The American Championship Belt Six-Day Race held in 1879

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:15 — 41.0MB)

By Davy Crockett

From 1875 to 1879, at least 130 six-day races were held, mostly in America and Great Britain. In 1879, the foot races became the #1 spectator sport in America. During that single year, at least 88 six-day races were held worldwide, with about 900 starters and witnessed by nearly one million spectators. Women played a significant role in these early six-day races, a century before they could take part in marathons. From 1875 to 1879, at least 30 six-day women’s races were held, involving 150 women starters who ran as far as 393 miles in six days. These daring women athletes caused a significant rift across the Victorian-era society. An editorial in the New York Times stated, “Today it is the walking match, soon the women’s vote will come.” It isn’t surprising that once the women competed, that New York City considered passing an ordinance banning “all public exhibitions of female pedestrianism.”

Many people thought these races, even limited to men, were a plague on society, especially because of all the wagering that took place and suspected corruption involved. In Louisiana, it was written, “Can’t someone up there give these lunatics some kind of creditable employment in which they can exercise their pedal extremities to their hearts’ content?” From London, England, “One of these days, when one of these poor fellows, dazzled with the distant prospect of gold, drops down dead on the track, science will be satisfied, sport appeased, and public indignation aroused. Pedestrians will go on doing the ‘best time on record’ until they drop down dead.”

After a huge race in New York City, The Third Asley Belt race, that affected attendance at churches that week, a minister wrote, “New York has been shamefully disgraced. This commercial emporium is in dishonor in the sight of God and in the eyes of the civilized world.”

These early pedestrians at first had a goal to surpass 500 miles in six days. They then kept pushing the six-day world record further until George Littlewood reached 623 miles in 1888. That record stood for nearly a century and was considered a running record that would never be broken. But it eventually was broken by one man. Today, the six-day world record is held by Yiannis Kouros, of Greece, who covered an astonishing distance of 635 miles on a track in New York City in 1984. Later, in 2005, he covered 643.

Running vs. Walking

In 1878, the British established a six-day world championship series of races called “The Astley Belt.” After the 3^rd Astley Belt Race in early 1879, won by Charles Rowell of Great Britain, Daniel O’Leary, the former six-day champion of the world, spent a lot of time pondering how the British seemed to being exceeding the Americans in the six-day sport. He became convinced that no strict walker could ever again win a highly competitive six-day race against runners. The best strict heel-toe walkers could exceed 500 miles, but not much further. He believed the runners being developed in Britain could go much further than 500 miles, and it was time for Americans to learn how to run more during these “go-as-you-please” six-day races.

The six-day races held during April 1879

During April 1879, at least 13 six-day races were held, including five during the same week. Two significant races were held that month, the American Championship Belt at Gilmore’s Garden, New York City, and the 2^nd English Astley Belt held at the Agricultural Hall in London.

Plans for the American Championship Belt

The six-day American Championship Belt race was billed as a contest to produce the best man to be sponsored to compete in the 4^th Astley Belt race to be scheduled in June 1879, in England. For this qualifying race, $1,000 and a championship belt would be awarded to the winner. The race was open only to residents of America and would be under the direction of the New York Athletic Club.

Belts, not belt-buckles, had become the six-day championship award for the winner of these races. The belt was described as “38 inches long, five inches wide, made of seven heavy plates of gold and silver and bearing the inscription: ‘Champion Pedestrian Belt of the United States.’” Figures of runners were inscribed on two plates of the belt, some with wings or wheels for feet. The central plate featured large figures of the statue of Liberty and a native American.

The organizers planned for 40 starters, which would by far be the largest six-day race ever held up to that point. This race was significant, because it was the first major race where the field was composed mostly of amateurs. The entries’ fee for this race was not as expensive compared to the previous six-day races, and thus a new crop of 36 six-day “greenhorns” entered the race. Only four others had six-day race experience. With all this inexperience, they risked causing a disaster.

With the immense field, many tents were needed for the runners and crews. “Two dozen of the tents are included in four rows of six tents each. Two rows on each side of the Garden, and the remaining 17 into a semicircle. This display of canvas gives the Garden something of the appearance of a military encampment. Each tent contains a little cot bed, a table, a gas stove and one or two chairs.” The tent canvas was thought to block the dust and tobacco smoke in the building’s air. The rails surrounding the track on both sides were now made of heavy timbers, replacing the flimsy ropes from the last races.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, recalling how some spectators got clubbed by the police at Gilmore’s Garden during the previous month’s Third Astley Belt Race, wrote, “Tramps have begun walking at Gilmore’s Garden, but the people are beginning to understand that there is no law which compels them to go there and get clubbed for fifty cents”

Runner Spotlight – Peter Panchot

Peter J. Panchot (1842-1917), was a postman from Buffalo, New York. He was born to French parents and served in the Civil War as a member of the Minnesota infantry. He was called “little Moccasin,” because he wore moccasins when on the track. Standing at a height of 5’4” and weighing approximately 130 pounds, he was described as “very good looking with a dark complexion, tough and wiry, with quick nervous step and extraordinary powers of endurance” and had a graceful running motion.

He was inspired in 1878 by John Ennis to start running long distances and he competed in three-mile races. In May 1878, he got the attention of Buffalo when he won a 50-mile walk at the Pearl Street Rink in 11:11:33 and won again in June with 10:17:32. Also at the Rink, he walked 100 miles in 22:27:58.

In February 1879, he challenged William M. Hoffman to a 25-mile race outdoors in the streets of Buffalo for $100. It was watched by hundreds of people. Panchot won by a mile, finishing in 4:22:30. The following month, he raced Cyrenus Oscar Walker (1841-1919), for 50 miles indoors at St. James Hall. Panchot won the walking match by only four minutes, finishing in 9:05:40. He then entered the six-day race, Buffalo’s favorite undefeated local pedestrian.

Runner Spotlight – Steve Brodie

Stephen Brodie, (1861-1901), age 17, was called the “New York Newsboy Pedestrian.” He grew up in the tough Bowery section of New York City. At age nine, he moved out of his poverty-stricken home into a boy’s home and later went to live in a newsboy lodging house. The career of a newsboy was explained, “You had to sell newspapers every day, or else your risked becoming homeless. You fought for street corners and fought to protect your property. Men robbed the boys and older boys robbed the younger boys.” In his late teens, he led his own gang of newsboys.

In February 1879, at the age of 17, Brodie made his first attempt to break into the sport of pedestrianism when he walked 90 miles in under 24 hours in the gym of the Newsboys’ Lodging House. He quickly achieved youthful stardom in New York City and followed that up by walking 50 miles in 8:39:53 in front of 3,000 people at Eagle Hall, Hoboken, New Jersey. With that success, he was accepted to compete in the American Championship Belt.

The Start

The start of the race was delayed for an hour and that gave the 2,000 spectators a chance to walk around the place. “The Garden was damp, chilly, and uncomfortable, but the crowd amused themselves by walking over the floor, peering into the tents and starting the week’s supply of cigar smoke.” A large group of news boys took seats across from the scorers’ table, ready to cheer their fellow boy, Brodie. As the race director tried to make a speech, to boys shouted, “Brodie, Brodie, Brodie’s the man.”

The race began at 1 a.m. on April 14, 1879. “The men came to the starting point in forty different costumes, long and short, fat and lean, and of a dozen nationalities. They set off from seven starting points and were nicknamed, “The Forty Thieves.” The crowd laughed heartily at the strange antics put on by some men on the track, while Brodie the newsboy went round in a circle of applause.” Early on, Brodie said with a grin, “I’m feelin’ bully, an’ will do my best.” “Only about six out of the forty walkers were strong and graceful enough to their movements to elicit any degree of admiration from the spectators. They trailed around in a manner that excited merriment, pity, and ridicule alternately as the motley line passed in review.”

The first to quit the race, at about mile 45, was Thomas Callahan, who worked as a dirt collector with a cart in the streets of New York. “Those who saw his pipe-stem legs wondered how they could have carried him over so much ground. He is satisfied that there is more dust to be picked up in the streets than on the sawdust track.” Ludwig M. Kyellberg, of New York City, was soon out too. “He had weakened himself with strong whiskey and had hopped around like a sick Piute in a war dance.”

Brodie ran close to the frontrunners, but started to look lame after the first day. “The newsboy, was the picture of distress, and notwithstanding the opinion of his attendants that he was ‘tough and all right,’ it was evident that only their ignorance and his own pluck kept him moving around the track.” He found his groove and continued to run strongly. The common joke people yelled at the newsboy was, “Are they getting out new extras?” He was often seen chewing away at a large sandwich as he plodded along. His gait was described as “a very slouchy manner, with his head hanging forward and his arms swinging violently.”

William Dutcher (1848-), of Poughkeepsie, New York, was one of the very few runners with previous six-day experience, although he had a reputation as a cheater and a fraud. He had a rough time during the first evening. “In consequence of having his belt strapped too tightly and attempting a fast spurt, he dropped on the track in a faint and was carried to his tent insensible, but in a few minutes, he reappeared and walked the rest of the evening as though nothing had happened.” (He would quit on day five after 286 miles with his feet covered with terrible blisters.)

Among the spectators in boxes were very experienced pedestrians, John T. Ennis (1842-1829), Exilda La Chapelle (1859-1935), and Charles A. Harriman (1853-1919). They mocked all poor amateurish exertions, “amusing criticisms upon the absurdities passing in panoramic review before them, with lofty contempt at the efforts and struggles of the runners.” Peter Panchot was the first to reach 100 miles in about 19:23 and led after day one with 104 miles.

Day Two

By day two, more than half of the rookie field was “worn out.” By the morning of day three, half of the field had dropped out. Much of the crowd was disappointed that the hothead John “Lepper” Hughes (1850-1921), dropped out, “for his egotism was something amusing,” and many spectators amused themselves getting him riled up. His wife had been seen chewing him out, and it was believed that she made him quit. Hughes had previously “fizzled” in the Second Astley Belt Race against O’Leary.

Brodie was doing well. “The youngster was astonishing everyone.” He vowed to continue for the entire six days. He was a hero to all New York City newsboys. “Shivering newsboys, wet to the skin, stood in the half shelter of the building outside, inquiring eagerly of persons whom they supposed had just come from the inside. ‘How is Steve Brodie getting along?’”

“The presence of only about 200 spectators this morning is an indication that New Yorkers are beginning to tire of the spectacle of a number of weary men trudging around a dirty track.” It became especially boring when most of the runners were resting in their tents. The crowd would cheer loudly and shame the walkers to come out of their tents. They would then go around the track “like a flock of startled sheep.”

Days Three Through Five

The only thing that kept the spectators’ interest was that the leader, Panchot, was at a better pace than Charles Rowell (1852-1909), the world champion, ran a month earlier at the Third Astley Belt race, but that pace would not last. It was said that many of the thirteen remaining walkers “looked fitter to be in bed than walking. The atmosphere was so cold and damp that several of the walkers were forced to wear coats. Everything had a dingy and dirty appearance. Bookmakers sat at their little tables vainly endeavoring to get bets. The crowd in the barroom drank in solemn silence and most of the imbibers had a looked about them of having been up all night.” In the evening, about 2,000 people came to watch. After four days, Panchot was at 337 miles, thirteen miles ahead of Samuel Merritt, of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

As the race neared its conclusion, young men tried to get into the building without paying for a ticket. “It was no little amusement to the spectators to watch the various appearances of heads at the broken windows, the stealthy entrances, and the sudden and ignominious ejection of the culprits from the gallery they had attained with such infinite pains by the police officers who lay in wait for the rascals as a cat does for a mouse.”

When Panchot completed his 400^th mile, the band played “Yankee Doodle” and ten letter-carriers from the New York post office came out onto the track to present a letter of congratulations to their fellow postman, Panchot. “He smiled and bowed as he took it but did not pause an instant in his walk.” He hung the letter on the front of his tent. At the end of day five, Panchot was at 407 miles, only six miles ahead of Merritt. In a close race.

Runner Spotlight – Samuel Merritt

Samuel J. Merritt (1858-), from Bridgeport, Connecticut, was only 21 years old and looked younger. He was tall, 6’0”, and weighed 150 pounds. With previous running experience, he had crewed Peter Napoleon Campana (1836-1906) in two events during 1878, including a cheated claim to the six-day world record on a track poorly measured. It was reported that Merritt had also impersonated Campana at night, running laps for him.

On February 8, 1879, Merritt won a six-day race, the Connecticut state championship against five other runners in Lyceum Hall, reaching 400 miles. “He was a tall ungraceful looking young man, who was described as having a shambling gait, bringing his arms in front of him with each step. However, with that method of progression, he could ‘run like a deer’ when it suited him.”

The Finish

Only eight out of the original 40 runners remained on the final day, proving that the 6-day race is not for inexperienced amateurs. It was said that the young newsboy Brodie was in the best condition of the eight runners who remained on the track. “Brodie, time and time again, ran around amid the cheers of the crowd.” He smartly would run around the track carrying a bundle of newspapers, which he autographed and sold to the spectators at exorbitant prices. His friends solicited newspaper subscriptions for him in the crowds.

The main competition was between Panchot and Merritt. Panchot started the day with a narrow seven-mile lead and Merritt cut into that lead. Observers were surprised at how well Panchot was doing, because he did not look like he was built to be a long-distance runner. “The men plodded along wearily through the day, and at 7:00 p.m., the Garden began to fill up. Two hours later, it was crammed with 6,000 people, with a very large sprinkling of ladies being among the spectators.”

As victory was assured, Panchot, wearing a U.S. Post Office cap, swung two American flags over his shoulders and “quickened his steps as the vast audience cheered him.” He finished with 480 miles, with three hours to spare. Merritt finished second, with 475 miles. He claimed that he had only slept seven hours during the race. Brodie finished seventh, with 375 miles.

William Buckingham Curtis (1837-1900), of Wilkes’ Spirit of Times presented Panchot’s his award and said, “You came among us a stranger, Mr. Panchot. We knew nothing of you, but you have earned the belt, which I am pleased to have the opportunity of handing over to you.” He also won $1,000. As Panchot left the building, he was given thunderous applause.

Reaction

Panchot beat the mark that Ennis ran during the Third Astley Belt race a month earlier, finishing in second. Ennis wrote, “Panchot has done a wonderful performance which places him in the front ranks of pedestrianism. Buffalo can justly feel proud of her champion.” American sportsmen hoped that Panchot would go to England to compete in the Fourth Astley Belt race.

Not everyone in New York celebrated. Rapidan wrote, “If the walking mania continues to catch victims, it will soon be as great a nuisance as baseball. One of the statesmen is making an effort to squelch it by introducing a bill making walking for money a misdemeanor, but there is no probability of its passage. The mania will doubtless run itself out if left alone.”

Sources:

Los Angeles Evening Express (California), Apr 5, 1879
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (New York), Apr 6, 14, 16, 18, 20, 1879
The Boston Globe (Massachusetts), Apr 6, 8, 17, 18, 1879
The New York Times (New York), Feb 9, Apr 14-20, 1879
The Brooklyn Union (New York), Apr 14, 15, 1879
Chicago Daily Telegraph (Illinois), Apr 14, 1879
The Inter Ocean (Chicago, Illinois), Apr 15, 1879
The Sun (New York City, New York), Apr 15, 1879
Buffalo Courier Express (New York), Jan 15, Feb 2, Mar 19, Apr 18, 21, 1879
The Buffalo Commercial (New York), Apr 20, 1878, Mar 20, 1879
The Buffalo Sunday Morning News (New York), Jul 15, 1878

154: The American Championship Belt – 1879