SIX HUNDRED MILES IN FIFTY HOURS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 116, 18 May 1877, Page 4

SIX HUNDRED MILES IN FIFTY HOURS.

[From Bell's Life.] The laet sensational event announced to take place at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, was a Six Hundred Miles Ride by Jesae Leon, the Mexican, whose performance on mustangs at fcbe Alexandra Park and Lilly Bridge we chronicled last year. Ou this occasion he had undertaken to ride 600 miles in 50 hours on English horses at the wellkuown hall, a track well laid with tan, round which he had to gallop seven times to the mile, having been prepared for the occasion. Hitherto the Mexican has shewn bis ability to perform what he has undertaken; but many persons who have read the announcements of what appeared in the columns of sporting pnpera, and have seen it placarded on hoardirjgg, had doubts as to the feasibility of the scheme, seeing that no great Bpeed could be attained by horses that had to make 27 turns in each mile. The Mexican, however, nothing daunted, commenced his task at two miuutes past 8 on Thursday evening. Ten horses were supposed to be sufficient for the purpose, and at the time named, a fair company being assembled, he went on his way at the word of the starter, accomplishing the first mile, on Artilleur, a brown horse, in 3min. 35360. The first five miles were covered in 18mio. 31 sec, 10 in 36 m in' 133 ec, 15 in 53min. 203ec, and 20 in Ih. 13m. 7sec, The same steady pace was maintained till midnight, when at 4b. 2m. 153ec. after the start 65 miles had been crediied to the Mexican, The corners were awkward to negociate at a gallop, and in the second lap of the 40ih mile he came down through the horse slipping on an imperfect portion of the track, but he scarcely lost a second, vaulting into the saddle at once. When 6 hours had elapsed nearly 94 miles four laps were placed to the rider's acoount; but the animal he bestrode at that time was painfully "musical." His first stoppage was made at 6:21:20, and he went off Bgain at 6.53 on Joan of Aro, keeping on steadily till he had been lOh. llm, 40sece. on the path, when, having ridden 150 miles, he retired for a brief space lor refreshment, but resumed at 1:35:37 (6:35:37 a.m). Many changes were made from this point, but by calculation the rider bad certainly a prospect of accomplishing his tack providing the animals were good enough but they were a shady lot, and a failure was predicted by those who studud the matter. At a few minutes past 10 on Friday morning, when he bad ridden 200 miles in I4h. Imin 59iecs., he rested for about an hour and 38rnin,,.ond resuming his difficult task soon after mid-day on Friday, 215 miles were scored to the rider. It should be mentioned that Mr Osbaldiston in his match a,t Newmarket in 1831, when he undertook to ride 200 milts with 28 horses, occupied only Ba. 42min., but the enormous advantage he had, of course renders any comparison useless, as it would, in other respects be ridiculous. When we visited the scene of action again, we found that 220 miles had been scored to Leon at 1:0:33 p.m., the time from the chronograph being 16hrs. 58min. 27 sees, from the start. 240 miles were pufc down at 18h 57min. 54secs. ; 245 miies, at 19:17:38. 300 miles were traveled in 23h. 48min. 54acc8., an-J at midnight, when we left, 325 miles had been accomplished in 26b. 32m. 3O3ecs. from the start. Oa Saturday evening Leon, the Mexican rider, concluded his journey at the A^riculiural Hall, Islington-, but in stead of the 600 miles as projected, ouly 505 miles were scored to his account. The failure, however, we must fairly state, was not owing to the lack of endurance on the part of Leon, but simply to the fact that the majority of the animals were unfit for the task. As stated in our iast hnpresaion, he c^mmencd - his ride on Thursday, February Bth, at two minutes past eight iv the evening, and at 10'34300n F.i<!ay tveuirg had travelled 325 miles. Alter nehorf reat of 17min. 23360. he rodo on fill 340 miles were ploced to his account at 11 4952 (27». 47min. 52-iec. from ihe start), when he took his first sleep, ami was uls.-nt from th« track 3h. 48cniu. oosec., resuming at 3*38 4 7 liy ninn o'clock on Saturday morning ihe telegraph board registered 385 mile*, and it wasappnrent ftom thecorduiou rf hia liorses that he would not be able to accomplish the feat proposed; i'Ut with occasional b: iof rests he stuck gamely to the saddle, and at 12-8 35 410 miles were posted. Shortly afterwur.ts, using a fresh big brown horse, he did a rattling mile, and at exactly 2 o'clock he had accomplished 430 miles. During the afternoon and evening a great number of visitors assembled, ami the Mexican was loudly upplauded on completing his 400 th mile at 940 23 During the evening he rode a couple of miles on Mr Wild's Gipsy a cleanlooking pony, 13 hands 2 inches high, that carried him a mile (seven times round), with a flying start, ia 2aiin. 5338 C. Five miles more were added when at. 953 30, or in 49b. filmin. 30sec, he gave up, having nccompliahed 505 miles of the projected 600. Leon is twenty-five years of age, and has held the rank of lieutenant in the Mexican army under Juarez, who employed his services as guide.

chemist, and get a bottle of Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup. It will reli«v« the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to tewte. It produces natural quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes " as bright as a button." It goothci th« child, it softens the gums, allay a all pfcin, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, cod itt the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrheas, whether arising from teefehlnf or other causes. Sold everywhere at It. l§d. fer bottle. Maaufaetory, 493, Oxfocd-strett, London. Vamtablb Discovbbt yob th 6 Hair. If your hair ia turning grey or white, or falling off, use " The Mexican Hair JRaocwer," for it will positively restore in every case Grey or White hair to its original c«lor, without leaving the disagreeable smell of most • Restorers' It m»kee the hatr charmingly beautiful, as well as promoting the grovth of the hair on bald spots where the glanthl are not decayed' Ask your nearest chemist for •« The Mexican Hair Renewer," prepared by Henry C. Gallup, 493, Oxford-street, London, and sold everywhere at 3s. 6d. per bottle. 199 Floriline !— For the Teeth and Breath — A few drops of the liquid « Floroline " sprinkled on a wet tooth-bruah produce a pleasant lather, which thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all parasites and impurities, burdens the gums, prevents tartar, stops decay, gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly whiteness, and a dtlightful fragrance to the breath. It removea all unpk*sant odor arising from decayed t6eth or tobacco smoke. "The Fragrant Floriline," being composed in part of honey and sweet herbs, is delicious to the taste, and the greatest toilet discovery of the age. Sold everywhere at 2a. 6d. Prepared by Henry C. Gallup, 493 Oxford-street London. 1091