Evening star., 1939-06-28
Recalls Walking Race
At G. p. o. In 1879.

To the Editor Of The Star:
don't know who originated the idea
Of a walking match in 1879 in which
employees Of the Government Printing
Once were to participate. I think, like
Topsy, 1t just "growed" 1t had its
incipiency when Alfred Post, the Con-
gressional Record clerk in the chief
clerks office, was patting himself on
the back one Monday because of his
long walk the day previous. At that time
a walking match craze was passing over
the Eastern part of the country, and
there had been matches in various cities.
Well, wasn't the G. P. o. with its twelve
hundred employees small city in itself?
Why shouldn't 1t have walking match?
OF course. AL Post would be the entrant
from the chief clerks Office Challenges
were sent to the different departments
the composing room, the pressroom, the
bindery and the stereotype room. A
purse of 500 was raised for the winner
a goodly sum for Government employe,
being more than he could earn in such
a short time in any other way.
Five entrants were finally secured
Messrs. Post, Nalley, Foresman, Heron
and Clarke-and arrangements were
made. Although called walking"
match 1t was really a go-as-you-ple
affair. The race was to be held in
Franklin Hall. at the corner of Sixth and
G streets NV, and track Of tanbark
was laid around the edge of the hall,
leaving the center for spectators. Be-
ginning at pm, on Friday, April 4, the
race was to continue for 26 consecutive
hours.
At a signal the race started. The
racers, gayly dressed, were smiling and
confident; band furnished music; spec
tators gave enthusiastic applause for
their favorites. AS was employed in
the chief clerks Office as stenographer
and telephone operator, my sympathies
were naturally with Mr.. Post. Whenever
mile was completed by any contestant,
the scorekeeper would tap bell and an
nounce the total number of miles cov-
cred by that particular person up to that
time.
After two hours the spectators began
to leave, but the racers continued their
monotonous. grind around the track
through the night. 1t was optional with
each when and how long he should stop
for refreshments or rest. Although each
entrant had begun training as soon as he
had been selected, 1t was unaccustomed
work, and there was temptation to
rest too long.
All the next day bulletins were anx-
iously awaited at the G. P. o. of the
standing Of the participants Precau-
tion had been taken from the start to
prevent any inkling Of the contest from
reaching John D. Defrees, the Public
Printer, fearing lest he forbid it.
On Saturday evening spectators began
arriving to see the finish. The scene was
quite different from that OF the evening
before. The racers no longer were smil-
ing, but with set faces were looking worn
and haggard as they plodded around the
track. Occasionally one whose score was
low would start to run, but after lap or
two Of enforced effort would drop back
into dogtrot.
At 10 O'Clock the bell announced the
finish OF the race, when the scores stood
as follows: Post, 104 miles; Heron, 101
miles, % laps: Foresman, So miles; Mall
ley, 40 miles, 16 laps; Clarke, 80 miles, "a
laps. Posts 25th mile had been the
fastest, 8 minutes 30 seconds, and his
average speed had been 4 miles an hour,
which was very good for q novice for
such . prolonged stretch. The chief
clerk with . short speecip then presented
the prize to Mr.. Post. -