Description
Pedestrianism , as competitive long-distance running was known in the nineteenth century , was an extremely popular sport across Britain, and London was no different. At the White Lion adjacent to Hackney Wick Station, thousands of spectators could watch flamboyant characters with monikers like Young England and the Gateshead Clipper try to outpace each other. Perhaps the most well-known pedestrian, though, was not from England at all: his name was Hutgohsodoneh or Lewis Bennett (1828-1897), and he came from the Seneca Nation of New York State. Arriving in England in 1861, he astonished audiences with his physical prowess and his exotic appearance. By all accounts, “Deerfoot” was a master showman (indeed, some critics wondered whether some of his victories were set-ups). In the course of 87 weeks, he ran some 130 races throughout Britain and Ireland, and news of his exploits appeared in papers across the nation.
Bibliographic sources
Thrush, Indigenous London, 179-184. Image by Peter Lovesy – The Kings of Distance, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31372144