THE WALKING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1790, 15 November 1879, Page 3

THE WALKING CHAMPIONSHIP.

The six days’ pedestrian contest for the Aatley belt and the championship of the world was commenced at New York on September 21at. There was intense excitement as the men came from their tents towards the starting point, the crowd shouting themselves hoarse. The garden was thronged to the doors, and great difficulty was had in keeping order, fully 11,000 persons being present, Ennis was the first to come to the starting point, and was followed by Hart. Then came Dutcher and Federmeyer. Tremendous cheers greeted Panchot, Taylor, Hazael, Rowell, and Weston when they appeared. The start was made at one o’clock. Thorpe and Hazael at once took the lead, followed by Rowell, Panchot, Guyon, and Ennis, all running, and Weston, Hart, and others walking. Roars of applause greeted the men, and Weston commenced running on the third lap. Hazael made his first mile in 6.10, Weston disgusted everybody by falling behind at once, and he allowed the others to get such a lead that he was very soon entirely out of the match. The finish is thus described. At a quarter past eight Rowell walked around, carrying the American flag, and Merritt ran round with the U«ion Jack, the band playing alternately “ Ysftkee Doodle ” and “ God Save the Queen,” and the dense crowd cheering, whistling, and clapping their hands. The Lenzy seized the vast mass of the people in the streets, and their responsive roar filled the garden, where the cheering was renewed when a grand floral piece, a shield surmounted by waving corn, was presented to Rowell. It bore the inscription "To Charles Rowell, by the Albion Society.” It was carried in front of Rowell for several laps. In a few minutes the uproar seemed redoubled, when Merritt, Hazael, and Rowell hand in hand, Merritt, the centre figure, walked around the track, Theystopped opposite the timekeeper’s stand, and Rowell said, ‘‘Gentlemen, I thank you. lam through.” The three men retired from the track and match at 8.25, their scores being—Rowell, 530 miles; Merritt, 515 miles ; Hazael, 500 miles and one lap Hart, Guyon, Ennis, Krobne, and Taylor remained on tbe track. Weston sought his tent between six and seven, to re-appear should Ennis or Krohne threaten to displace him for the sixth position.