Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-24
FEATs or NOTED WALKERS.
The Remarkable Feat of a Woman
 S4 Years Old.


 The Remarkable Feat of Woman
 S4 Years Old.
 The earliest long gsdistance walker whose perfor rnances were authenti- cated appears to have been Foster Powell, a limb of the law, with a pen chant for walking from London to York and back. His first Journey was made in 1773, when he covered the distance of 394 miles in six days, with nearly six hours to spare.
 At the close of ISIS Captain Bar clay fairly electrified the whole coun- try by undertaking for q wager of 1000 guineas to walk 1000 miles in 1000 consecutive hours, mile In ev- cry hour, such q performance being then unprecedented. The match was much discussed, a start being made over Newmarket heath on June i, 1909, lasting until June 12, or nearly forty-two days in all. No performance was ever better authenticated, and 50 thoroughly did the judges perform their task that the state of the weath- CT was recorded and an elaborate di. ary written up each day setting forth the pedestrians condition. AS nearly everyone knows. Captain Barclay proved successful in his undertaking. This interesting diary, however, dis- closes the fact that he not only came within an ace of losing the match. but 1t was only by exercising the most determined courage that he succeed Cd in overcoming the painful exhaus- tion resulting from the loss of regular sleep for such lengthy period His weight at starting was substantial, be txar ~A1 4 xlAtI finish after taking a bath and nour- ishment and sleeping almost contin- uously for seventeen hours, he was able to turn the scales at ii stone. The pedestrian's bill of fare during the walk was no less gigantic than the task he accomplished.
 Breakfast at $ consisted of such trifles as a roast fowl washed down with a pint of strong ale and followed by two cups of strong tea with bread and butter. After what appears a very lengthy interval lunch was served at 12. either from beefsteaks or mutton chops, Of which latter com. modity his chfonicler guardedly re marks that the Captain ate consid- erable quantity. Dinner at 6 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 cold fowl | tie pedestrian having, wa are told | consumed five or six pounds Of ani- nal food during the twenty-four hours. garnished with such .vegeta- bles as were in season After 1877 the craze for long dis l tance walking seems almost to have | died out, only tt appear again a l quarter of a century ago. although iii | the interval two members of the 1 fair sex were credited with equaling 1 Captain Barclays great walk. truly remarkable instances of feminine en- durance if properly authenticated. Tn l 1851, also sprightly country dame, wanting barely sixteen years to be come centenarian. suddenly re l solved to see something of the world l and, accordingly. Mary CallinacK a Cornish fishwoman, actually succeed. l ed in walking from Penzance to Lon. don. a distance of nearly 300 miles. in l order 10 view the wonders of the ] great exhibition at Hyde Park. Mary created a great sensation there, being Yaf,fiHAa f1v QuAan yict0fiaz