The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-06-17
From the Portsmouth N. H. Journal.
A Hundred Hours Without


Although the feat of last week in this
city, in which an individual kept awake
one hundred hours, and walked mile
in every hour, was but of small account
on the score of merely winning q bet,
yet, as illustrating the extent of human
endurance, it is matter well worthy
| of record.
On Tuesday of last week, at FIVE P. NJ,
| Mr.. John Seaver, q young man of about
twenty-five, a native of this place, on a
wager of five hundred dollars, COM
menced walking one hundred miles in
as many consecutive hours, without
sleep. The place selected was Union
Hall, around which, outside of the set
tees, forty-two circuits made mile.
| Several watchers were placed on both
sides, who by change were all the time
in attendance On Wednesday after
noon, at the close of the first twenty
four hours, he became weary and felt
stronger disposition to sleep than he
| afterward experienced. This was driv-
en- off, but the effect produced severe
headache, which continued during the
remaining days. On Thursday he felt
uIOmSIs OOG WAS bO C4CltC0 Gndb no
would sit down without mapping. Every
hour the circuiting of the room forty
two times was regularly performed, in
times ranging from twenty to thirty
minutes. On that morning he began
to be discouraged, and expressed wish
to abandon further effort His adYis-
ers persuaded him, and he renewed his
efforts, and as he expressed it, with
determined UiH to succeed.
Friday, the third day, he was more
wakeful, his nervous excitement in
cIeased-prabably by the strong tea,
which was his only beverage. His head
was bandaged, and bathed with rum
and alum frequently. He stumbled
from weakness and WEAKNESS, but got
up without help. Saturday, the fourth
and last day, was one of WEAKNESS,
aching limbs, aching head, and prostra-
ton. He required to be supported as
he went his hourly rounds In the
ninety-ffth hour he tainted and fell |
Every hour of the last four he was
bathed all over with rum and alum.
In the ninety-ninth hour he again fell |
in faintness. The last hour at length |
arrived, and with his assistants he COM
pleted his forty-swo circuits in thirty |
three minutes. He now received fresh |
energy from the idea that he had &C.
complished his feat, and, unaided, he
literally dragged his limbs once more |
around the hall, to show that he was
still awake, and, amid the cheers of a
large audience, he retired after nine |
o'clock.
In an hours time he was at his home,
and on his pillow, no doubt like Sancho |
Panzs, 'blessing the man who first in
vented sleep" But for him sound
sleep was not safe. His medical atten-
dant, DR.. Perry, was with him through |
the night, awaking him every hour.
lie was under so strong nervous excite
ment that he at times had to be held
in bed by his attendants. His dreams
were fearful-of more miles to travel, |
and his bandages we're lost, and that |
his bathing materials had given out. |
This was evident by his EXPLANATIONS |
On Monday morning he was better; but |
he has not yet got rid Of the swelling |
of his limbs, of WEAKNESS in his back, |
and of his head ache. He took his |
meals regularly during the four days,
and such doses as the doctor prepared. |
Mr., S. tells US that he went to the |
extent of human endurance-he has
no idea that he could have sustained |
himself for three hours longer. Al
though he realizes $500 on the bet, and |
$3.50 as admission fees, yet ten times
that amount would not induce him |
again to make like effort.
A like feat was performed in Calfor-
MIA few years since. In Baltimore it |
was attempted by man who died in
the ninety-seventh hour.