The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-10-22
FAMOUS ENGLISH WALKERS.
Royalty Numbered Among the Ex-
ponentA OF Pedestrianism--some
RemRrkhbIe Feata.

The present interest In long-distance
walking, first aroused by the stock ex-
chang little iaunt to Brighton, ia but
anothei instance Of history repeating H.
self. Barely century ago the feats Of
Capt Barclay and others attracted sufii-
cient attention TO send the town almost
mad with excitement, says Strand Mag
azlne.
Even royalty itself has been num-
bered among the exponents of pedes-
trianism, and that much-abused mon
arch, Charles IT,. is certainly entitled to
respect as fine specimen of an all
round sportsman. Apa ON enjoying
perhaps the unique DIS .uetlon among
English soverelgns OF riding his own
horses 70 victory at Newmarket, Charles
was also noted for his walking powers
and Il has been stated that none could
excel him in his favorite walk from
Whitehall to Hampton Court.
The earliest long-distanee walker
whose performances were authenticated
appears to have been Foster Powell. a
limb OF the law with penchant for
walking from London to York and back.
His first journey was made in 1913. when
he covered the distance Of s94 miles in
six days, with nearly six hours to spare.
Atthe close of 1908 Capt. Barclay fairly
electrified the whole country by under
taking for wage OF 900 gulneas TO walk
1000 miles In / 600 consecutive hours. q
mile Ia every hour such performance
being then unprecedented. The match
was much discussed, a start being made
over Newmarket heath on June /, 1909,
lasting until July 70. or nearly AZ 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 elab-
orate diary written up each day setting
forth the pedestrians condition. As
nearly every one knows, Capt. Barclay
proved successful in HIS lengthy under
taking. This Interesting diary, however,
discloses the fact that he not only came
within an ace OF losing the match. but II
was only by exercising the most deter
missed courage that he succeeded in over
coming the painful exhaustion resulting
from the loss OF regular sleep for such a
lengthy period. His weight at starting
was substantial. being ls stone -four
pounds. while at the finish. after taking a
bath and nourishment and sleeping al
most continuously for IA hours. he was
able to turn the scale nj II stone. The
pedestrians bill OF fare during this wall,
was no less gigantic than the task ac-
compllshed.
Breakfast nt FIVE consisted OF such
trifles as a roast fowl, washed down with
a pint Of strong ale and followed by two
cups Of tea, with bread and butter After
what appears a very lengthy interval
lunch followed at 70. either from beef
steaks or mutton chops. Of which latter
commodity his ohronicler guardedly re-
marks that the captain ate a considerable
quantity. Dinner at six consisted 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 com.
menced. supper at II consisted Of a cold
fowl. the pedestrian having, we are told
consumed FIVE or six pounds OF animal
food during the "a hours, garnlshed with
such vegetables as were In season.
After 1877 the craze for long distance
walking seems almost 10 have died out
only TO appear again quarter Of n cen
tury ago: although in the interval two
members Of the fair sex we're credited
with equalIng Capt Barclay great walk
truly remarkable instances OF feminine
endurance II properly authenticated. In
1851 also a sprightly country dame
wanting barely 1e years 10 become cen
tenarian. suddenly resolved to see some
thing Of the world. and. accordingly
Mary Callinack, a Cornish hshwoman
actually succeeded IN walking from Pen.
zanee to London distance Of nearly 30C
miles. IN order 10 view the wonders Of the
great exhibition In Hyde Park MARY
created great sensation there, beint
noticed by Queen Victoria.