Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-07-22
WITHOUT SLEEP.

seven days in San Francisco as an at
traction for q dime museum, has writ
ten the story Of how it feels to be actu-
ally sleepy. Woodford succeeded in
keeping awake over six days, says the
San Francisco Chronicle, when the ply
stefan in charge compelled the manage
ment to stop the cruel exhibition.
Woodford, who Is q bright, well-edu-
Gated fellow, says:
II entered the sleep-fasting match
with the intention Of staying till the
end. l never undertook anything in
my life unless / had first determined to
see it through The only time had
ever remained up for any length of time
was on one occasion when my ship en-
countered a typhoon in the China sea-
was awake for four nights and days. I
thought of that when / went in and 1
felt that could remain awake longer
under the favorable conditions that
were guaranteed, but, must say, not
fulfilled.
1.-THE first night of the contest seemed
rather long, and had been without
sleep for thirty six hours preceding and
felt rather drowsy when the affair be-
gan. Friday night did pass more rap
idly, but as it grew near morning / felt
rather sleepy. grew to be afraid of
myself and was hoping that would not
be the first to be rung out.
II kept my eyes open by telling my
self that couldn't be the first to quit
in the face of all those other contest
ants. In other words, l felt Just like a
man who was way out in the country
and had to walk home with the rest or
be left behind.
Zone by one the contestants were
rung out, but the time seemed a month.
The hours grew longer and longer. Sat-
urday afternoon 1 had IN idea that my
reason was going to leave me and that
l was going to be maniac. For an
hour didn't know where was. Twas
walking about the hall, but didn't know
1t. Once l nearly fell, but one of the
contestants caught me and held me up.
This was the worst sensation expert
enced during all the seven days and
six nights that 1 remained awake. It
was simply awful and I would not 90
through it again for thousands of dol
lars. The large crowd Sunday aroused
me somewhat and assisted in making
the afternoon and evening pass more
pleasantly than usual.
monday morning at three or four
o'clock, my ghost hours, had a rather
peculiar experience. / had a waking
dream which lasted several hours. The
audience seemed to be enacting a scene
in my early life, and although I knew
/ was seeing double, could not get rid
OF the second view or sight. l saw
everything as it was occurring in reality
IN the hall hI1t nj thu
before me the other scene. Men seemed
20 going through the sports that used
to enjoy at school and / saw the faces
OF many OF my old schoolmates.
ut was only by repeated sponge
baths that managed to keep my eye
lids from coming together and staying
SO.
Toward eight o'clock in the morn
ing the sleepiness passed away and
felt as IL had just awalced from re-
freshing sleep. Expecting to feel the
same way every NOR ming became pre-
pared.
soften I thought was wandering
about the streets taking in the sights,
and then l would return and mingle
with the crowds at the door.
va "uhuSl Ahbo OIbCh lclv
puzzled that was not missed. While
was perfectly aware that these were all
vagaries of the brain 1 was unable to
restrain myself. think it benefited me,
though. 1t relieved my brain of real
work.
Thursday morning had kind of
waking dream. Imagined has home
in my room looking mt the birds.
"a littlo paroquot is my favorito, and
always played with it. l dreamed it
had had no food and was starving. I
wanted to go and feed It, but was as
sured, Of course, that the. birds wore re-
oeiying the best OF care from tho ladies'
OF the house. 1t passed away after
awhile, but 1 had Tho vision before me.
"When 1 got homo on Thursday
afternoon found things just as they
appeared in the dream. Through some
oversight tho birds had not been fed
and were nearly famished. The paro-
quot was biting away Mt tho woodwork