SURPRISING FEAT.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 395, 24 November 1874, Page 2

SURPRISING FEAT.

Nothing lias caused so much excitement here for some months past as the running of Ably, the French pedestrian, recently. It will be remembered that he advertised in the News that he would travel from Stawell to Ararat and back within five hours, exclusive of one hour's rest at Ararat. The start was made from Simpson's Hotel punctually at half-past 9 a.m., the challenger appearing in excellent form and thoroughly fit. Nothing further was heard of him until just before noon, when a telegram was received from Ararat stating that Ably had arrived at the Bull and Mouth Hotel at a quarter to 12 a.m., having covered the distance between the towns in two hours and a quarter. This gave him two hours and three-quarters in which to do the return journey and after the hour's rest at Ararat ho started back at a quartei to 1. When near Great Western he cut his foot, and, from his own account of his trip, fainted. Ho recovered after a short delay, however, and continued his journey. By 3 o'clock the crowd at the Corner was worth seeing, and both sides of Patrick street were lined with spectators. Everyone was watching the minutes as they slipped away without bringing any sign of the traveller, until at last the crowd could be seen to be moving to the south end of the street, and soon after Ably came up, running gamely, and with an elasticity of step which no one could have expected. Time was known to be nearly up, and until the result was declared the excitement in front of tho Commercial Hotel was intense. It was promptly announced, however, on the authority of the gentlemen who consented to act as timekeepers,

that iho feat had been accomplished with a little less Uun half a minute to spare. The exact time, as recorded by the most exact of the watches, was 4| hours 59 minutes 35 seconds. The distance byJ surveyor's measurement is about 18 J miles each^ way, \nd it must be remembered that this is over 1 bad roads and through hilly country. The feat is ' a surprising one, and the runner well deserves the amounts collected for him both here and at Ararat. — Australasian. %