WALKING MATCH AGAINST TIME.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4589, 4 December 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

WALKING MATCH AGAINST TIME.

. On Monday, September 20, there was an attendance of 4000 or 5000 spectators at the Little Bridge: ;graund, West Brampton,to Witness W. Perkins, the champion, attempt' the extraordinary and hitherto unaccomplished tark of walking eight miles within the hour. Perkins attempted the feat at the same ground last December, but gave up without completing the distance.; On that occasion,,however,. the weather was so cold and unfavorable that no very great importance was attached to his failure. Five o’clock had been the time fixed, but it was not until 25min. to six that the start actually took place. Perkins, on receiving the word to go, dashed off at a great pace, and finished! fiis: first mile in 6min. 46sec.. He then naturally became somewhat slower, but continued to walk very fast and with scrupulous fairness. The time for two miles was: 14min. 23sec. and.for three miles 21min; 37sec. The walker showed no signs of failing power, and finished four miles in 28miu. 59sec. Allowing seven minutes and a half as the extreme limit for each mile, he had thus completed half his task with just over a minute in hand. The time for five miles was 36min. 32sec., and for six miles 44min. 24sec. The sixth mile was the slowest of all, occupying 7miu. 52se'o. Perkins, however, had still more than half-a-.painute to Spare, and encouraged by the tremendous cheering that greeted him,.he put bn the pace, and finished seven miles in Slmin. 51sec. His success was now almost certain, as lie allowed hardly any fatigue. Walking finely to the cud, he completed the eight, miles in 59miu. used, thus winning the match with 55sec. to. spare. These times, are unrivalled from four miles up to eight, and as in his match with Stockwell last year Perkins did the best times oh record for one, two, or three miles, he may fairly claim to be the best man yet seen at any distance up to eight miles. Whether he would prove equally successful over very long distances it is, of course, impossible to tell. Perkins, we may mention, is a short man, of compact and wiry build, and has just completed.his twenty-third year.