Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-05-03
A WONDERFUL RUNNER.
From Paris to Moscow in Thirteen
Days and Eighteen Hours.

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,
on October 10. 1880. He was the son of
sea captain, and when still boy enter
ed the English navy. Although his pow
ers as a runner were displayed even in his
boyhoOd, he had mnde three voyages in
the East Indies, and had completed n
three years cruise on the frigate Caiedo-
nidn, before he made public exhibition
OF them, which he first lid byrunning a
race in London when nineteen years old.
Though up to this time he had bad no
etraning, ard had even lacked n pcdes-
tlians's ordinary opportunities for mu.cu-
lar development, he was famed through
out the navy ~ a runner, and wonderful
stories as to bis extraordinary powers cir
Gu lated among all branche. Of the ser,
vice. At last a heavy sum Of MONEY was
'wagered by the officers of his ship that
Irnsen would ran from London to Ports
mouth. a distance of seventy three miles,
in less than ten hours. The feat was at
tempted and accomplished, the distance
being covered by the young sailor in ex-
actly nine hours. Shortly aiterward be
ysn from London to Liverpool, distance
Of $50 miles, in 80 hours. Although thus
successful a. a runner, Mcnsen did not
quit the sea until after having distinguish
ed himself by bravery in tho battle Of
Navauuo, fought October 20, 1927. Soon
after that date he became a professional
runner, and after winning number Of
lesser matches was induced tn undertake
the great feat Of running from Paris to
Moscow. lie started from the Place
Vendeme at four o'clock in the afternoon
OF june II, 1891, and entered the Krem.
lin at ten o'clock, n. NJ, on June 25lh.
having accomplished tie distance of 1860
miles in 13 days and IS hours.
This feat created decided sensation
throughout Europe, and the employment
OF Menser as courier extraordinary by
the Kings and Princes became popular
amusement in European courts. He ran
from country to country and from court
10 court, bearing messages Of congratula>
ton, coincidence, or dispatches Of greater
Importance, and whenever matched
against the regular mounted couriers east
ly succeeded in beating them. He al
ways carried with him map, composs
and as many biscuits and ounces OF rasp,
berry syrupas there were to be days oc
cupird on the journey. IT. winter he took
will HIM pair Of long, slender Nor.
wegian snow shoes, ana in travelling he
always chose the most direct line, turning
out neither for mountains Eor rivers, but
climbing the one and swimming the oth-
er. lie never walked, But invariably ran,
keeping up long, swinging lope for
hours at a time without rest. His only
reffeshment was one biscuit and an ounce
OF raspberry syrup per day, and two short
rests OF 10 o. is minutes each in "a hours
These rests he took while standing and.
lesning against a tree or other object Of
support. A; such times he covered his
fac with handkerchief and slept, and
after such nap be would pursue his way
apparently as refreshed as though he bad
slept ior hours. lie was very Uneasy
when compeIed to be quiet, aud could not
sit still Tor half an hour without feeling a
sense Of suf cation. lie was very am
able man, a iavolite with all who knew
him, and was n ade much # by his royal
patrons.
In 1852, he started for Munich at lP.
NJ. June 9th, with dispatches from the
King Of Bavaria to his son Otto. King of
. Greece. These dispatches were delivered
vi Nauplia at 9 A. NJ, on July lst; or
seven days sooner than if they had been
sent by the regular post. In 1888, while
In the employ Of the British East India
Company, Mensen was charged with the
conveying Of dispatches from Calcutta to
Cpnstantinople through Central ASIA
The distance is 5Gl5 miles, which the
mes >enger accomplished il 50 days, or
one-third of the time made by the swift
est caravan. On this wonderful journey
he made his way across ter ible deserts,
awful salt swamps, where, for hundreds
o. miles, he saw no living being, and
through countries whose inhabitants were
savage robbers, and who lived in state
OF continual warfare. The man seemed
invested with supernatural powers, and
his fame spread tar and wide. One OF
the most intel esting problems of the age
being the discovery of the sources of the
Nile, it was suggested that this wonder
ful man be employed to follow the course
Of She river to its sources, and thus de.
termine them. Prince PuckIer Mu.kan
who had himself Travelled extensively in
Egypt, and had made several unsuceess
attempts to penetrate to the head waters
Of the n lie, offered to defray all expen
ses and reward Mensen handsomely if he
would undertake the trip. The indefati,
gable runner consented to make the at
tempt, and oil May II, 1912, set out from
Muskan, in SIesia, whence he ran to Jer-
usslem, where he had some business to
attend to. Thence he continued his way
10 Cairo and up The western bank of the
N1le' through Lower and Middle and into
Upper Egypt. Here, just outside OF the
village of Svane, he WAS seen on the
morning Of January %, 1913, to stop and
rest, leaning agoist palm tree, with his
iace covered with handkerchief. He
rested 50 long that some persons tried tc
wake him, but they tried in vain, for h,
was dead. He was buried at the foot o
tree, and il wa. Years before Lie rrinnd. !,