The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-19
A Wonderful Runner.
From Paris 70 MoscoC IN Thirteen Dags and
Eighteen DEMONSTRATING the Mounted
Courters--A Trip 10 The Sources ef'the Me.

From Paris 10 MoscoiC tn Thirteen Days and
Efghfeen H0Hrs--BtatinQ the Mounted
CoUrsers-A Trip 70 The Sources Of he Me.
The present interest 10 pedestrianism.
manifested by the gathering Of throngs Of
people to witness walking and running
matches, was equally great in the early
part Of the century, but was then excited
by the wonderful and almost incredible
performance Of one man. This was Men
sen Ernst, born ia Bergen, Norway, on
October 10th, 1893. He was the son ofa
sea captain, and when still boy entered
the English navy. Although his powers
as runner were displayed even in his
boyhood he had made three voyages to
the East Indies, and had completed
three-years' cruise on the frigatc Caledo-
man, before he made public exhibition
Of them, which he first did by running
race in London when nineteen years old.
Though up TO this time he had had NO
training and had even lacked q pedes-
trian's ordinary opportunities for muscu-
lar development, he was famed through
out the navy as runner, and wonderful
stories as TO his extraordinary powers
circulated among all branches Of the SER
vice. At last heavy sum Of money was
wagered by the officers Of his ship that
Mensen would run from London to Ports.
mouth, distance Of seyenty-three miles,
in less than ten hours The feat was at
tempted aud accomplished, the distance
, being covered by the young sailor IN ex-
actly nine hours Shortly afterward he
ran from London to Liverpool, a distance
Of one hundred and fifty miles, In thirty
two hours. Although thus successful as
runner, Mensen did not quit the seaun-
/, /, til after haylpg distinguished himself by
i bravery in the battle Of NavarinO, fought
! October Goth, 1927. Soon after that date
E he became professional runner, and afler
winning a number Of lesser matches, was
induced to undertake the great feat Of run
(, ming from Paris to Moscow. He started
! from the Place Vendome at four o'clock
!, in the afternoon of June 11th, 1881, and
!, entered the Kremlin at ten O'Clock A NJ.
: Of June 25th, having accomplished the
! distance Of l,76O miles in thirteen days
4 and eighteen hours.
This feat created decided sensation
. throughout Europe, and the employment
: Of Menser as a r-extraordinary by
kings and princes became popular amnse-
ment in European courts. He ran from
country to country aud from court to court,
: bearing messages Of congratulation, con-
q dolence, or dispatches of greater import
i ance, and whenever matched against the
. regular mounted couriers easily succeeded
i in beating them, lie always carried with
q him map, compass and as many biscuits
l. and ounces Of raspberry sirup, as there
= were to be days occupied on the journey.
l. In winter he took with him pair Of long.
af slender Norwegian snowshoes, and in trav-
- cling he always chose the most direct line.
y. turning out neither for mountains nor
~ rivers, but climbing the one and swimming
! the other. He never walked, but inyari-
l. ably ran, keeping up long, swinging lopc
II for hours at time without rest. His only
\ refreshment was one biscuit aud one ounce
10 10 of raspberry sirup per day, and two short
y rests Of ten or fifteen minutes each in
twenty-four hours. These rests he took
:, while standing or leaning against tree Of
ne other object of support. AT such time
!, he covered his face with handkerchie
aud slept, and after such nap he woalc
ID pu'sue ms way aPPa,en1y as fciresneo a.
he s"Ousn ~ nay o''ps .ot nosis ne wa'
is W uueJ wa 09nPsne1 ea.,i ~ Dc quiee
:. without feeling sense Of sufocation. He
- - was very amiable man, favorite with
ld n ~no AnI" nun, a"u was 'iiaue huch ol
as " n n'e o5p e1ySi pauous
u M 80 ~ s.aee e.n ,,oni Nunich y. one
~. H., ~. oJa p o .1sL usPa.encs n from
osGs"assa G s v l Th"s - IN sou o''y' nlns
N.,;s o ~ Mefs uelisor-
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Of - 80 ~ eoynel ''an a sHss nao peen
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u ~ sP.Jy ~ - '.u Dl,s'.a ,l l1ass lnula
of ooaI"s;g ~ &c S;sa.."ho. ~a snaseC r, VIII 'ne
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til 'Oo aoi;sbaS - I , !; a.. "nou 'ae lnesseh
at ~. aIeo r'.hou = ,niuo lays, or 10
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s; bors anS who ,;aod = 49, 49, sasas. lop,
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a, s"nasns,,,.al - ~ .a@- S ssI1u ~ ses'eu WIN
at .nS ;Sa POos.s eaI ~. n,s aa.ne splsau
rohIama s ~ T. h.; s'e a. ,Io's :n lu'e.ess'n
Z. proDielns 81 ,ne age peing lne discovery OF
IN ~ : = 'nA. shis "onuefnui man pe employed 70