The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
SCOTS RECORD.
Famous New England Pedestrian
Star at Age of Twelve.

star at Age or IWeiNe.
With the death Of Joe Scott at Dunedin,
New Zealand, recently, the athletic world
lost one OF the greatest exponents OF
pedestrianism that has ever appeared
since the heel-and-toe game was first
taken up as a competitive sport Scott
was the holder Of worlds records for
12-hour, I0O-mie. 4s-hour, and 72-hour
walks, but aside from this distinction he
was the youngest Of any OF the men who
have contested successfully in such COM
petitions. His first appearance was in
1915, when, at the age or ten years, he
won two-mile open champion walk At
Dunedin. beating out J. Spence. a huge
fellow 6 feet inches in height. who was
then the champion OF the Antipodes
From that time until 1883 Scott went
rapidly up the ladder until he headed the
list OF professional pedestrians, having
walked races in New Zealand, Australia,
England, and Scotland. His trainer. Aus
tin Smith. who first brought Scott before
the public and remained with him
throughout his walking career. writes in
terestingly Of the champion as follows:
AT the beginning of 1877 William Ed
wards. who had been carrying all before
him in Australia as a walker, arrived in
New Zealand, and after defeating J. Nc
Gregor (who at one time held the seven
mile championship, challenged all com
ers from one TO 100 miles. 1 promptly
accepted. and matched Scott 30 walk him
for 600 a side ana the seven-miIe cham
pionship Of New Zealand. Scott at the
time was twelve years old, and weighed
only sixty pounds Edwards walked re-
markably well. but Scott proved far too
fast for him in the last mile. and az the
finish won easily in 81 minutes seconds.
Shortly after Scott again defeated Ed
wards for the l09-mile championship.
Thus at the early age Of twelve Scott
held the two. seven and 100 mile cham
pionships Of New Zealand.
The craze for long-distance walking
chen at its height in England and Ameri-
ca--now reached New Zealand, and early
in 1850 the first big tWenty-f0ur- hour
night and day-Competition was organ
ized, in which ninety competitors from
all parts Of the colony took part. Scott
won the first prize 500 and the cham
pion belt-which he successfully defended
against al corners for the stipulated time
l
visited the northern cities. gaining vic
tories galore. winning 10 fewer than
twenty-five contests al from twelve hours
10 six days. About this time Arthu.
/ Hancock, the English champion. a very
fine walker. indeed arrived In Australia
and found hackers there % match him
against Scott 10 the extent Of $50 for a
twelve-hOur walk. Il was great race
FOR fifty miles. after which Scott's mar
velous staying powers proved too much
| for Hancock who. however. walked a
very piucky race. Scott IN the end won
with comparative ease, accomplishing in
the twelve hours y miles 50 yards
During HanCocks stay IN New Zea-
! land he met Scott four times in twelve
| hour walks. but failed on each occasion
! 10 lower ScotJs colors. Scott's amazing
/ succession OF tranSpareutly easy victories
caused unb)unded enthusiasm, and re-
suited ln the sum Of El.010 being sub
scribed In order 20 send him 20 England
| and test him against the best walkers in
/ the old country. Eventually Scott and
myself arrived in England, just twenty
years ago. on arrival I AT once issued a
/ challenge for him 10 walk any man in
[ the world for twelve. twenty-four. forty
I eight hours. or six days twelve hours
| per day) for a sum Of from 500 20 cI.0ll.
/ However, no one seemed inclined TO
tackle him for such a stake Eventually
/ the sum Of 500 was deposited as prize
I for any man In England who could de-
/ feat him az any OF the above distances
1 Hancock accepted for the twelve hours.
/ Hioberd for the twenty-four hours. and
/ Howes for the six days. el00 prize money
! being posted for each event These walks
! al took place at the Royal Aquarium
/ Scott winning all three with ease
/ His next contest was at the Agricul-
| tural Hall IN "a SiX-dar contest twelve
| hours per day) for the worlds champion
/ belt and 500. Here Scott met the very
l cream Of English walkers, among whom
! were such striders as Munro. Hibberd.
/ Franks. Giffen, and fifty others. Scott
won this with comparative ease. and IN
/ doing so established a record which
/ stands Til this day-36 miles L5lO yards.
/ 4 little later on Sport and Play organ
/ lied a similar contest for 500 at the
! Bingley Hall. Birmingham. Saventy-fve
/ competitors took part In this but not
one could even extend Scott. who won by
over thirty miles. A few exhibition walks
old England. and Scott and myself re-
/ turned 10 New Zealand.
His best records were: Twelve hours
y miles 500 yards; 100 miles Il hours a
minutes: forty-eight hours. 220 miles.
/ seventy-two hours 363 miles 1.5l1 yards
/ tall worlds records. His beautiful STYLE
| OF walking made him very popular with
| the crowd, forever when travelling az
/ a veyy high Speed-he always came I'd n
/ their ideal Of fairness. IL may be O.;
some interest TO state that Scott was a
moderate drinker and a great lover OF
his pipe, in fact, ! may say he was an
inveterate smoker"