THE FORTY-EIGHT HOURS' WALK.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2827, 15 October 1883, Page 2

THE FORTY-EIGHT HOURS' WALK.

[By Telegraph.] Dunbdih, Oct. 14. The Beott v. Edwards forty-eight hours' walk terminated at 10 o'clock l»sl night, Scott winning by one mile ddil thrre-quarters, all but a lap. Both men walked almost continuously for the first 25 hour*. Edwards retired at 11.12 p.m on Friday night to have a short eleep, hie record then standing at 115 miles, and Scott was 13 laps ahead. Scott kept going till 11.35 p.m., when he was two miles ahead, and he then vent to get pome iloep. Edward?, it is said, was under the impres-ion that Scott did not intend to return until 4 a.m., and he was going to start again about half-past three and put on the two miles he was behind. Bcott, however, returned at 3.25 a m., and Edwards hurried on to tin track a few minutes afterwards. From this time till tbe clos3 neither made a reliremfnt of longer than 20 minutes at a time, nor so long as this except at dinner and tea time. Edward* was quite unable to reduce Bcott's lead, and at 4 p.m. on Siturday the record stood — Scott 166 miles 20 laps, Edwards 164 miles 12 laps. Edwards had been spurting vigorously at intervals, but Scott a'wajs responded. So things went on till towards 9 p m., Edwards having then caught up a little and got the lead reduced to under two miles. During the first half of the last hour Scott walked somewhat slowly and went oft the track twice for two or three minuter, and as Edwards kept going at a good rate he gradually reduced Bcott's lead, till at half-past nine ho was or;lj one mile and one lap behind. He then began to make further spurts, but Scott determined to keep his mile ahead and to show that he had quite as much left m him as hi» Btronger, older, and more experienced opponent, and for over a quarter of an hour there was much excitement owing to the struggles between the two for the lead. Edwards, who was lying three or four yards behind Scott, would mike a sudden dash and pass him for a maintain this advantage for more than a lap, aa Scott always repassed him m spite of the fast pace he put on. It need scarcely be eaid that the game way m which Scott responded to and stared <ff these repeated efforts of Edwards' were greeted with deafening cheers. Edwards at last gave up attempting to further reduce the lead, and at cix or seven minutes to ten, when he had completed 191 miles exactly, he retired for good. Beott had then 192 miles 1 lap to his credit, and he wa'fced tbe time out covering 192 miles 16 laps. There was great enthusiasm manifested at the close, and Pcott wa« loudly cheerod when he made his appearance on the platform. In the last hour, though he lost almost half a mile by two retirements, Scott covered four miles and three quarters, to that the pace was maintained to the finish. Scott has never walked 48 hours before, but EHwards has done so several time*, bis best record being 181 miles 1360 yards. It will thuß be seen that Edwards has walked nearly ten milea further m the time than ever he did before, and there can be no question that he was defeated foirly on his merits. The long distance done, and the determination of the men at the close showed concluemly the genuinenees of the contest. Some feeling was shown against Edwards m consequence of his treatment of a small boy who encroached on the ring towards tbe doss. Ho struck tbe boy severely ou the face, but beyond being hooted, there was no interraplion, and throughout Edwardß received the utmost fair play. A number of gentlemen have set about collecting a sum to make Scott, a presentation of a belt. There was a very large attendance to ccc the finish.