Athletics and Football (extract)

WALKING AND WALKERS 135 turning round a sharp corner Webster was within the defi­ nition. The present writer,on the occasion in question, upon which Webster completed his three miles in 21 min. 28 sec., layflat on the ground at different places to watch Webster's feet, and it certainlycould not be said that in the straights he had both feet off the ground at once. To this day controversy ragesabout the fairnessofWebster's walking,some averringthat he neverwalked a yard in his life,and others that he never should have been disqualified. Our own opinion is that his gait was not the gait of a true walker in the sense in which it is understood by the public,although he probably knew howto keep upon the right side of the line drawn by judges, who only look to the requirement of both feet not being off the ground at the same time. The next year saw Merrill, the famous American walker, in England, he and Myers visiting the country together as the guests of the L.A.C. Merrillwas a watchmakerfrom Boston, and was, we think, the fastest fair walker at any distance up to three mileswho ever appeared at amateur sports in England. Although he was a bit springy in his stride, he walked erect, witha straight leg, and with his weight fairlyon his heels, and no exception could be taken to his style. He was over the medium height, and strongly built about the hips, although not a very heavy man, and was verycarefully trained and in admirable condition. The championship of 1881 seemed a moral for him, as Webster was by this time falling into the 'sere and yellow' stage, and going more shiftily than ever. The race, which was won for England by a novice, J. W. Raby, of Elland, Yorks, wasa memorableone. Merrill went off very fast,and Webster, trying to keep pacewith him, soon became so shifty that he was disqualified by the judges. In the mean time, Raby, who was a tall, gaunt lad of the class which has recentlyreceived the franchise, stuck doggedly to the Ameri­ can, wore him down before five miles had been covered, and finishedalone, Merrillgiving up from exhaustion. The enthu­ siasm of the crowd—the largest that ever attended a champion-