The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-12-03
The Exploit Of the Qaaii Eater.

Madison (fnd-1 Courier
About one year ago the Calhoun Ky.1
Progress published the following: ~We
are reliably informed that purse of
10000 Is offered by a company in Mad
i-onvilie, Kentucky, to any man who
will eat thirty partridgeS in thirty days,
eating one each dav. The experiment
has been tried by several parties Of that
place, but twenty-five Is the highe-t
number reached. IL appears singular.
but it is said that after dozen birds
have been eaten the sight of one pro-
duces the most severe vomiting. The
money il ON deposit in the bank of Mad
is,'nville. If the party fails he Is to
forfeit one hundred dollars" This item
went the rounds of the press, and
brought ont mary comments upon the
impo%sitiIiiy "f accomplishing the APP
parently ease feat. The idea that il
could he done became conviction with
out proof in the mind Of many. like that
one in regard TO a man weighing no
more after eating hearty meal than be-
fore eating. Those who SEEMED best
posted on the subject were most eager 10
wager their funds that il could not i'e
done. One day last October, James
ODonnell, in the presence of ten or
twelve persons. ate large-sized cream
pie. on trifing wager. in four minutes
and eight seconds. when Robert X. Re's,
N. Maccubbin and Others who witnessed
the gormandizing were 50 impressed
with his voracity.and capacity that they
determined to give him trial on thirty
quails in thirty days. Arrangements
were made accordingly at Mnllen's re-
staurant for the quails. A committee
was selected 10 witness the eating, each
evening at o'clock, who were To keep a
| record OF each meal. During the hrst
few days of the test but few persons be-
sides the committee witnessed the Eek
ercises" As ODonnell progressed in
his undertaking, however, and became
the subject of comment from the press
of the country, the interest increased
among the curious; bets were made up
on the result in sporting circles in this
and adjoining cities, and the restaurant
contained large number Of spectators
every evening. Last night, on the eat
ing of the thirtieth bird, the house was
crowded. O'Donnel went at his task with
his wonted v0racity Those who had
expected him to fail on the last one,
were surprised at the apparent relish
with which he extinguished the fowl
and were astonished to hear him call for
another quail for good measured" This
was also consumed Then he called foI
a dozen steaming stewed oysters, and ate
them. Then reaching over the table he
tackled a piece of pie, which in turn went
the way of all the quails. and finished
mp with large apple. II is raid that q
great deal Of money changed hands up
on the result, but O'Donnell himself had
no money up. He received nothing fol
the performance of this hitherto (said tC
bel unparalleled feat bat the quails, the
notoriety and seven dollars contributed
by The crowd last night. He says tha
since the twentieth quail was eaten, th'
birds have had a wild, bitter taste, which
slightly increased mp to the eating of th'
thirtieth one, bu, this favor produced
nothing like nausea. O'Donnell is o
: Irish parentage, is twenty-eight years o
, age, Eve feet seven inches in height
weighed one hundred and sixty thre'
pounds at the commencement Of the fasl
and has lost but three pounds since; O
light or sandy complexion. and is
blacksmith by trade. DIR. G. w. Lawde
has been his attending physician. an
many other medical and scientific stud
, en,s have watched the undertaking witt
considerable interest.