LADIES' WALKING MATCH.

Kumara Times, Issue 1026, 15 January 1880, Page 4

LADIES' WALKING MATCH.

[SYDNEY MORNING HEftLD. j That which the promoters termed a Ladies' twenty-four hours' pedestrian tournament, came to a termination, in the Exhibition Building, Prince Alfrod Park, at ten minutes past ten o'clock on Saturday night, in the presence of two thousand men. The prizes which had been offered for competition consisted of a gold watch for the competitor who stayed longest on the course without resting, L 25 for one who covered the greatest distance in twenty-four hours, L2O for the one who did the next greatest distance, and Ll 5 for the next. Originally ten females entered for the contest. One

of them was a mere child, and two had _ the good taste or good sense to retire, and it was evident from the physique of the remaining eight that twenty-four hours' walking would tax their endurance to the utmost. The competitors were each dressed in a little tawdry finery, and got away with a fair start. After this the contest was a very tame aftair for twelve hours' or so, when one of the competitors was "knocked out of time,,' and several others appeared as if they had had enough of it. One is said to have almost prayed to be relieved from her self-imposed task, but trainers and backers opposed her desires strenuously, and she was kept relentlessly on the track. This was after about ten

hours walking, and when she appeared to be fatigued and in great pain. The slight intervals of rest provided for the competitors appeared to have but small beneficial effect, for each competitor on returning to the track walked for some time as if completely crippled. Friends, mothers, sisters, or brothers, however, were close at hand to stimulate them with the influences of cheers, fans, or

drinks, and the walking was pursued with a persistence* worthy of a better cause, the competitors, in their actions, were criticised as though they were so many horses, the "graceful going" of Borne and the "pluck" and " steady paces" of others being admirably commented on, and forming the subjects of a considerable amount of betting. Three competitors retired during Saturday afternoon, and left hve, who were described as "game uns," to contest the

honors. Of these five, some at 9 o'clock were truly pitiable in their appearance. The elastic spring which characterised their first steps, and the spurts which, by the cheers of onlookers they were inspired to accomplish, had given way to a painful mechanical dawdle, and it became evident that the contest had become a fiasco as far as walking was concerned, for more than one of the leading competitors had to rely on the supporting arm of trainer or friend in order to be able to keep on their way. In fact, three, were in fainting condition. Their features were paUid, and their eyes had the appearance of extreme weariness, and as their glances were thrown towards the clock, their expressions seemed to to indicate despair and helplessness, and should have excited soft-toned sympathies rather than loud mouthed cheers. Thbir mouths were agape like those of dying fishes. The excitement was intense, but it was confined to the on-luokerß, or rather a portion of them, but it is difficult to imagine that some present were unsympathetic or not disgusted with the proceedings. Indeed, at this juncture the expression, "This is the most degrading exhibition I have ever witnessed," was quite common. At 10 o'clock the proceedings were varied by a fight in the crowd, and a general rush towards it ensued, and shortly afterwards the Ashfield band struck up "Seethe conquering hero comes." In ten minutes " time" was called, and one of the competitors fainted. The " hero" proved to be Madame Azella, who had walked 76J miles. The winner of the second was Miss Goodwin, who walked 72§ miles, and the winner of the third prize was Miss Wallace, who walked 70 712th miles. Miss Wallace also won the gold watch, having walked 41£ miles without resting. The winners were literally dragged on to the platform to receive applause for their exertions. Each of

them was accomodated with a chair, but seemed too exhausted or too apathetic to care for cheers or groans. Some one made a speech on gameness and staying powers, and the competitors were led away by their friends. It is only fair to the gentler sex of Sydney to say that only about a dczen of them participated in the " enjoyments" of this exhibition ; but amongst the crowd might be observed members of Parliament", who are invariably loud in their declamations of unfair play, and numbers of citizens whose names figure conspicuously in lists of donations to charitable objects. There is no accounting for taste. This however, is the first tournament of the kind that as ever transpired in Sydney, and for the sake of the fair fame of the city it is to be hoped that it will be the last, for anything more likely to humiliate woman kind in the mind of man could scarcely be called into requisition. The Mayor and alderman should never again permit a building intended for the promotion of science, art, and manufacture, to be used for such an ignoble purpose as a woman's walking match.