Daily Republican., 1879-04-30
Madam p dsssvIanisss he eaton
Clean Oat Of Night.

Modern p tdessviauisms Beaten
Clean Ost Of sight.
The present interest In pedestrian
ism, 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 performances Of
one man. This was Mensen Ernst,
born in Bergen, Norway, in October
10, 1899. He was the son Of q sea
captain. and when still boy entered
the English navy. Although his pow
era AZ a runner we're displayed even in
boyhood, he had made three VOYAGE
TO the East Indies, and had completed
a three years. cruise on the frigate
Caledonian, before he made a public
exhibition OF them, which he first did
by running race in London when
nineteen years old. Though up to
this time he had no training and had
even lacked PEDESTRIANS ordinary
opportunities for muscular develop
mept, he was famed throughout the
navy as q runner, and wonderful
stories as to his extraordinary powers
circulated among all branches OF the
Ser sice.
At last a heavy sum of money was
wag cred by the officers OF his ship that
Mensen would run from London to Ports
mouth, a distance Of 73 miles, n less
than 10 hours. The feat was attempt
ed and accomplished, the distance being
covered by the young sailor in exactly
nine hours. Shortly after he ran from
London to Liverpool, distance OF Z5o
miles in 80 hours Although thus sue
ce.sful as a runner, Mensen did not quit
the sea until after having distinguished
himself by bravery in the battle Of Ma
vario, fought October 70, 1927. Soon
after that date he became professiorl
runner and, after winning number
of lesser matches, was induced to un'
dertaks the feat Of running from Paris
To Moscow. He started from the place
Vendome at a o'clock in the afternoon
of June II, 1881, ard entered the kr-m,
lin at 10 o'clock, a. m, OF June Z1,h nav
ing accomplished the distance OF l76'
m les in l3 days aud IL hours.
This feat created decided sensation
throughout Europe, and the employ
mept of Mensen as a courier extraor
dinary by kings and princes became
popular amusement in European courts
He ran from country to country ant
from court to court, BEARING messages
of congratulation, coincidence or des
patches of greater Importance, ant
whenever matched against the regula
mounted couriers easily succeeded II
beating them. He always carried will
j him map, a compass, and as man.
biscuits and ounces of raspberry syrnl
as there were days to be occupied OF
!, the journey. In winter he took Will
). him pair Of long, slender Norwegian
. snow shoes, and in travelling he al
ways chose the most direct line, turn
ing out neither for mountains no
: rivers, but climbing the one and swim
ming the other.
He never walked, but invariably RAJ
J keeping up long swinging lope, 70
hours at time without rest. His onl
r-freshment was one biscuit aud a
: ounce Of raspberry syrup Per day, an
4 two short rests of ten or fifteen minute
each in twenty-iour hours. These rest
y he took while standing and leanin
AGAINST tree or other object of suppor
At such times he covered his face wit
G a handkerchief and slept, and aft'
= ,uch nap he would pursue his va
, apparently as refreshed as though l
\, e had slept for hours. He was very III
e easy when compelled to be quiet, all
ID could not sit still for half al bot
without feeling a sense OF sufocatioI
II ll.was very amiabl. man, favo
10 ite with all who knew him, and wi
:, made much of by his royal patrons.
u In 1893 he started from Munich at
y. m., June 6, with nespatchrs from tt
a King of Bavaria to his son Otto, Kir
l. of Greece. These dispatches were d
u; liver.d at Nauplia, at Is. m, on Jul
or i, or seven days sooner than II the
q lad been sent by the regular post.
1886, while in the employ Of the britls
East Iudia Company, Menstn vi
" charged with the conveying of dr
ed patches from Calcutta to Constantin
at ,d pie through Central Asia. The d'
ne tsncs is 5,6l5 miles, which the me
NJ ssngpr accomplished in SO days, or
1s on. third of the time made by t
ce swiftest caravan.
u On this " onderful journey he ma
'ss rns his way across terrible deserts, awf
. salt swamps, where, for hundreds
miles. he saw no living being, a.
a. through countries whose inhabital
ew were savage robbers, and who lived
II. a state of continual warfare. The N
ter seemed invested with supernatur
IN powprs, and his fame spread far a
OF. wide. One of the most interesting p
% od hlems of the age being the discovery
ne the sources of the Nile, it was sugee
ms Us ed that this wonderful man be emPlt
,or or ed to follow the course of the river to
nd sources, and thus determine them.
'sn ess Prince Puckler Muskan, who h
ali himself aveled extensively in Egy
er, and had made several unsuccessful
lop t.muts to penetrate to the bead watt