The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-28
PEDESTRIANISM.

MISS BARTEL BEGINS HER TASK OF WALKING
THREE THOUSAND QUARTER MILES IN THREE
THOUSAND QUARTER HOURS.
An attempt at accomplishing feat Of pedestrian
ism even more remarkable than Nine. Anderson's
begun at Brewster building, Fifth avenue and
Fourteenth street. last evening" the attempt being
the effort Of Miss Annie Bartel to walk 5000 quarter
miles in 5000 quarter hours. The successful COM
pletion Of this task will require thirty-one
days and six hours, and the physical endu-
rance required to complete it without sleep
cept that which be snatched in the intervals
of task cXacting is little short OF the marvellous.
Precisely at six o'clock the hour announced for the
beginning of Miss Bartel's walk. the pedestrienne
appeared upon the track. About one hundred peo-
pe among them q number of theatrical celebrities,
had gathered to the start. AS she emerged from
the little in the Of the building allotted
to her as her home during the next month
il her endurance lasts so long-she was
who were present at the time connoiseurs Of .
pedestrians points, and on her hrst laps she was
watched closely and critically. She started we'll
Her step easy and natural her stride was firm
and graceful. her pace WAS rapid and determined
She retired TO her room applause followed her. It
suspicious beginning OF y task which will be
watched with great interest because OF Nine. Ander
SON success.
THE PRDEsTRIENNE.
In appearance Miss Bartel is rather prepossessing
She is not beautiful in the womanly sense. but
she has bright eye pleasing face and an almost
perfect contour of form for female athlete. Her
step shows that she is accustomed to walking. but
her style il suggestive OF country roads rather than
city sidewalks and it Is said most Of her experience
was acquired in carrying milk cans from door to door
over the toughest parts Of Westchester county She
is young being scarcely more than twenty years of
age, and while she was making her first lap there
was aush in her face which revealed the excitement
burning ike fever in her VEINS The
city or her surrounding and the curious
eyes which bent upon her seemed to
affect her to her disadvantage while giving =
sort Of dramatic interest to her start The track in
the second story of the building, and is made of
loan and sawdust 1t was made by Hughes. one of
O'Lcarys unsuccessful competitors. and Miss Bar
tells trainer. There seven laps to the quarter
mile each lap being 1857 feet as measured by Major
are chairs, placed for the accommodation of
visitors. and most of them were occupied when
the TASK g Edrdre an speeta.or IN
the other Miss Lottie Murray. Mrs. Tony Pastor
and Miss Annie Ward Tiffany. Other ladies'
present. and . number OF gentlemen made them
selves prominent the inside and the outside of
the track. "Crosstown'' Carey and Judge Hilton
among them. The interest felt in the pedestriennes
start was surprising and the only question now is
whether her endurance VIII prove equal 10 the IN
tercst.
INCIDENTS OF THE EVENING
As the evening advanced the crowd increased. At
nine o'clock the hall filed at ten o'clock it was
onJi.ncc was ladies' I'm TO midnght fully
1000 people visited the building. and quarters
poured into the box Office during the intervals
between every quarter mile. As eleven O'Clock
approached the crowds began 10 thin. The interest
OF the trong seemed to the spirits OF the pedes
r,enne and she was flushed and excited throughout
the evening. that sleep impossible to her dur
ns the night, and the ladencd air seemed to make
her breathing hard and difficult AS the night ad
vanced.
Just before she went on for her twenty first quar-
ter the HERALD reporter called to see her in her
apartment. She reclining on her couch, but
showed neither fatigue desire for sleep
..Do you feel confident OF your ability to complete
your tisk?' the reporter asked.
81 do. certainly. or would not have undertaken
it," the answer.