THE GREAT PEDESTRIAN MATCH.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 648, 15 March 1870, Page 4

THE GREAT PEDESTRIAN MATCH.

1 VICTORIA V; ENGLAND. Three out of the five foot-race 3 between the English champion Hewitt and : the Australian champion Harris — for the championship of the world and LIOOO, were run on Saturday, the sth inst., on the Melbourne Cricket-ground., The firat event on the programme was the handicap flat-race, at 150 yards; but very little attention was given to this or any of the other of the events that served to fill up the gaps between the champion races. The first of these* was at 150 yards, over a straight course across the ground. When the two competitors made their ap« psarance the crowd warmly welobmed them. Both men. appeared to be in excellent condition, and the friends of both were as confident about success as if the whole thing had been cut and dried. Hewitt was going to win everything, and } not leave the Australian a chance, said one party;'; the other had made up its: mind to expect something very different. ; The Englishman won the toss for choice '■■ of ground, and chose to run from the i western side towards the eastern, or Richmond side; ; This gave them the advantage : of the wind, but involved about a dozen yards of up-hill work at the finish. They had their preliminary trial, Harris going in his long sweeping stride, and Hewitt in the high' Stepping style, which he affects when not putting himself forth in earnest.: The Australian looked the more powerful, as he was the taller, man of the two. All: that Hewitt had about him was what he required for running purposes alone; The race was soon over.' Harris got away with a start of half a yard, increased it to three yards by the time they were half: way,, and. won by about two — both going at full; speed all the way, and Harm only slackening the merest trifle when he foundhimself close to home. Time, 15£ seconds —very good, considering that there was some up-hill; running. There wast great cheering over the result, and the multitude gave vent to their excitement in various odd ways. The race was so splendidly run that they ojuld not fail-to-oheer boih meriJ About an hour and a quarter after-; I wards they came put to rnn the 200 yards! race. This time the opposite direction j was chosen. To obtain the extra 50| yards in the straight ourse the men had; ltd' go beyond; the; chain fence at; both; sides."' ' A lane; just wide enough for their j purpose, was accordingly fenced off at ; each end of i\ie course. The niceties of! the start and finish were, from th!e circumstance of the line of spectators having: to be cut through twice, lost to the; 'majority. present, but as it turned out' the loss was small. Though the starter; says the ieou started dead level, yet-when-the pair came out of the lane, Hewitt hadan undoubted lead. For 30 yar^s the! distance between them — a little j morej than a yard— did not fl'er, and it looked! as if there was going to Be a Turning ojf the tables, but Harris's stronger running? brought him alongside the champion byi the time they were half way. : : They then' went side by side for a secpud or two, andafter that Harris left his opponent inch by inch. At 30 yards from home he had: a.clear.lead, and he won by three yards.; Time 20£ second?, Hewitt said as he : entered the pavilion reserve, " There is; no doubt about it ; he has beaten me fairly, on my merits." And so thougWJ every one else. There remained the 30Q lyards. race, whiclv had to be run up. on a curve. Hewitt got the advantage of inside position, and the further: advantage oi the lead as soon iag. the two were in potion.; They dashed off at a. grand pace, . 'Hariris a little: behind for; some distance; bub soon : putting forth a; de't^r-f mined effort to geton ilgyelwithjHewHti By the time they had; turned .tKei^-ffibea in the direction of thd pavilion re[sf*ve ? : which "would be a littl^ undiar half- way j Harris had got quite 'cfese'rti) rliismanj They came on yowards the tape almost abreast, Hewitt- still haviug something of a lead; and Harris doing his very best td get in, front of him. . They ran very close together, Hewitt's- right; arm 1 b'eiirig : -in front of his opponent's left, and half way across hia chest. The splendid struggle was kept tip to the very finish, when th£ result.,, was left in doubt. Mr H, Ci. Harrison, umpire for Hewitt, gave it a: dead heat ;' pMr Wallace, umpire for Harris, gave the race to Harris, and amid great excitement, and a rush on tho part of every one of the vast multitude,'overropes and chains, to the pavilion gate/ the , referee, Mr George Watson was appealed |o;-. He said "A dead heat," and the fed*, being notified on the boardj therb was again great cheering, Immediately after/the race' fa was lodged by HarVia; who complained of having been. . jostled, towardSfthe-.cloae^ of the race- Tlujs caused' aoiae •r.morel .cibrifusion, tUmn^ wJu'ch the. protest was. warmjiy supported by numbers of the spectators, though it was a- question upon which very fcj* were, from their position, qualified to give a decided opinion. The time by Mr

Harrison's watch was 33£ seconds ; unfortunately, in the excitement, the official time was not taken exactly. Each of the competitors was subsequently called out and cheered, and then the crowd gradually dispersed. Subsequently the protest was considered and disallowed.