The record-union., 1897-12-01
GREAT BICYCLE FEAT.
Miss 11llie Hummers Story Of Her
Triple Ceuturv.

A4ARAo OcACuCys
No doubt the general public, reading Of
the wonderful test Of endurance success
fully accomplished by two women.
making the triple century run, organized
by the Rutherford Wheelmen, on sun
day and Labor Day, may feel interested
IN knowing something Of the personality
OF one of these women.
The subject of the accompanying
sketch is a young girl not more than
eighteen years old, frail and delicate
looking, far from ones idea of a wo-
man strong enough to even think of un-
dertaking such run
L interviewed her on Tuesday, the day
after her run, early in the afternoon,
ana to my surprise found her perfectly
fresh. She said she did not feel tired,
and from her looks and manner of
speaking l knew she was telling the
truth.
When questioned as to her fatigue or
any Ill effects from her long ride, she
assured me that she felt equal to COM
mencing the ride all over again that
very day.. She enjoyed wheeling SO
much that she would be only too glad
to obtain a position which would ne
cessitate her being on the wheel con-
stantly She had reported for work
that morning, but her employers had
advised her to go home and take a rest,
instead of which she mad taken her
wheel, gone for ride and had her pic
ture taken.
The only time she had felt any fear
during Sunday night was after the moon
had gone down and several wildcats had
run across the road from the woods on
either side. 1t was hard to believe, de-
spite her protestations,. that such ter
rible strain would not eventually tell
on her constitution, and it was, if / may
so express myself, Saddening sight
this young girl, not yet out of her teens,
glorying in and proud of feat which
tivesyears ago would have been conSid-
cred degrading and unwomanly.
Miss kummel tells her own story in
her own words, as the following letter
shows, aud can in her language bet
ter explain her gradual reaching of that
triumphant goal, the three hundred mile
record.
To the Editor of the HERALD: write
self, considering that your readers may
my last and longest ride.
Well, / will begin by telling You how
I first started to ride. l began to ride
a bicycle one year ago last June, and
would take short rides about the city
and around Grants tomb until Septem-
ber when I rode down to Coney Island,
after which l attempted and rode to
Yonkers, it being a very fatiguing ride
at that time, as it was considerably up
hill. After accomplishing that I con-
tented myself for the winter with riding
on the Boulevard. But as the spring
came on and / heard and read so much
about century runs, I thought / would
like to attempt one, which / did. 1t was
a run given by the New York County
Wheelmen in April. / made it on tan
dem with success. The second century
/ rode on my own wheel, drop frame,
in the Triumph Wheelmen's run, and
although / had many miShaps on the
road, | finished within the time limit
I was greatly disgusted with the drop
frame, and vowed / would never ride
one again, so I purchased a diamond
frame, which has given me good sat
isfaction 1t is white enamelled
wheel, with twenty-inch frame, seven
inch cranks, seventy-four gear, and
weighs twenty pounds.
Regarding my run Sunday and Mon
day, September 9th and 9th, i decided
about a week previous to the triple
century run given by the Rutherford
Wheelmen to enter and compete for a
record and medal, the former of which
I gained and the latter / expect to OBJ
tain when finished. Before undertak-
ing this adventure I was in splendid
condition physically. weighing llU
pounds. and l lost only two pounds on
the run, contrary to medical opinion,
as my appetite has increased consider
ably Respectfully yours,
TILLIE HUMMEL,
Triumph Wheelmen.
No. 221 East Fourteenth street.
New York Herald.