The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-02

Don't know what he'll say. Don't know
what he thinks about Queen vashti, but rs
he'll hand this to yOu-can speak pea, for his
P. s. s.-Billie has read it; says he don't
see that Vashti did any thing so awful bad,
but that he knows what I'd a. done eff he'd a.
sont for me under them circumstances.
b. >.
PEDESTRIAN sM EXTRAORDINARY.
The Wonderful Exhibitions of a Norwegian
Runner-Mounted Couriers Beaten-A Trip
Across Asia.
New York Times.I
The present interest in pedestrianism
manifested by the gathering OF throns of
people to witness walking and running
matches, was equally great in the early part
of the century, out was then excited by
the wonderful and almost incredible per-
formances of one man. This was Mensen
10, 1893. He was the son of
sea captain, and when still q boy entered the
English navy. Although his powers as a
runner were displayed even in his boyhood,
he had made three voyages to the East In
dies, and had completed a three years
cruise on the frigate Caledonisn, before he
made public exhibition of them, which he
first did by running race In London when
10 years old. Though up to this time he
had no training, and had even
ldCkSQ u ptQcetIldu OIuilidly opportunities
for muscular development, he was famed
throughout the navy asa runner, and won
derful stories of his extraordinary powers
were calculated in all branches of the ser
vice. At last heavy sum of money was
wagered by the officers of his ship that
Portsmouth, a distance of 70 miles,
in less than 10 hours. The feat
was attempted and accomplished,
the distance being covered by the
young sailor in exactly nine hours. Shortly
afterward he ran from London TO Liverpool,
distance of $50 miles, in 80 hours. Al
hough thus successful as a runner, Mensen
did not quit the sea until after having dlstln-
guished himself by bravery in the baiils of
Nsvarino, fought October 20, 1927.
| Soon after that date he became a
professional runner, and. after Winning q
number of lesser matches, was induced to
undertake the great feat of running from
Paris 10 Moscow. lie started from the
| Place Vendome at o'clock in the afternoon
of June IL, 1881, and entered the kremlin
at 10 O'Clock a m. of June %, having &C
| complished the distance of l, 700 miles in Is
days and Is hours.
This feat created q decided sensation
throughout Europe, and the employment OF
| Mensen as a courier extraordinary by kings
| and princes became a popular amusement in
European courts He ran from country to
| country and from court to court, bearing
messages OF congratulation, coincidence. OF
dispatches of greater importance, and
whenever matched against the regu
lar mounted couriers easily succeed
| ed in beating them. He always carried
with HIM a map, a compass and as many
biscuit and ounces of raspberry syrup. a.
there were to be days occupied on the jour
ney. In winter he took with him pair o.
| long, slender Norwegian snow shoes, and in
travelling he always chose the most direc
line, turning out neither for mountsins moi
rivers, but climbing the one and swimming
the other. He never walked, but invariably
ran, keeping up long, swinging lops
for hours ut a time without rest. His only
refreshment was one biscuit and ar
ounce of raspberry syrup per day, and
two short rests of 10 or 10 minutes each il
"a hours. These rests he took while stand
ing and leaning against a tree or other Object
of support At such times he covered hil
face with handkerchief and slept. and after
such a nap he would pursue his wey appar
emily as refreshed IS though he had slept fol
hours. He was very uDessy when COMPEL
ed TO be quiet, and could not sit sull fo
half an hour without feeling sense of suf
location. He was a very amiable man
fayorite with all who knew him, and wa
made much OF by his royal patrons.
In 1888 he started from Munich at p. m.
June 6, with dispatches from the King of Ba
varia to his son Otto, King of Greece. Thes
dispatches were delivered at Nauplia at a
m. on July l, or seven days sooner than i
they had been sent by the regular post. Ii
1896 while IN the employ of the British Eas
India company, Mensen was charged will
the conveying of dispatches from Calcutta Il
Constantinople through Central Asia. Tn
distance is 5,615 miles, which the mes
senger accomplished in 80 days or in one
third of the time made by the swiftest card
van. On this wonderful journey he mad
his way across terrible deserts. awful sal
swamps, where for hundreds of miles b
sew no living being, and through countrie
whose inhabitants were savage robbers, an
, who lived in q state OF continual warfare
The man seemed invested with supernaturs
powers, and his fame spread far and wide
One of the most interesting problems of th
age being the discovery of the source
Of the Nile, it was suggested tbs
this wonderful man be employed to follo'
] the course of the river to its sources, 40
thus determine them. Prince Puckle
Muskan, who had himself travelled exter
sively in Egypt and had made several ur
, successful attempts t. penetrate to the hea
! waters of the Nile, offered to defray all e1
: penses and reward Mensen handsomely If
I would undertake the trip. The indefatigs
BILE runner consented to make the a
? tempt. and on May IL, 1912, set out froI
; Muskan, in Silesia, whence he ran 10 Jerus
: lem, where he had some business to atten
: to. Thence he continued his way to Gail
0 and up the western bank of the Nile, throug
o Lower and Middle and into Upper Egyp
: Here, Just outside the village of Syane,
was seen on the morning of Jal
!; uary %, 1s43, to stop and res
: leaning against a palm tree, with his fa'
Z covered by a handkerchief. He rested
long that come persons tried to wake hin
a but they tried in vain, for he was dead. Z
8 was buried at the foot of the tree, and it W
! wears before his friends in Europe kne
q what fate had befalien him.
n |