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Pedestrianism--o'leary Defeats Weston

Pedestrianism--o'leary Defeats Weston image
Parent Issue
Day
20
Month
April
Year
1877
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

O'Lenry and Weston, tho Amprican pedestrians, have been giving out Britten cousins somo fine exhibitions of pedestrianism during the past winter ; bilt by far the finest bit of walking either of them luid shown was displayed in tlie match between tlie two Anierieiins, whieh was coucluded on the 7th of April. It was a six days' contest, for L1,000 a side, and rcsulteil in B brilliant victory for O'Leary, who eelipsed all previous BcKievementp at long-distanoe walking. Tl 10 London correspondent of the New York Heraut chronicles the closing incidente of the contost : "Twenty thousund persons, comprising niany noblenioii and ladies, crowded Agriculturjil Hall, Islington, all day to witness tlie completion of the Weston-O'Leary walk. Tlie excitement was such ns has never been witnessed at au exhibition of the kind in London. O'Leary completed feis 500 miles at 2:40 p. m. Tremendoim excitement followed. Woston accompliflhed the same distance at 8:15, :i))])i"iriiig much the fresber of the two it the completion of this distance. At 9 o'olook O'Leary had made 520 miles to Weston's 503. O'Leary retireü amid great excitement and cheering. Wcston contiuued until 11 o'clock, uiaking 510 miles, and tlien retired. Weeton was loiidly cheered for bis enduranoe, and, ajthough beaten, left the track fresh and happy. "O'Leary walkd from 10 to 11 o'clock on the eourse for exercise, leuning on a friend's arm. He was evidently determined thiit bis vanquished rival should not alone receive the applause of the multitnde. He romained in the iield althougii he had bad enough. íle WB8 evidently deeply fatigned, but mny have found some compensation in the tremendons applauKc wbich he receivéd. O'Leary's walking has been mii-h ailmiivil, and be has astonished even bis backers in thus performing a taek which I only a few years ago wonld have been regarded as ineredible. The Standard says that "although Weston was defeated, tlie British peoplo respect lus pluck and sympathize with him iu w'nat is probably the bittereat dieappointmont of his life, namely, beiug vanquielied ai the moment wh(-n he had sm-passcd all bis previona peifonnancès.' The difference in the style of the two m.n ík mucb noted. O'Leary walkeil in góod, Stprigbt form, with his body throvn back, holding in each band a pjLëöe t wood. Weston, on tbe eontrary, walked with a rilling whip in bis hand, ji-sting with bis friends and trying to keep pace with the music."

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus