The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-09-02
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From Paris to Moscow in Thirteen Days
.t a.- And Eighteen Hours.
The present interest in pedestIianism mani-
tested by the gathering 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 performances of one man.
This was Mensen Ernst, horn in Bergen, |
Norway, on Oct. 10, 1876. He was the son
of a sea captain, and when still q boy
entered the English navy. Although his
powers as a runner were displayed even in
his boyhood, he made three voyages to the
East Indies and had completed a t~hree-years
cruise on The Caledonian before he made 1
public exhibition of them, which he did first
by running a race in London when nineteen
years old. Though up to this time lie had
had no training, and had even lacked 1
pedestrians ordinary opportunities for muscu-
lar development, he was famed throughout
the navy as a runner, and wonderful stories
as to his extraordinary powers circulated
among all branches Of the service. At last a
heavy sum of money was wagered by the
officers of his ship that .Mensen would run
from London to Portsmouth, a distance Of
seventy-tlree miles, in less than ten
hours. The feat was ate mpted and accom-.
plished, the distance being covered by tile
young sailor in exactly nine hours. Shortly |
afterwards he ran from London to Liverpool.
IA distance of POS miles, in thiity-two hours.
Although thus successful as a runner. Mensen
did not quit the sea until after having dis.
tinguished himself by bravery in the battle oil
Navarino, fought Oct. Goth 1927. Soon afta
that date he became a professional runner,
and after winnings number of lesser matches, #
was induced to undertake the great feat of
running from Paris to Moscow. He started
from the Place Vendome at 4 O'Clock in the |
afternoon of June 18th, 1881, and entered the
kreMlin at ~ O'Clock a. N. OF June 25th, +
having accomplished the distance, 1,760I
miles, in thirteen DAYS and eighteen hours.
This feat created a decided sensation
throughout Europe, and the employment oil
Mensen as a courier extraordinary by king|
and princess became a popular amusement ia|
European courts. He ran from country te|
country, and from court to court, bearingI
messages of congratulations, condOlence, o..
dispatches of greater importance, and when
ever matched against the regular mounted
couriers easily succeeded in beating them
He always carried with him a map, a com.
pass, and as many buiscuitS and ounces I'll
ras pberry syrup as there was to be days Occui
pied Oh the journey. In the winter he tool.
with HIM a pair of loig slender Norwegiaa
suuw-shOes, and in travelling he always ches.
the most direct line, turning out neither fM
mountains nor rivers, but climbing the on,|
aud swimming the other. He never walked
but invariably ran, keeping up long swinging
lupe for hours at a time without rest. Hid
only refreslment was one biscuit and all
ounce of raspberry syrup per day M twsI
short rests OF fifteen minutes each i'll twentyH
four hours. These rests he took while stand4
ing and leaning against a tree or other supS
port. At such times he covered his face will
u handkerchief and slept, and after such a naA
he would pursue his way apparently as rel
tleshed as though he had slept for hours. H4
was very uneasy when compelled to be Quiety
and could hot 81. still for half an hour with
out feeling q sense Of sufiOcation. He was 4
very anl able man, a ~favOrite with all wb%
knew him., and was, made much of by lii
royal patrons.
la 1865, he started from Munich at / .. nd
June 6th, with dispatches from the King d
Bavaria to his son Otto, King Of Creed
These dispatches were delivered at Naupli4
at y a. III. on July lst., or seven days soOne4
than If they had besit sent by the regul4
post. In 1886, while in the employ OF til
British East India Company, Mensen val
charged with the Conveying OF dispatciaS
FROM Calcutta to Coilstantinople, throug4
Central ASIA. The distance is 5,6l5 mileJ
which the messenger accomplished in fifty
nine days or in one-third of the time mad
v kuC va S"bS A1AS
journey he made his way across terrible de1
erts, awful salt swamps where, for hundred
OF miles, he saw no living being, and through
countries whose Inhabitants were savage roll
beers, and who lived in a state OF continue
warfare. The man s-tlAed invested with 81
pernatural powers, and his fame spread I
aud wide. One of the most interesting proX
lens Of the aye being the discovery of I
sources of the Nile, it was suggested that tl
wonderful man be employed to follow u
course OF the river to its sources, and thd
determine them.
Prince Puckler Muskau, who had hims
travelled extensively in Egypt, and had md
, several unsuccessful attempts to penetrate q
head waters Of the Nile. offered to defrayd
/. expenses and reward Mensen handsomely
= he would undertake the trip. The indefas&
, able runner CONSENTED TO make the atten1
and Oh May 1llh, 1872, set out from MusS1
/ in Silesia, whence he went to JerusaF1
n where he had some business to attend II
Thence he continued his way to Carlo ~
q up the western bank Of the Nile, tliroN
n Lower and Middle and int Upper EgyI
Here, just outside The village OF Syaiie.
n was seen on the morning Of Jan. %, lS43,
e stop and rest, leaning against a palm td
with his face covered. with a handkerch1
v He rested SO long that some persons tried
wake him, but they titled in vain, for he v
and it was years before his friends IN EurdH
e knew what fate had betallen him.
d DEER LODGE ITEMS.
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