Virginia Advocate

Extraordinary fact of a Draught Horse.

An unparalleled instance of the power of a horse, when assisted by art, was shown near Croyden. The Surry Iron Railway being completed, and opened for the carriage of goods all the way from Wandworth to Mertsham, a bet was made between two gentlemen that a common horse could draw thirty-six tons for six miles along the road, and that he should draw this weight from a dead pull, as well as turn it round the occasional windings of the road. The 24th of July was fixed on for their trial, when a number of gentlemen assembled near Mertsham to see this extraordinary triumph of art. Twelve wagons loaded with stones, each wagon weighing above three tons, were chained together, and a horse, taken promiscuously from the cart of Mr. Harwood, was yoked into the team. He started from near the Fox public house, and drew the immense chain of wagons with apparent ease, to near the turnpike at Croyden, a distance of six miles, in one hour and forty one minutes, which is nearly at the rate of four miles an hour. In the course of this time he stopped four times, to show that it was not by the impetus of the present that the power was acquired: and after each stoppage he drew off the chain of wagons from dead rest. Having gained his wager, Mr. Banks, the gentleman who laid the bet, directed four more loaded wagons to be added to the cavalcade, with which the same horse set off with undiminished power: and still further to show the effect of the Railway in facilitating motion, he directed the attending workmen to the number of about fifty, to mount on the wagons, when the horse proceeded without the least distress: and, in truth, there appeared to be scarcely any limitation to the power of his draught. After the trial, the wagons were taken to the weighing machine, and it appeared that the whole weight was as follows.

12 wagons first linked together weighed 38 tons 4 cwt 2 qrs.

4 do, afterwards attached 13 4 2

Supposed weight of 50 laborers 4 0 0

Total, 55 6 0