THE WALKING MATCH-SCOTT v. EDWARDS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3821, 15 October 1883, Page 4

THE WALKING MATCH-SCOTT v. EDWARDS.

Dunedin, This day. The Scott and Edwards 48 hours' walk terminated at 10 o'clock on Saturday night, Scott winning by ono milo and three quarters all but a lap. Botli men walked almost continuously for the first _2o hours Edwards retired at 11.20 on Iriday night to have a short sleep. His record then stood at 113 milos and Scott was 13 laps ahead. Scott kept going till 11.35 p.m., when ho was two miles ahead, and he then went to get somo sleep. Edwards, it is siuo, wa3 under the impression that Scott did not intend to return until -1 a.m., and he was •/•oin*.* to start again about half-past 3 o'clock and put on the two miles ho was behind. Scott, hoAvever, returned at 3.35 a.m. and Edwards hurried to the track a few minutes after. From this till tlio close noithcr man made a retirement of longer than 20 minutes at a time, and as long as that only at dinner and tea time Edwards was quite unable to reduce Scott's lead, and at 4 p.m. on Saturday the record stoodScott, 100 miles 20 laps; Edwards,lol miles 12 laps. Edwards had been spurting vi -rously at intervals, but Scott always responded. So things Avent on till towards 0 p.m., Edwards having then caught up a little and got the lead reduced to under two milos. During the first half hour after 9 o'clock Scott Avalkcd rather slowly, and Avent off tho track tAvicc for two or three minutes, and as Edwards kept going at a good rate he gradually reduced Scott s lead till at half-past 9 ho was only a mile and one lap behind. Ho then began to make further spurts, but Scott determined to keep tho milo ahead, and to slioav that ho had quite as much left in him as his strongji*, older, and more experienced opponent, and for over_ a quarter of an hour there avus much excitement OAving to tho struggle between the two for tlio lead. Edwards, avJio Avas generally lying three or four yards behind Scott, Avould make a sudden dash and pass Scott for a moment or two, but he Avas never once able to maintain this advantage for more than a lap, as Scott always re-passed Edwards in spite of tho fast pace ho put on. It need scarcely be said that the way in Avhich Scott responded to and staved oil' these repeated efforts _of Edwards Avas greeted Avith deafening cheers. Edwards at last gave up attempting to further reduce the lead, and at six or seven minutes to 10 o'clock, when ho had completed 191 miles cxae-Iy, he retired for good. Scott had then 192 miles 1 lap to his credit, but be walked the timo out, covering 192 miles lG_hips. Thero Avas great enthusiasm manifested at the close, and Scott Avas loudly cheered when ho made his appearance on the platform. In tho last hour, though he lost almost hnlf a mile by two retirement*, Scott covered four miles and three-quarters, so that the pass was maintained to tho finish. Scott has never Avalkcd forty-eight hours before, but Edwards has done it several times, his best record being IS I miles 1300 yards. It -will thus bo seen that on this occasion Edwards walked nearly ten miles further in the time than ever he did before, and there can be no question that ho was defeated fairly ou his merits. The long distance done find tho determination of the men at the close showed conclusively tho genuineness of the contest. Somo feeling Avas shown against Edwards in consequence of his treatment of a small boy for blocking up tho track in the ring towards tlio close" Ho struck tho boy severely on tho face, but beyond being hooted thero Avas no interruption, and throughout Edwards received the utmost fairplay. A number of gentleman havo set about collecting a sum of money to make Scott a presentation of a belt. There was a very large attendance to see, tho finish.