The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-05
FAMOUS ENGLISH WALKERS
Remarkable Achievement of q Wo-
man Eighty-four Years Old.

The present interest in Iong-distance
walking. first aroused by the stock ex-
changes little jaunt to Brighton, is but
another instance of history repeating it
self Barely a century ago the feats of
Capt. Barclay and others attracted suf-
ficient attention to send the town al
most mad with excitement
Even royalty itself has been numbered
among the opponents of pedestrianism,
and that much-abused monarch, Charles
II. Is certainly entitled to respect as a
fine specimen of an all-round sports
man. Apart from enjoying perhaps the
unique distinction among English SOW
ereigns of riding his own horses to VIC
tory at Newmarket. Charles was also
noted for his walking powers, and it has
been stated that none could excel him in
his favorite walk from Whitehall to
Hampton Court.
The earliest long distance walker
whose performances were authenticated
appears to have been Foster Powell a
limb of the law with a penchant for
walking from London to York and
back. His first journey was made in
1878, when he covered the distance OF
1874 miles in six days, with nearly six
hours to spare.
At the close of 1908 Capt. Barclay
fairly electrified the whole country by
undertaking for a. wage of 1000 guineas
to walk 1 900 miles in ], 900 consecutive
hours. mile in every hour, such a per-
Torrance being then quite unprecedent-
ed The match was much discussed,
start being made over Newmarket
Heath on June 1, 1909. lasting until
July u. or nearly forty-two days in
all No performance was ever better
authenticated and so thoroughly did
the judges perform their task that the
state of the weather was recorded and
an elaborate diary written up each day
setting forth the pedestrians condition.
AS nearly everyone knows, Capt Bar
clay proved successful In his lengthy
undertaking. This interesting diary.
hiwever discloses the fact that he not
only came within an ace of losing the
match. but it was only by exercising
the most determined courage that he
succeeded in overcoming the painful ex-
haustion resulting from the loss OF reg
uIar sleep for such a lengthy period
His weight at starting was substan-
tial. being 13 stone 4 pounds. while at
the finish, after taking bath and
nourishment and sleeping almost con-
tinuously for seventeen hours, ne was
able to turn the scale at IL stone. The
pedestrians bill of fare during this
walk was no less gigantic than the TASK
accomplished.
Breakfast at consisted of such tribes
as a roast fowl. washed down with .
pint of strong ale, and followed by two
cups of tea, with bread and butter.
After what appears very lengthy in
terval lunch followed at II, either from
beefsteaks or mutton chops, OF which
latter commodity his chronicler guard
eddy remarks that the captain ate cone
siderable quantity. Dinner at consist
ed either of roast beef or more chops.
with which he drank porter and two or
three glasses of wine. and to wind up
the day as he commenced. supper at IL
consisted of a cold fowl, the pedestrian
having. we are told. five or six pounds
of animal food during the twenty-four
hours, garnished with such vegetables
as were in season
After 1917 the craze for long distance
walking seems almost to have died out,
only to appear again a quarter Of
century ago; although in the interval
two members of the fair sex were cred
tied with equaling Capt. Barclays great
walk, truly remarkable instances of fem
mime endurance If properly authenticate
ed. In 1851 also a sprightly country
dame wanting barely sixteen years to
become a centenarian. suddenly resolv-
ed to see something Of the world. and,
accordingly, Mary Callinaclx, a Cornish
fishwoman, actually succeeded in walk
ing from Penzance to London, dis
lance of nearly 300 miles, in order to
view the wonders of the great exhibit
ton in Hyde Park. Mary created
great sensation there, being noticed by
Queen Victoria.-Strand Magazine.