Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-07
DIR. Tanners Attempt to Fast
Forty Days.

One OF the most curious experiments, from
a physiological point of view. ever made in
this city, is now in progress in Clarendon
Hall, East Thirteenth street. DIR. II. S.
Tanner, of Minneapolis, Mimi, has been
confined there now for six days, voluntarily
subjecting himself to deprivation from all
kinds of food, liquid or solid. He began his
singular experiment at noon on Monday last,
and proposes to demonstrate to the world
his independence of food by fasting forty
days and forty nights. The Doctor Is a short.
stout man, and enjoyed perfect health, as his
face and figure show ed, before he began his
contest with the laws of nature He has
grey hair, and is about 81 years of age. The
expression of his face is intelligent, and a
moments conversation with him will unde-
ceive any person who imagines him to be a
fool, deliberately rushing on to self-destruc-
ton by starvation. He is firm believer in
Nellie Fancher and the extraordinary story
of her long existence without food, and he
claims to have tasted on previous occasion
in Minnesota for AZ days. That he thorough
ly and honestly believes in his ability to per-
form the task which he has undertaken there
is not the slightest doubt. Whether he will
die or become insane during the struggle are
questions which must be answered by the
event.
DIR. Tanner is watched constantly by two
physicians of this city, a change in the at
PENDANTS being made every six hours. At the
rear portion of Clarendon Hall a space Is
feet long by 81 wide has been rallied off. and
within this the Doctor is confined. A mar
row iron cot bedstead stands in the centre Of
this space, and a small writing stand with
out drawer, and a rocking chair constitute
the only other articles of furniture. These
stand on the east side of the enclosure, near
the tables provided for the physicians and the
reporters, some of whom are constantly in
attendance, watching the experiment Be-
fore beginning his fast. DR.. Tanner was
stripped and his clothes thoroughly searched.
to discover anything in the shape of con-
cealed food. His bed-clothes were also
searched. and the gentlemen who performed
this service satisfied themselves that he had
nothing concealed in them. Since that time
no person has been alloyed to shake hands
with him, so that no food can have been con-
veyed to him in that way, and no person has
been allowed to converse with him, except
under the eve and within the hearing of one
one or both of his medical attendants Moth
ing received for him from the outside, not
even . letter, has been handed him without
being subjected to rigid examination, and
yesterday, when he purchased an evening
paper, the boy was not allowed to hand 1t to
him. 1t was examined as closely as though
1t were possible to conceal good-sized ham
in its folds. The watchers are confident that
up to this time, at least, no food of any kind
has passed to the Doctors hands or stomach,
and rs the gentlemen are all reputable phvs-
icians, though not of the Irregular school,
there is no reason to doubt their words.
On the first day Of his fasting DR.. Tanner
allowed himself the luxury of . spoonful of
water occasionally, but on Tuesday he made
mp his mind to dispense with this, and since