The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-05 00:00:00

COMPLETION OF THE PEDESTRIAN FEAT

AT SHEFFIELD.

SREPPIELD THURSDAY, SEPT. 4.
Monks finished his great task at Bm. 29 sec. past
six o'clock this evening.
Every day since Sunday, Augustt 31, immense crowds of
spectators thronged the ground see Manks walk, Up to
T, *day he appeared to go over his miles with increased
strength and determination, inducing reiterated plaudits
from all present.
On Sunday and Monday he averaged, during his walking
hour. from 6 to 7 miles an hour, having, on the first day,
10,000, and on the second 5,000 spectators.
Oa Tuesday (when 69 miles remained to be gone over)
Menke was evidently suffering from his extraordinary
exertions of the two previous days, his fastest walking to-
day at 1 o'clock being 10 minutes 39 seconds per mile—the
ether eleven hours not averaging more than 12 minutes 10
mends per mile. During Tuesday night it was with the
greatest difficulty Manks could be aroused from his deep
sleep, and when induced to move he took more than twenty
minutes to go his mile. At 4 o'clock a.m. he was so over-
powered that he appeared not to know where to go or where
to turn, tuning against the south wall, which caused him
to fall on his hands and knees. On his being roused up by
the attendant policeman going round with him, it was
found he had only bruised his forehead and knees slightly,
and was declared by the doctor to be still " wonderfully
crong."
On Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 6 o'clock, p.m., there remained
24 miles to get through. There was an increased number of
spectators on the ground ; among them gentlemen who had
solicited a day apart from the general throng, to enable
them to contribute above the common entrance fee for the
benefit of Monk,. In the evening Monks complained of
his head aching (the heat of the weather being oppressive),
yet he walked boldly and erect, much better than on the
day. previous, although showing great nervousness and
anxiety for the arrival of the hour to finish his feat.
Up to 12 o'clock, p.m., to-day, Monks did not walk be-
yond his ordinary pace, viz., five miles per hour. After a
short time he increased his speed, and the five and six o'clock
miles were done in a trifle under Bminutes 30 seconds each,
average about seven miles per hour. \Vm. Thompson (better
known in the sporting world as Bcndigo), the pugilistic
champion of England. was with Monks for some days pre-
vious to his finishing this unheard-of feat, walking with
Manks part of his last mile, each decorated with a splendid
and costly belt.
The following is a copy of the declaration drawn up and
signed by those who were engaged to watch and attend
upon the pedestrian through the whole time taken to per-
form the monster undertaking:—" This is to certify that
we attended upon Richard Menke, in our regular turn,
while he was walking his great feat of 1,750 miles over the
Barrack Tavern Pedestrian-ground, Sheffield, which he
commenced at nine o'clock, p.m., on Monday, the 23rd of
June, and finished on Thursday evening, the 4th of Sep-
tember, 1851, at six o'clock, p.m. We are so positive that
throughout the whole of this task he, Monks, walked the
stipulated distance regularly, never missing a single turn,
whether mile, or half-mile, or quarter-mile, night nor day,
so confident are we, that we are ready to confirm the same
on oath before any magistrate, if required so to do. Wit-
ness our signatures,made this day, September 4, 1851."
Thus was finished the greatest feat ever contemplated
by man.
'Betting was 3 to 1 against this feat being accomplished
at the commencement of the 1,000 quarter miles ; 2 to 1 up
to the hour the half miles were completed, and at evens
throughout 700 of the 1,000 miles; then 2 and 3 to 1 were
betted that Minks completed the whole manfully.
Large sums depended on the result at Manchester,
Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, and other towns of
importance.
_ _ _

THE WEATHER AND CROPS.

WORCESTERSHIRE
- finished in this

:).—Tho harvest
It is of course

A nearly nu__ .-... neighbourhood. _ _
impossible at present to predict the result, but appearant,
are decidedly more favourablo than they were a month ago.
The wheat crop, in soma instances, is pretty good ; but there
can still be no doubt that the aggregate of this district will
prove deficient. Saw set-off, however, must be allowed
for the excellent condition in which most of it has been car-
ried. 1 have seen sane pad crops of barley, so far as the
yield of grain Is mmeammil ; but the deficiency of straw is
general, and mash Illeapidaed of. The sample of barley,
as well as whet, will be good. There has been a shortness
of keep ter end slo generally, but the rains of last week, if
followed larentinuat ion of moist warm weather, will soon
alter this II things.. The swedes, particularly the early
sown teak beverseern vigorously, and there are plenty from
four to viz imins weed the shoulder ; still, in many in-
stances, they hem soared seriously from mildew, and still
more from lies "ebb. This insect appears to extract the
sap from de haves, sad leaves them a mere yellow luau-
*Wens =2„,:i
than The cornbe harvest has blren more
ars .
meg imishad at the beginningri of last needle and
sem Si. week before. In see sass a Mrse farmer seems-
plighted the while of it in fourteen days. Imbed, all rem
cur that se tank a lamest newt bpecte reurnalmed. Priam
are kw mull mem* ex say law influx of
wheat jun at press* were it net that it n Ise eertain tbe
Isei sentimelen id dammed sane will impel many to
these wed realise al ease. It is matter ef win that the
melees Me nredimny bosom wens tai wean, mad Mr/
new weer tele nensially diessind. They Mt a mime
stench is miss; se6 I ism, will be Mid to be mom
amoeba Ora lIIIMP bid "BM A certain ineset (*verde
=let, Mod upon the aff..vted sad may,
to de with prooludhi:its disease.
This beset is aemeri.ylagan Mt ist kink, green in skew,
and extremely dideidt to detest, dem its laded', for at
the slightest movement It pens wader the leaves, and often
telo=o the ground sad wean under any ablest for pro-
: Experiments made to July, 1849, proved that this
heist padased the same anperent effect upon cuttings
Wise imileeriminately es Mediatase does, whilst those taken
from the same plants and kept area from this insect died in
the asked manner. I hen discovered this year hundreds
in one pines at dimmed peteless. The disease has, been
ascribed by ewe perms to electrical agent . That •
deficiemy la the Mei& kid is highly prejudicial to animal
and mestable iik Maw an be Me doubt, but during the
three meths, June, July, sad Aaiun, in which the disease
has genondly made Si appease:se, the degree or proportion
of elsetrielty was greater in 1845, when the disease was
worst, Men in '4B, '47, and '4B, when it had very much
diminieled.—Correspotuient of Worcesier Chronicle.

OLEAT WESTIEN RtILWAT OF CANADA.—Thin
undertaking has loess sp tedly taken up in the colony, and
upwar 000 men, de., are employed
on theworks. The esimid re given great pri-
vileps, and has Ole interest on loans for the
=BOUM required, Ds stake gout half the line. de only
MO MOO put d lies mend In to be raised in England,
dm sea Wiring boss timffliml in the United States and
Cemadktde Ens will be mind forward very rapidly, and
vet it ee le spa this year. Else line forms a trunk road in
pper Onsmia, and will, it is hoped, pay 10 or 12 per mt..
ne Or Ended 'Mtn railways do.