Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-06-19
SATURDAY, JUNEi9sb, 1858.
Most Remarkable Power Of Human Endurance Il
California.

Most Remarkable Power Of Human Endurance IN
California.
The long pending match for $4,000
-g2,50o a side against time, made BE-
tween Nr. ]. NJ. Daniels, proprietor OF
the Pioneer Course, and Mr.. John Pow
ers. a we'll known horseman from the low
er country, to ride $50 miles within eight
hours, was decided On yesterday, May 2,
over the above track, by The latter accom-
plisbirg The arduous feat in the remark
ably short space Of time Of six houis, forty
three minutes and thirty-ore seconds
By the terms Of the agreement entered IN.
to, Powers, was required to ride the re-
auired distance around the course, using
as many horses as be desired, and making
such changes and stopPages as he deemed
proper, so that he perfoimed the match II
the oiven time allotted for him. That he
did It successfully. none who were present
and witnessed the skill with which he
managed the horses he rode, and the easy
grace with which he preserved his seat III
The saddle from the commencement to the
termination Of his self imposed task, can
DENY. 1t was, indeed q Helculean under
takjro. W ich few men, however expert
enced as riders, would be wiling to as
sums. least Of all with the expectation Of
going such distance in q few ho rs on
horseback; but it only goes 10 prove tie
great powels of Endurance which some meo
can brig Themselves to iy severe course
of training.
All the horses ridden BY Powers wera
fresh from grass, urgroomed, and were
taken by the lasso, without any preparation
whatever, as they were wanted. IL The
conclusion Of lie match they were turned
out again and allowed to roam about tie
fields, without being sponged OF D.anketed
Changes were made sometimes every toni
miles, and then again at The conclusion OF
each mile.
At the conclusion Of the match Mr.
Powers dismounted amid the loud huzzas
of the vast asselnbIage pyesent, and with
the exception that his eyes we're somewhat
blcod-slot, seemed as usual, and less ia
tieued than might be expected after the
wonderful feat he had performed. He
RESPONDED 10 the call, and said "GentIe-
men | thank you for Your cheers. l have
performed the feat within tie tin !
promised. and Notwithstanding some OF
The newspapers mentioned that it waa no
difficult thing, | will bet $4,000 30 man IN
California can do it within my time. Mr..
Osbaldison, when he lode zoe miles with
twenty-eight horses, in eight hours ana
fortv-two minutes, in England had blood
Ell horses, well groomed, to perform his
time and had | such could have done
the distance he made in much less time
AMONG the instances on record CT long
distances being travelled on horseback ~
this country re hnd IL following; n DC
tober. l848, when Lieut. Gillespie ".,-
stationed in Los Angelica by Commodore
Stockton, the native Callfornans rose and
drove him out Of the place. Ills Only
safety and those of the few persons he
had under his command, was to coInmGnl-
cate with the Commodore, who was at
San Frausisco, with all possible despatch.
Gillespie sent a courier, "a Swlde, 10 car
~ the news of bis overthrow. The de
spatch was written on the paper OF cigari
to, rolled NJ and concealed in small Drn.
die of these paper segars. 1t read "be!leVe
what the bearer tells ycu,' signed U]iieS-
pie. With this he rode to the city in four
DAYS and seven hours-a good six hun
dred miles. He used eighteen horses dur
ing the trip, and successfully managed to
communicate with The American Comma
dore, who set sail and arrived in time to
save Gillespie and his force from being cut
off by the enemy.
Some few years since Powers rode from
Los Angeles to Monterey and back GA
miles) in 81 hours, over a mountainous
country, and catching his own horses as
he went. The feat Of yesterday, however,
has never been exceIled.