The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-08-11
THE GREAT WALK.
Miss Won HiiIern Against Time at City
Hall.

| Miss Won Hiilern Against Time af Cit,
Hall.
AT the conclusion of Miss Won Hillern's wall
| In this city last week, number of persons whit
visited her were surprised at her physical con.
dition. They expected to see her completely
broken down, but instead she appeared in hel
usual good health and spirits. Then people
concluded that walking wasn't SO hard aftel
| all, and the next day large number who wert
of that idea repaired to the track to try thei
powers of endurance. Then they began to SCI
matters in different light. The more they
| thought about the matter the more they won
dered how it could be done. Some of the ladie,
| called upon the young lady at her hotel th,
next day and questioned her in regard to the
manner Of acquiring such wonderful ability
She told them that it was all done by constan
practice, and advised those who wished to have
the best of health to commence walking slowly
at first, gradually increasing as they were
able
This advice was followed by not few of oul
ladies, who were then anxious to see their
young teacher walk again. Upon their solicit
tations she agreed to again try her powers Of
endurance in our city, and last evening was the
time set for the commencement. of the task.
All day City ID all was visited by crowds of peo-
pie who were anxious eren to see the track
prepared for the walk.
When the hall was opened in the evening the
people began to gather, ard it was apparent
the public were not only interested in the finish,
but in the start as well. A few moments be-
fore eight o'clock several physicians visited
Miss Won Hillern and found her in excellent
condition. Her temperature was 98a, and her
pulse indicated Is beats to the minute. A
friend who has been with her in all her walks
says that she never was in better condition for
hard undertaking.
At one minute before eight o'clock the
young lady appeared on the track accompanied
by Mr.. Thomas, her agent, to undertake the
task of walking So miles in 26 hours, without
sleep and with but few rests. She was dressed
in dress of blue bunting which came just be-
low the knees. The dress was trimmed with
white lace. At the throat was a small bow and
dainty rosebuds. She wore brown French
felt hat, lined with pale gray silk and trimmed
with an elegant feather. Her hands were COW
cred with white kid gloves, and she carried the
whip presented to her by the ladies of Boston.
She wore No. boots and white merino hose.
AS she appeared she was greeted with pro-
longed applause from the goo6.sized audience
which had now assembled. The word was Civ
en- by the timekeeper promptly at o'clock,
and she was off on her long tramp. Mr..
Thomas accompanied her on the first circuit,
which was made in IS seconds, and the second
in 30.
The hall was rendered quite cool by the
plentiful supply of ice furnished by Messrs.
Curtis & soule. The damp air out-of-doors
was, however, unfavorable. After the sharp
shower which occurred soon after the start,
there was quite a fresh breeze, which was
waited in through the open windows and
doors. Chambers Band, which was stationed
on the stage, furnished as delightful music a
though they were not compelled to play during
the entire 26 hours of the walk.
i Each round that the young lady made was
watched with the utmost interest by the spec
tators, and they cheered her both by looks and
by warm and frequent applause.
She walked with her usual free, swinging,
gait, and at the end Of seven and onehalf
minutes had made half mile Her face now
showed slight flush, but no signs of perspir-
ing was noticed. In the fifteenth circuit she
quickened her gait and walked in 40 seconds.
The first mile was made in 14.21. She COM
menced the second mile at 40 gait but soon
cut it down to 35, making the mile in a.
She walked the first half of the third mile in
oio WIN Io Loo hale l..
and the mile was finished in 1855, and the
fourth in 1918. At the commencement of the
fifth she began to perspire slightly, but it only
lasted few moments, and when she finished
in 1925 she was looking nicely.
This is the same walk which created SO much
enthusiasm in Boston last winter. Miss Won
Hillern first walked $50 miles in six days, and
then on her second walk made 88 miles in 26
hours for the first time. This is then her second
tempt at this walk.
The seventh mile was made in 1858, after
which she Stacked her speed slightly and
walked her miles in little more than IA min
utes each.
AT II o'clock she had walked thirteen miles
and half, and was in good condition. A friend
of Miss Won Hillern's walked with her several
miles about midnight A number of gentle
men and ladies remained during the night to
cheer the young lady.
The feat will be completed at 10 o'clock this
evening ifsat all. A large crowd will of course
be in attendance during the entire day and
evening. At the finish the hall will of course
be packed. 1t will be long, hard struggle,
but there is but little doubt that it will be
accomplished on time.
At 2 o'clock this morning she was walking on
her 18th mile, and was apparently looking as
we'll as when she commenced. She was accom-
panied by Mr.. Stevens, the ticket agent who
was doing his best to keep pace with the young
lady. The more one notice; this exhibition
the more remarkable it appears. Here was
young lady who had walked twenty-five miles
without rest, and was still vigorous and show.
ing no signs of fatigue.
At $4,000 she had completed her SD mile,
walking it in 1926.
The following table gives the time of each
mile walked up to the time of going to press
this morning: