Putting Walking Shoes Where Your Mouth Is
Women, as usual, sacrificed comfort for modesty during their competitive walks.
By Sandy Vasko
Do you remember the hula hoop? Don’t answer, it will show your age. I ask this because today’s topic can be classed in the same category – fads.
Starting about 1875, pedestrianism — or walking for money, prizes or fame — became the latest fad across the country and around the world; and in Will County. Set the way-back machine for 1875, place – Braidwood:
Our first example of pedestrianism is from the Wilmington Advocate: “Dan Carr, a pedestrian of some repute, commenced at 7 a.m. on Wednesday last in Nell’s Hall, to undertake a walk of 100 miles in 100 consecutive hours, without rest or sleep, and keeping in motion during the whole period. He finished the undertaking – he and his friends claim, successfully – on Monday last at 7 p.m. On the other hand, there are many who assert that the whole affair was a fraud, gotten up for the purpose of taking in a goodly number of quarter dollars as admission fees, and that he slept every night as comfortable as ordinary mortals generally do.”
Our next example is an international contest between two women in Chicago. From the February15, 1876, issue of the Joliet Signal: “The walking match between two of Chicago’s ruddy dames, Mrs. Marshall, American, and Miss Von Hillern, German, terminated at 10:30 on the evening of the 5th. The latter was beaten a fraction over two miles. At the conclusion, the gritty striders were unable to retire from the arena and had to be carried to their dormitories by their ‘sponging maids.’
“Mrs. Marshall, though she was the successful competitor, was completely exhausted, and, for a short time it was thought she was deranged, but by a copious administration of opiates she was enabled to obtain sleep. During the several hours succeeding the conclusion of this novel pedestrian exhibition, a physician was in constant attendance at her couch.
“Her vocal organs were seriously affected, but only for a few hours. She is slowly regaining her normal condition, and will be all right in a few weeks, while her Deutscher companion has been about as usual, with the exception of the temporary prostration she experienced at the end of her six days jaunt. “Notwithstanding the existing antipathy to these female sensationalists, the hall was continually thronged with the different social graces of the morbidly curious, straining their necks and purses to witness a pair of bedizened females pacing around a room, suffering self-imposed miseries and provoking vulgar jokes. What there is attractive at such a sportive exhibition of feminine endurance we are unable to say.”
The next exhibition was held in Joliet in July 1879: “The fifty-mile walking match at Werner Hall last Saturday attracted an unusually large crowd. The walkers, Smith and Geraghty, commenced their pastime at 2 o’clock and persevered until after 10 o’clock in the evening, when Smith, the Joliet pedestrian, was taken sick and gave up the chase, after having made something over thirty-five miles, his rival at the same time being about one and a half miles ahead. Geraghty was awarded the purse, and was afterwards challenged for another walk on the same terms by the friends of Smith.”
Four days later we read: “The 50-mile tramp between M. J. Smith, of this city, and J. J. Geraghty, of Mendota, Ill., commenced this afternoon at Werner Hall, promptly at 2 o’clock. Both men were in good trim, and started off briskly, each confident of victory. Geraghty is somewhat noted for his many victories in difficult matches. He contested in the walk for the late O’Leary prize belt in Chicago a short time ago. Though not winning the belt, he came in not many miles behind the victorious party. He carried away $600 ($19,350 today) in hard cash from Morris, not long ago, in a walk of 75 miles with a somewhat noted pedestrian named Walther.
“Geraghty secured the lead after the second lap had been made, which he retained up to the time of our going to press. Though he is in the lead he has the appearance of weakening. Smith follows closely behind him and don’t permit him to get away. Both men are splendid walkers and it is difficult to tell who will win.”
“Later – the tramp between Smith and Geraghty terminated at 1:30 Saturday night. Geraghty completed 38 miles and 22 laps and Smith closed up with 36 miles, leaving Geraghty winner by 2 miles and 22 laps.
“Both parties retired from the track at this time to await the return of the crowd, which had dispersed for supper. Shortly after the walkers commenced again, Smith was taken sick, and found it necessary to walk slow to keep up at all. After Smith returned to the track, he was apparently in much better trim, as he shot off after Geraghty at a terrific speed, but was unable to head him off.
“This caused some excitement, and together with the music in attendance, produced by Prof. McFarlane and Chas. Millsapugh, the walkers were spurred up considerably, and both displayed fine speed. It was soon discovered, however, that Smith was unable to keep up, and after reaching 36 miles, he withdrew for good. Had Smith kept in good condition, the tramp would have been a very fine one, as he could have held Geraghty down pretty close. The receipts amounted to something over $60 ($1,950), and after paying expenses, each of the pedestrians received their share.”
It wasn’t just professional walkers who participated in this fad. In April of 1879, we read in the Joliet Signal, “Last Friday night Robesson Hall was brilliantly lighted, and a large crowd gathered to witness the contest between several young gents of this city in a walk of one hour around the track erected in the hall. Previous to the time announced for the aspirants to appear, several of the crowd competed their powers by walking and running. Among them was Will Nichols, who ran half a mile in 2:45 and had no sooner done so than he dropped as if shot. He was carried to a room off the main hall and medical aid sent for. Dr. Dougall arrived and pronounced it paralysis of the brain. In about one hour he was brought around all right, and with the aid of friends he was taken to his home.
“At 8:00 o’clock Frank St. John made his appearance in a full walking suit, and took a turn against time, and walked a mile in good shape in the splendid time of 7:50. At 8:30 George Culver and Tom Barber, the best walkers without doubt, in the city, made their appearance, adorned with the customary knee britches, white shirt, silk handkerchief around the neck, and a fine pair of walking shoes, ready for the task of walking one hour. They started off briskly at the call from the time keeper, W. M Collins, and walked smoothly and rapidly, and completed the first mile in 8:06; the second, without a particle of fatigue in 8:50; third mile in 8:38; fourth in 8:32; fifth in 8:58; sixth in 8:25; seventh in 8:20 – making the seven miles in one hour and fifteen second. The boys received hearty applause as they finished each mile, and when they came in on the home stretch the applause was deafening. It was the finest short walk that we ever witnessed. The boys never flinched as the score will show, and retired feeling almost as fresh as when they began.
“Mr. E. S. Munroe walked a half mile against time, which he accomplished in 4:25. There were several of the boys, who had intended walking, but were not in condition. The crowd numbered about two hundred persons, and the amount taken in was about seven dollars. Taken altogether the affair was enjoyed by all present, and we trust the boys will keep it up as the exercise derived is a great benefit.”