seems to be as natural as
Is walking to ordinary mortals. As be him
sell told the writer-and he Is credited with
being truthful mamie not unfrequenty
makes 2O-mile run on hot, sunny day In
midsummer without persplring.
Il was standing one afternoon at the cor
ner OF Congress and Green sts;, opposite City
Hall, Portland" said Capt Abram Shaw OF
the steamer Hawthorne, the veteran naviga-
tor OF the Sebago lake route waters, the
other day, when heard a sudden shout
down Green ST. Looking In that direction,
whom did l see approaching at a sharp trOt
but my eccentric nelghbor, Edgar Welch.
Behind him, at distance Of. say 10 rods,
was twC-hOTse team, apparently In pursuit.
The next minute Edgar was at my side,
de stopped. drew In long breath, gave a
generous pun. and was seemingly as fresh as
new-blown daisy.
Whats up now, Edgar?' asked.
oh. nothing.' only and Jrpson are
having a race
The next instant up drove Mr.. Jepson.
his two fine horses all a-foam and well nigh
| played out. He pulled up, and people gath
cred around US to learn what 1t all meant.
Edgar had told the truth. He had raced
with MIR. Jepson at single stretch all the
way from Raymond village, 20 miles, with.
| cut rest, and although the horses were
smart ones, the great long distance runner
/ had wonw
| Edgar is a creature OF moods. He runs as
/ the spirit moves him. He will work hard q
/ few days. and then right 10 the midst OF his
| lab0rs, will take notion to run to some dis
| tant village, mountain or city, and presto,
down goes hoe, or axe, or spade, and of he
sets. No matter what he has on, he pauses
not to change his clothes or wash his face,
but Is off like rocket.
He has run to Lewiston, Portland, Boston,
the White Mountains, and other places "too
numerous to mention"
One of his runs was from Webbs Mills to
Boston. which round trip he made in nine
days, total distance $50 miles, an average OF
81 miles per day. Aud as the swift-footed.
picturesque Down Easter dashed down
washington street, past the Globe ofice,
pound Ior Winter street, the Common,
Charles street and the Mill Dam, thence for
the ideal land Of sunrise, Mayor Hart and
MS city hall colleagues lost the Opportunity
OF their lives In not slipping down Williams
street at the supreme moment and thereby
scoring valuable object lesson in rapid
A few years ago some sporting men in
quced him to run for them In Lancaster
Hall, Portland. But Edgar was out Of his
element, and he only took the fourth money.
covering in 12-hOur contest, 81 miles and
II laps (25 laps to the mile). His competitors
would crowd him one side, and he, "bound
to have plenty Of elbow rOOm," would get
outside Of the track, thus materially enlarg-
ing his circle. And then, too, the shouts Of
the spectators confused and bothered him.
A winter or two ago Edgar took a notion
to make a run to the White mountains, and
dog "Jip," his usual companion. accom-
pained MIN. At Waterford he took the
wrong road, necessitatlng long and ardn.
Gus tramp across lots, through the snow
which was four feet deep. Zip" gettin9
thoroughly exhausted his master carried him
until morning, when both obtained a breaL.
fast at farmhouse. 1t is said the dog died