PETERSFIELD.
A BOLD WAGER REPEATED—ln February last appeared the columns of this paper, headed ‟A Bold Wager,” stating that two worthy disciples of ‟Old Vulcan” of the name of Pocock, a few days back, undertook for a wager, to make twelve dozen and a half of horse shoes, in ten hours, and that within a few short minutes of the required time the arduous task was accomplished, the wager won, and the hammer thrown up in token of victory. From certain skeptical expressions and statements since made by some of the forging fraternity, our previously successful competitors against time with the hammer and sledge, viz., Jacob Pocock (being a member of the Portsmouth police force, who, by the bye, had not used a hammer since the accomplished feat) and his brother Frederick, the forgemaster of the shop at Steep, again ventured upon a repetition of the above named exploit. All being in readiness, and the ‟Modus Operandi” arranged, with the superintending time keeper at hand, the undertaking commenced on the morning of Saturday, the 16th instant, and was carried on throughout the day with perfect success, till the whole number of shoes were completed, in a thoroughly workmanlike manner, within a few minutes of the stated time. We may further state at the conclusion of the work, to prove the honesty of the undertaking, that ten of the heaviest and ten of the lightest shoes were taken and correctly weighed, the weight of the former being 22lb. 10oz., and the latter 15lb. 8oz.. showing near upon 2lb. per shoe average weights, every one of which were completed, and every hole twice pritchelled. Sufficient we should think to silence all carping, when as we understand the two brothers are open to competition, should the necessary quid pro quo be rendered acceptable. To prove further still the muscular endurance exhibited by the two disciples of the anvil the day was finished off by them in a well contested game of cricket.