Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-20
TASTED TILL HE DIED.
A Contestant for a Museum Prize, Who
Was Anxious to Beat Succi,
is NOW READY FOR HIS FUNERAL.
BE Poured Down Champagne When He Could
No More Drink Water.
AN EFFORT MADE TO PLACE THE BLAME
ESPECIAL TELFGRAM TO THE pIsPATcH.1 !

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH
NEW YORK, Nov. 19.-G. Henry STRAIT.
ton, the faster, died in Bellevue Hospital
about 4:3O o'clock this morning. He was
one of half dozen fasters with records vino
set out on October to fast so DAYS at HUI.
ber's Museum. The others were: Collins,
weight. 141I pounds; Ssnabrah, 1889;
Kirby, 1881; Manning, 1857, and Klensch,
1431k. Stratton weighed 27O1E pounds.
The announced terms on which the fast
was conducted were that the partici pants
were each to get salary of $40 the first
week and S35 the second. After the first
fortnight each was to get 10 per cent of the
gate receipts, the remainder to 60 to the
one who tasted the longest, even if the SO
days' fast was not accomplished. Sanabrah
and Manning gave out at the end of six
davs. Kirby lasted Is days and Krensch a
fortnight. Collins lasted 90 days.
All drank alkaline waters of some sort
except Klersch, who drank Croton. STRAIT
ton drank Bethesda water. When Collins
dropped out Stratton directed that what
ever he made out of the fast should be given
to his mother, Mrs. James Leclere, OF
Brooklyn, who is so years old. Stratton is
said to have taken nothing but water until
last week, Thursday, when the action of his
heart became so weak. and vomited so ex-
haustingly that DR. Herald prescribed cham
pagne, at the rate of three teaspoonfuls a
day.
End of the Fast Not Conceded.
This virtually ended the fast, as the eondi-
tions were that only water should be taken.
Stratton, however, while he continued to
take champagne in evidently far more lib
fhop had tad
that the fast was still on, and that it would
not be ended until he took something solid.
In spite of the champagne, Stratton was in
so bad case last Monday, Al days from the
beginning of the fast, that the doctors in
sisted on his taking nourishment in the
form of food.
1t is alleged that Stratton stuffed his
handkerchief into his mouth when they tried
to make him eat, saying he would not take
anything solid until the 80 days had ex-
pired, as he wanted to beat Succi's record.
They persuaded him to take some cocoa,
however, but in spite of the nourishment
thus obtained he continued to fail SO rapid
ly that the doctors had him taken to Belle
vue Hospital
He was at first put in one of the medical
wards, it being supposed he was suffering
from debility due to his long fast but he
speedily showed so much strength, due ap-
parently to drink, that he was removed to
the alcoholic ward. When there he con-
tinued to exhibit o sign that seemed incom-
pstible with the claim that he had eaten
nothing for 40 odd days, and he did not be-
come quiet until threatened with a straight
jacket.
The Beginning of the End.
He was then able to take nourishment in
a liquid form, but his stomach became in
capable of retaining it, and he grew very
weak. Wednesday he passed in a sort of
semi-stupor, and toward evening he sank
rapidly in spite of the peptonized food
which was administered in enemas. His
pulse reached 40 before it stopped
Stratton lost So pounds in the course of
his fast. An autopsy made by Deputy Cor
oner Donlin showed that the immediate
cause of death was a lcoholic coma, due to
cerebral congestion, while secondary cause
was fatty degeneration of the heart. There
were 21% inches of fat on the body. As,
however, there was no food in the stomach,
except that administered at the hospital,
DR.. Donlin thought the fast might have
been a real one, and that the system had alb
sorbed the muscular tissue in place of the
fat.
As 20 the alcoholism, it is acknowledge
that Stratton drank two quart bottles of
champagne in the four days following
Thursday, and it is also alleged that he got
alcohol in stronger form from at attendant
at the museum.
An Effort to Place the Blame.
At the inquest, which will be held Tues
day, Coroner Hanly will endeavor to dis
cover who was responsible for Stratton's
death, and whether those who aided and
ahetted him are criminally liable. The
dead man will be buried by his brother, w.
A. Stratton, of Brooklyn He was born in
Brooklyn in 1851 He once tasted 80 days
at public exhibition in Buffalo.
Huber does not consider himself response
ble for Stratton's death. as he says the fast
ing match was not initiated by him, J. NJ
Cousart, said to be of Pittsburg, being the
originator and manager. There is 500
which will be paid to Mrs. Leclere.