A Remarkable Match.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 25, 9 August 1887, Page 4

A Remarkable Match.

A Cambridge University man named HodgHison, on March 2, backed himself against time to perform the following feats: Kill twelve pigeons, jump over six hurdles on foot, and leap a horse over six more hurdles, scull one mile and run one mile in the short space of half an hour. The place selected for the performance ot the undertaking was toward Clayhithe ; and, it being generally understood that it would come off at about 12 o’clock, a large concourse of persons assembled at that time, and betting commenced with great spirit at three to one against him. At about half past 12 the gentleman made his appearance accompanied by his friends, and he soon began his work of destruction among the pigeons, and for the performance of this part of the undertaking five guns and eight traps were provided, with twenty-one pigeons. The signals being given, down they came one at a time, and before four minutes had expired, the twelve pigeons were killed, out of nineteen fired at; of the remaining two, one escaped and the other was false, for which a quarter of a minute was allowed, according to agreement. Thus this part of the feat, which from the most moderate calculation was expected to have occupied eight minutes, was performed in three minutes am. three-quarters. Having begun well, he showed good pluck, started for the first six hurdles, which were placed about three yards apart; these he cleared in a twinkling, and, having mounted his steed, took the next six in gallant style; the whole of the leaping being completed in two minutes and a quarter. He then quietly jumped into a boat, and with apparent ease, scullel a mile down the stream in Gmins. '1 he next and last thing to be performed was to run a mile, which he began by a walk a quarter of the distance; and the remainder was only a moderate pace. This took Zimins. Thus he accomplished the undertaking in the incredibly short space of 22£mins.