River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-11-13
THE BOSS IDIOT.
How a Fool Nearly Lost His Life for a
FiYe-Doliar Bet.


The following affair occurred day or
two since at mining shaft on the Big
Evans: Three young men interested in
the property had gene out TO look nj
their claim, and indulge in antieipations
of the prospective millions IN the hole.
and, while their worknen were discuss
ing dinner in neigboring cabin, sat at
the mouth Of the hole, conversing on
gen aral topics. In the course of talk
death 10y strangulation came mp, and
one of the parties expressed the opin-
ion that by the exercise of little judg-
ment and nerve, a man could sustain
life for considerable length of time
even when suspended by the neck from
the end of rope. OF course this POI
sition was vigorously eomhated by his
companions, who said that man when
undergoing the hanging process had no
control whatever over his muscles, and
that therefore he could not prevent the
rope from cutting of his wind. The pro-
ponent OF this idea insisted that he was
right, and instanced several cases OF
which he had read, in which the par
ties hanged had prevented the rope
from COMPRISING the blood-vessels 10y
u NlSolOAa NANibtSC vi lllhsCltial pONtis
hole in the wind-pipe giving the air
necessary TO sustain life. He claimed
that all that was necessary was TO hold
the head in such position that the
pressure of the rope should come upon
the back of the head, instancing the
acts of tfapeze performers, who hang
unframed from a moose by simply
holding the head we'll back. To a
challenge TO illustrate his theory in his
own person, he replied that he was per
fectly willing to do so, and offered to
bet IS that he would permit his COM
panions to haul him suspended by the
neck from the end of the bucket rope,
from the bottom of the shaft, seventy
feet deep to the surface, and that he
would then walk off unframed, except
for the embrasion of the skin. The bet
was foolishly taken, and the foolhardy
theorist at once desceE ded into the
shaft and commenced preparations for
his hazardous experiment. Tying the
rope around his neck, he threw his
head we'll back upon the knot and gave
the signal to hoist away. The signal
was obey led, and in an instant he was
swinging in the air. Instead of the
pressure III HIS ltdu Oll ttlt hllOb INV
ing the effect anticipated, however, II
caused the moose to contract, as any
one gifted with common sense could
nave told him, and in few seconds
he became painfully aware that he was
! in immediate danger OF sacrificing his
| life to an idlotic theory. lie tried to
call out to his associates but the pres
sure OF the rope upon his throat made
it impossible. The rope still contract
ed. the blood, impeded in its passage,
filled his head almost to bursting, his
eyes protruded from their sockets, his
swollen tongue began to make its way
between his lips, and then he became
| unconscious.
! His friends to do them Justice, having
no faith in the experiment, hoisted as
fast as possible, and the ascent was made
in much shorter time than is usually
! occupied in the passage of a bucket of
ore for the same distance. By the time
however. that their inanimate burden
reached the surface, it presented an
| appearance of the most horrible charac-
ter, and almost paralyzed with fear, as
well worn out by the violent and unac-
customed exertion they were unable to
draw their friend from the mouth of
the shaft. Fortunately, the cabin was
but short distance off, and by Wig
orous yell they brought out the work
men, who dragged the body out upon
| the platform.