LADIES WALKING WATCH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 15, 17 January 1880, Page 5

LADIES WALKING WATCH.

[Sydney Morning Herald ] That which ihe promoters termed a ladies' twenty-four hours' pedestrian tournament, came to a termination, in the Exhibition Building, Prince Alfred 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, £25 for the one who covere i the greatest distance, and £15 for the n.Bxt. Originally tea fotaaUs entered for the contest. One of them w&s a mere child, and two ba I the gojd ta4e or gooJ sens© to retire, had it was evident from the physique of the r ? maining ei»ht th»t twtnty-four hours' walking would tax their endurance to the U!mo3?. The competitors were each dresaed ia a little tawdry finery, and got away with a fair start. After tbh (he congest was a very tame affair foi t.?6lve hours or so, when one of iho competitors wkb ft knocked out of tim^,' and several ethers 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 truaer3 and backers opposed her desi'r-s strenuously, ani eha was kept relentlessly on the track. This was after about ten hours wa king, and when she appeared to be fatigued anl in groat pun. the Blight intervals of rest provide J for tha com petitors appeared to have but small btnsfiahl effect, for each competitor on returning to (he track w,alkei for some

time as if completely crippled. Friends, mothers, sisters, or brothers, however, were closa at band to stimulate them with the influences of cheets, fans, or drinks, and the walking was pursued with a persistence worthy of a better causa. The competitors, in their actions, were, criticised as though they were bo miny horses, the "graceful going " of some an 3 the " pluck " and 'steady paces' of others being admiringly commenced on, and forming the subjects of a considerable amount of betting. Three competitors retired during Saturday afternoon, and left five who were described as " game una" 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 stepa, and the spurts which, by the cheers of onlookers they were inspired to accomplish, bad given way to a painful dawdle, and it became evident' that the contest had become a fiasco as far as walking was concerned, for more then one of the leading competitors had to rely on Jthe supporting arm of the trainer or friend in order to be be able to keep on their way. In fact three were in fainting condition. Their features were palid, and their eyes had the appearance of extreme weariness, and as their glances were thrown towards the clock, their exp ess'ons seemed to indicate despair and helplessness, and should have exoited softtoned sympathies rather than loud mouthed cheers. Tbeir mouths were agape like those of dying fishes. The excitement was intense, but it was confined to the oii-lookers 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 moat degrading exhibition I 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 Asbfiald band struck up " See the conquering hero comes. la ten minutes, " time " was called, and one of the competitors fainted. The " hero " proved to be Madame Azella, who had walked 76£ miles. The winner of the second was Miss Goodwin, who walked 72f miles, and the winner of the third prize was Miss Wallace, who walked 70 7-12 th milea. Miss Wallace also won the gold watch, having walked 4ii miles without resting. The winners were literally dragged on to the platform to receive applause for their exertions. Each of them was accommodated with a chair, hut seemed too exhausted or too apathetic to care for cheers or groans. Some one made a speech on gameness and straying 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 dozen 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 has 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 womankind in the mind of man could scarcely be called into requisition. The Mayor and aldermen 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 . i * ' ' ' "t»