THE PEDESTRIAN FEAT.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 544, 13 November 1875, Page 2

THE PEDESTRIAN FEAT.

Ssnce Mr Danvers accomplished his extraordinary feat of 112 miles in 48 hours, carrying 561bs, the subject of walking has been much discussed. A man at Alexandra, Mr Keuearney, undertook to perform the same journey, under the same conditions. He has been ia the habit of carrying large swags for long distances, during his service as a soldier, in the British army, and felt contidentof being able to get through his task. £50 a side was staked, Kenearney's backers being chiefly his fellow-townsmen, whilst most of the money on the opposite side was found ia Hamilton. Tke betting was slightly in favour of time at the start The following account is by an eye-witness : — Mr Kenearney started off at two p. m. precisely, on the afternoon of Nov 10th, at a slapping pace, doing the first four miles in 1 hour and 1 minute ; and finishing the twelve at 11 minutes past 5, or at the rate of a little less than 4 miles an hour, not seeming to mind his weight at all, and increasing his backers' confidence every lap. He took a short spell and started at half-past five, finishing his first twenty miles at 10 minutes past 8 o'clock. After resting for halt an hour he tackled 16 miles more, finishing at 7 minutes to 2 a.m., having done his first thirty-six miles under the twelve hours, including rests, which amounted in all to \\ hours, making 3G miles in I@£ hours or 3 miles aud a half per hour. After threequarters of an hour's spell he started again, not complaining of fatigue and seemingly quite fresh, doing the next six miles by 4 43 a.m., or three miles an hour. Started again at 5.13 and walked till 6.13, doing three miles, and bring the score up to 45 miles. From seven a.m. to eight a.m. he walked 3 miles more, and then began to complain of his feet being sore, but no other signs of distress were apparent, he walking strongly all the time. At half past 8 o'clock he started again, finishing his 51st mile at twenty-four minutes past nine. By this time the sun was blazing intensely, and the air quite oppressive. Kenearney's breath got thicker and he perspired very much, bat did not seem greatly fatigued, for going off at 19 minutes to 10 he did two miles by 10.15 a. m. or 34 minutes, close on to the four miles per hour that he started with. At half-past ten he attempted the last three miles of his first day's work, but broke dowa at 11.20, when he had done two miles and 16 chains. He finished the first portion of his task afterwards, and did a small portion of the next -day's work, but soon gave up altogether. One error of judgment consisted in choosing a 16 chain course, with four chain of hill in it, making 14 miles of the oQ } up hill walking." It will be seen from this report that little

more than halrHh^ (^ttiuto^w^ catered by the pedestr&iji, eonOT^ft^ our view that the feat refeantly pe.rfo^&e4 k by Mr Danvers wM of a most extraordinary character. KenMrney is by no meAns a weak maujTindeed he seems to' be considerably above the avjtipge imortat in thfength and enduraaee;he ia possessed of immense plrtck, and ?*t he failed to get through much more tkan half of his task. We regret to state that he has suffered so severely in his determined attempt to carry out his task, that he it completely prostrated. We trust, howewr, that >?qth judicious management he will speedlr