PEDESTRIANISM.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 191, 19 August 1870, Page 2

PEDESTRIANISM.

The success of Weston in walking one hundred miles in less than twenty-two hours naturally calls attention to previous achievements of the same character. Of these we find a very interesting account in a work on pedestrianism, published in Aberdeen in 1813. It seems thatEoberfc Bartley, of Norfolk, who was born in 1719, used frequently to walk from Thetford to London, in one day, returning the next; the distance eightj'-one miles. Reid, of Hampshire, in 1791, made 50 miles in little more than 8 hours. In 1762, John llogue, made 100 miles in 23 hours and 15 minutes. In 1787, Foster Powell walked from Canterbury to London Bridge and back in 23 hours and 50 minutes, the distance being 109 miles, in 18U6, Joseph '■ dge, of Macclesfield, walked 172 miles in 49 hours 20 minutes. In 1788, John Boty walked 700 miles in J 4 days, and Dowler, of Towcaster walked 500 miles in 7 successive days. In 1811, Oliver walked 100 miles in 23 hours 50 minutes, and Miller did the same distance in 23 hours 25 minutes. In 1812, Jonathan Waring, of Lancashire, walke 1 136 ruil< 3s in 34 hours, and G-ian-viile, of Shropshire, walked 142 miles on the Bath road in 29 hours and 45 minutes, la-1812 Lieutenant Groutes walked 72 miles in 11 hours 56 minutes.

The greatest pedestrian of all, however, was Cnptaia Robert Barclay, a Hpsi-endant ot the celebrated Quaker Ba day of try. la 1801, while in training to walk upon a wager, he made, in the park of Lord raulken here. 110 miles in 19 hours 27 minutes. In 1806 he walked 100 miles in 19 hours.

rer the worst road in the kingdom, and just at the breaking out of a severe storm. Kxrlusive of stoppages, the distance vras performed in 17 Lours 30 minutes. In this walk he was attended by William Cross, his servant, who m>uio the distance in the same time as the master ; and subsequently Cross walked ]00 miles in 19 hours 17 minutes, on the Abprdeen road.

In 1807 Barclay walked 78 miles in 14 hours, over the hilly roads of Aberdeenshire. In the course of this year he ran 19 mi'es in 2 hours and 8 minutes, making the fir.-t 9 mil^s in 50 minutes, thouuli the road was hilly and bad. In 1809, when ho was 28 j ears old, Barclay accomplished the great exploit of walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours. In the course of this feat, bis weight, which was 186 pounds at starting, fell off 32 pounds, five days afterwards he joined the expedition to Walcheren, where he served as an aide-de-camp to the Marquis of Huntly. The expedition was unfortunate, but Barclay returned in safety. After this he lived the life of a country gentleman at dry; and the only public exploit in which he was engaged was the training of Tom Urib for his great match against Molineux.

From these facts it will be seen that brilliant as was Western's success, he has stiil a great deal to accomplish before his name can be found at the very head of the noble catalogue of walkists.