Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-01
From the San Francisco Herald, May 5th.
Most Remark able Power of Human
Endurance.

The long pending match for S5,000-S2,-
| 500 aside against time, made between Mr.. j.
NJ. Daniels, formerly of Cincinnati proprie-
tor of the Pioneer Course, and Mr.. John Pow
ers, a well known horscman from the lower
country to ride one hundred and fifty miles
within eight hours, was finally decided yester-
day over the above track by the latter accom-
! plshing the arduous feat in the remarkably
short space of time-stI hours, t0rtyttree MINUTES
and HiTty-One seconds.
There was an immense concourse of spec
tators present throughout the entire day. and
it is understood as high as SS, 900 was taken
at the gate, which may afford some idea as to
the deep interest the community took in the
match, when such a large amount was col
lrcted mt 81 a ticket for admission to witness
its progress.
All the horses ridden by Powers were fresh
from grass, ungroomed. and were taken by the
lasso, without any preparation whatever, as
they were wanted. At the close of the match
they were turned out again and allowed to
roam abou~ the fields, without being sponged
or blanketed. Changes were made sometimes
every -four miles. and then again at the con-
clusion of each mile.
During the progress of the race small boy
son of Mr.. James DenEison, displayed some
very beautiful riding and deXterous move
ments, as, mounted on California mustang,
he dashed at headlong speed, at various times
alongside of Powers. holding in his hand a
glass of water, and this, too, without spilling
a drop. In this way Powers was considerably
refreshed without losing time.
At the conclusion of the match Mr.. Powers
dismounted amid the loud huzzas of The vast
assemblage present and. with the exception
that his eyes were somewhat bloodshot seemed
as usual. and less fatigued than might be ex-
pected after the wonderful feat he had per-
formed. He responded to the call, and said:
Gentlemen, | thank you for your cheers.
/ have performed the feat within the time /
promised, and, notwithstanding some of the
newspapers mentioned that it was no difficult
thing, l will bet $4,000 no man in California
can do it within my time"
Among the instances on record of long dis
tances being Travelled on horseback in this
country we find the following: In October,
1916, when Lieutenant Gillespie was station
ed in Los Angeles by Commodore Stockton,
the native Cali.ornians rose and drove him
out of the place. His only safety, and those
of the few persons he had under his command
was to communicate with the Commodore,
who was at San Francisco, with all possible
dispatch.
Gillespie sent a courier. a Swede. TO carry
the news of his overthrow. The dispatch
was written on the paper OF a cigarito, rolled
up and concealed in small bundle of the
paper cigars. 1t read: believe what the
bearer tells you,n signed Gillespie. With
this he rode TO this city in four days and seven
hours, a good six hundred miles. He used
eighteen horse during the trip, and successful
ly managed to communicate with the Ameri-
can Commodore. 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, two hundred
and twenty-four miles, in twenty-four hours,
over mountainous country, and catching
his own horses rs he went. The feat of yes
terday, however. has never been exeelied.