Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1880-01-09
The Pedestrian Contest.


complish 100 miles, and Corporal Olin, of
the Ashtabula Light Artillery, who was to
attempt 12O miles for a prize of a gold
medal valued at $50, commenced at Hask-
elIs Hall last Tuesday evening at o'clock
and closed at 10: % on Wednesday even
ing.
Miss Verne closed the last lap of her
100 miles at the above named hour, just
80 minutes less than % hours.
Corporal OlIn met with mishap on the
first evening by which the cords of his
left ankle were strained. he did not ex-
perience much pain nor trouble in walk
ing during that night, but the next day it
was much worse and it Wsswith the great
est effort that be continued the walk,
which closed with his 95th mile and a few
laps, on Wednesday evening.
Ashtabula had escaped the pedestrian
craze up to this time, but the enthusiastic
audience that filed the hail on the closing
evening showed she had at last 'got it,
and very badly too. Doctors, lawyers, ed
itOrs and city officials mingled with the
enthusiastic crowd, and the police had
great difficulty in keeping the track clear.
0lin appeared several times on the
track during the last few hours Of the
walk, and withithe aid of cane he limp
ed along, greeted by frequent cheers.
Considerable interest was added to the
Wednesday evening walk on account of
ten mile exhibition walk between Mr.. ].
P. LaGrange and Mr.. Frank Cowdry.
They were well matched, and for a while
'.honors were easy" At the end of the
fifth mile LAGRANGE led by four laps, which
position he held until near the middle of
the tenth mile, when he withdrew from the
track with pains in his stomach. Cowdry
on the other hand continued to score lap
after lap, and as he neared his tenth mile
LaGrange again took the track, but he
could not, nor do We think he intended to
close up the distance gained by Cowdry.
The walk lasted about two hours and was
won by Mr.. Cowdry in three minutes less
time than his competitor. Ts-..
Miss Verne is eighteen years of age,
about five feet in height, finely proper
toned and with pleasing and intelligent
face. For the psst six months she has Civ
en- her attention 70 walking, and but few
pedestnennes have accomplished more,
nor made more. friends. Her manner on
the track is quiet and lady-ike, and as a
result, always receives the respect of her
audience. She complained of not feeling |
well on Wednesday, and for her own good
she should have given up the contest. !
Tears were seen to trickle down her cheeks
as she slowly followed her monotonous
walk, which plainly showed the pain
she was suffering but her firm, pale
face indicated her determination to win or
drop in her tracks. Later in the afternoon
and evening she seemed to be feeling bet
ter, for an occasional smile stole over her
face and she moved along with more ease,
But this wasprObablyi due in a great meas
uEe to the cheering music of the band and
the enthusiasm of the audience. Il
Corporal 0lin would, with little train
ing, make an excellent pedestrian, and we
doubt not he could have accomplished his
40 miles had he not injured his ankle, as
he had plenty of time after completing
his 18th mile. The managers of the Verne
party were free to admit that he is the best
amateur walker they have yet met. As the
Corporal was not to receive any thing un-
less he accomplished 100 miles, and as his
failure to so do was undoubtedly due to
his injured ankle, collection was taken
up for him which amounted to abont nine
dollars Boo aa--. e... la.E-i
Miss Verne's best time was in her 44th
mile, when she made one mile in eleven
her longest time sixteen minutes
and ffty-six seconds, in. her Goth mile.
Her first mile was made in twelve minutes
and eleven seconds, and her last in twelve
minutes and one. second. -=Fr1-se
0lin's first mile, twelve minutes and two
seconds; last mile fourteen minutes and
seconds. Best time in 4Srd mile,
ten minutes and eighteen seconds; slowest
time In Goth mile, sixteen minutes and
forty seconds. 1,''-''-'''
-TO-morrow-SatuIday-evening Miss
Verne will walk ten miles, accompanied by
two gentlemen, yet to be announced. The
gentleman making the distance in the
shortest time is to be awarded silver cup.
As we go to press Thursday evening an
amateur contest is going on at Haskell's |
Hall. ..e. su.a.
Al. rro.4...-.-- r11..I ...,on,.