WALKING AGAINST TIME.

Otago Witness, Issue 1230, 17 July 1875, Page 16

WALKING AGAINST TIME.

At aeven and a half minutes to 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, young Scott accomplished his task of walking 100 miles in 23 hours 55 minutes, doing the journey two and a half minutes under that time. The course was one on which he was at a great disadvantage, being unsuitable in every respect. The event took place m the Queen's Theatre, and the course was one around the stalls and greater part of the pit. t Ihe object with which the walking against time took place was to beat the time made by Edwards m his 100 raile feat within Z\ hours, -and which was done in 23 hours 55 minutes. The length of the course was 56 yards 2 feet 3 inches, there being 31 laps to the ?? •» a ? c ? tt . could have fiad a course in the Drill Shed similar to that walked by Edwards, of 2o laps to the mile, and quite level, but preferred the Queen's Theatre, notwithstanding its disadvantages for hje purpose, as that building was less cold than the Drill Shed. The course at the Theatre on which $ho IQQ miles were walked has five comers, four of them very sharp, and there is * rise of about 2 feet in, walking up about 30 feet on one side, aud a similar fall m coming down on the other. Tho opinion of those who walked with Scott by S r 9 l i*f™2? ™? was accomplishing his task, was

levelrwew'a%:bad*a%^iipinile«ira4ded:i to the journey. , Every. precaution _was_ taken to see tHat tjie feat was" fairly/ done'/ and .those who had bet' against the boy kept- an unremitting watch. " - * ■- ' On ; th« third stroke of the "clock at < five c Friday evening Scott started to make. his 310 C founds of the course within the required time. The different distances were completed in the following, times from starting,: — First fire miles, oSrain.; 10 miles, lh. 57min.; 15, mile*., 2h. 57min.; 20 miles, 3h. 58miri.; 25 miles, 4h. 59min. When' the 25-mile distance was completed, a rest of 25 minutes was made. The first 25 miles were almost the womt with him, or rather the feeling at concluding the distance. He did not feel bad, while , actually walking, but on stopping, being t unused -to the gas and the heat of the theatre, he •wus.v.ery bad when taken to his room. He got a! warm bath, which brought Him round. . The 25 miles had been made in «a minute less than Edwards's time. Scott started on hia 1 25 t- mile" quite fresh, and in a pair of new boots, the "elastic soles of the other pair heating hisi feet. The 30th mile (including stoppage) was-done in 6hrs. 42min. from time of starting ; 35 miles in 7hrs. 38min. No time .was then taken till the completion of the 50th mile, which was lfflftrs. 52min. from time of starting. A rest of malf an hour was then made. He started' on his 51st mile, walking at this time about as well as he did at any part of, his march'; 55 ' miles were done in 12hrs. 34min. from time' of starting; 60 in 13hrs. 45min.'; 65 in -14hrs. 31min. ; 70 in 15hrs. 3Gmin. ; 75 in lGhrs. 34min., and here a rest- of a .full- hour was' made. His 80th mile was completed in 19hrs. 2min. from time of. starting, and the 85th iv 20hrs. lOniin. While the last ten miles were being walked, the excitement was intense. There were a very large number, of spectators, and young Scott, as lie completed 'every lap, was loudly applauded. At the 92rid mile, he was attacked by cramp,' and did several laps at a very slow rate, but soon walked at a rattling pace again, and would have gone at a great pace had he not been restrained. When the last four miles had to be done, he was. nearly three minutes behind Edwards's time at the. same distance, and to beat .him had, to do , the four miles in 50 minutes. .At the 97th mile, he got very slow, went round the course slowly several time 9, and did not look at the clock and record of the laps, as he did every time he passed the stage before. Many thought, that he would have to give up at the last, and what 'added to this belief was the fact that he fell. This, however, was not from weakness, but from being tripped by the carpet. The) reason of his falling behind was an attack of cramp. All thought of- his - giving in was, how. ever, dispelled by his .. putting, on a spurt and doing a couple of .rounds /at .'a rattling pace. This, however, was too good to last, but after lessening from the spurt he Went round at a splendid pace, doing his last mile in lOmin. 54sec, while Edwards had taken I3min When Scott completed the 31st lap of his'< 100 th mile, the greatest, enthusiasm prevailed— the audience stamping, clapping' hands, and hurrahing. His time was 7£ minutes- wider the 24 hours, and 2A minutes under that -of Ed wards. His age is 13 years and aeven months, and his weight is 4stt 81b. •