Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-05
DRIVING A THOUSAND MILES.
An Englishman Covers the Distance With
One Horse.
Letter to London Times.

Letter to London Times.
1t is needless for me to compare the average
swiftness or strength of a horse against that
of q man, as it is well-established fact that for
strength and speed combined the horse has no
rival But it is quite another thing when we
consider the latent staying power or physical
endurance of a horse over that of a man. This
was supposed to have been proved conclusively
in favor Of man by the remarkable walking
achievement performed few years ago by
Weston, who, as your readers may remember,
walked 5000 miles in SO many consecutive
days-barring Sundays-covering, partly upon
prepared track, fifty miles in each day.
1t was said at the time that it would require
two well-bred horses to successfully compete
with Weston.
In past and present times for speed we have
remarkable examples upon record, and among
these / may mention that of Thornhill, an inn
keeper from Stilton, Huntingdonshire, who
rode. with a relay OF horses, 2l3 miles In twelve
hours and seventeen minutes In 175O the
Earl of March drove team of four horses
nineteen miles in one hour. There was in this
case specially prepared carriage and harness,
and these were so light that it is said that one
man could carry them. few months ago
Lord Lonsdale gave a splendid exhibition of
all kinds of driving, both as regards speed,
style and good order, having his horse under
perfect control
Having a wish to test as far as practicable
the endurance of a well-bred horse on Monday,
July s, We started upon thousand-mile drive,
dog cart, passengers and luggage being regis
tered over 500 weight Beforehand / consulted
\ an authority to the possibility Of our cover
| ing 800 miles at an average Of fifty miles day,
| or 1000 miles, averaging about forty-four miles
a day except Sunday, and was told that the
| shadow Of disappointment was waiting me and
| was advised to abandon the proposed drive, az
| no horse would be equal to it. The result how
! ever. has given a contradiction to this and has
proved conclusively, l maintain. that a horse
has, under proper control and care, more en-
| durance than Is supposed. We covered the
LOCO miles in nineteen days, averaging oyel
! ffty-two miles day. The longest distance
| namely, sixty-eight miles-was covered In the
last day. When the following circumstance
are taken into consideration 1 claim i have
broken the record of one-horse driving:
| We selected roads at random and they proves
| to be very billy, covered with loose stones
generally unfayorable to the extent Of half til,
| distance covered; added 70 this seven days
rain The route taken was somewhat as fol
lows: London TO York, Durham, Berwick-on
Tweed. Edinburgh. Stirling. back to Glasgow
| Carlisle, Kirby Lonsda!e, Barnsley, Bradford
Nottingham. Bedford, London. The horse w
drove is fifteen hands high and well bred, an'
was in good condition when finished tn
tourney, as the following certificate l hol,
| proves: July Isl drove with Mr.. Davies fou
miles, and consider his cob in good condition
and no worse for the long journey he ha
done"
had but one object, and that was to sho,
worthy the care and kindness extended
mine. Your readers can see that an equal tas
would not be performed unless equal weigh
be carried and the same roads covered.