The New York herald., 1879-08-12
THE WHEELBARROw WALK.

Leon p. Federmeyer champion wheelbarrow pc
destral. made 4.700 miles. as is stated. in 2l0
days, from San Francisco to New York, and dis
tauced his competitor by 1000 miles. began a walk
and of 500 miles in six days yesterday morning
at the American Institute Rink. Third avenue and
Sixty third street. The walk is for purse OF sooo'
and is to end at 11h. 10m. Saturday evening.
Federmeyer is medium sized. wiry and vivacious
Frenchman. from the Province of Lorraine. in
France, and is about forty years old. He has
pleasant. yet. withal. determined expression OF
face wears thin brown beard and mustache and
long curling hair. which drops upon his shoulders.
He has been in this country three years and half.
and before the former match made was two or
three months in San Francisco.
Half hour after midnight yesterday morning
Federmeyer started out with his wheelbarrow on
his 500 mile walk He had for a competitor man
named Carter, without any barrow, and who had. as
to Dan O'Leary. He was on the track for
two hours and covered ten miles; then
picked up his hat and left without vouchsaang any
explanation. He was q much dnerlooking man than
Federmeyer. and was probably ambitious of distin-
gushing himself. but the gait OF the Frenchman.
who outstrpped him on every lap. bred despair IN
his soul and he wilted in tho brief lapse of
two hours. Federmeyer attred chiefly in
red flannel shirt and pair of brown
of gaiter shoes. He went at u rapid walk verging
on trot. and throughout the day showed an en-
wheelbarrow was composed of wood, the wheel
being covered with tin. a contrivance adopted for
keeping out the snow and mud in crossing the
mountains and plains OF the Far West. The
body OF the barrow. in the shape OF an
oblong box was set on springs and this was used on
the trip the continent for carrying the cook
ing utensils and other things needed the journey
Above the box a fan made to revoive by the ac-
tion of the wheels and keep the pedestrian cool in
hot weather but this not used yesterday At the
sides OF the barrow, fastened i'll nterlacing tape
bands, host of business cards collected
on the journey Painted in black letters on top of
the box the inscription From San Francisco to
New York city started December s, 1875" and pro-
ject1ng from either side an American and Fren ch
flag. Mr.. j. L. Fuller. OF Massachusetts, who
companied Federmeyer from San Francisco acted
as director and showed him the manner
OF proceeding in his present undertaking.
A band OF music envened the time in
the morning, but the attendance of spectators
limited. Federmeyer, as he went round the track.
held the barrow by it's short handles low down and
loosely, and 1t ran very easily it seemed to be
rather guide and help to his running and walking
than obstruction. While the motion of his
feet and limbs not graceful. it was indica-
tive of vigor and strength. Occasionally he COM
planned of feeling sleepy. and said he had not yet
recovered from the exhausting effects OF his late
trip. He took longer rest than usual At noon, and
tried to sleep hour, but failed to WOO the en-
braces of Morpheus and started again as the clock
struck one. He took rests ut intervals during the
remainder of the day of from ten to twenty minutes.
and at eleven o'clock at night he was doing remark
ably WELL The score stood at eleven o'clock 80 miles.