The Helena independent., 1892-07-26

have the name O. bein' the champion tooty-
frooty chewer of the Bowery. besides eittin'
the medal. Dye understand? 1t amt the
man that chews the longest on one piece O.
but the feller that get. . the mo t
pieces O. gum in his mouth at o.
time and keeps his jaws s-waggin.
Besides. ye got to keep time with
the music. This amt no 60 as-you-pleaf"
chswn' MATCH Mr.. Wee'll, president +
the Tooty-Frooty club will beat time WITH
the bung starter, and the bloke that breaks
time with his jaws Qoes out. Now, IN give
each one O. you mugs piece O. tooty-
frooty. You'll hold it in your hands till
start up the music and MIR. Wee'll gives
you the movement. Then Pll count, and
when ] say 'thresn you CO.
Tho music struck up at an andante gait.
Mr.. Wee'll's bungstarter began to make
figure 4's in ths air. like the baton of Pat
rick Sarsfield Gilmore, and, when Brodie
gave the word, the silence WAS so thick that
It could have boon cut with knife. They
we're of. Five pairs of jaws began to waR
with the precision of Corliss engine The
overstrained nerves OF the spectators found
relief in an audible sigh. Twas an inspir-
iting sight to see those five able bodied men
working their jaws like threshing machines.
Bettings began to fly around the room.
Hobokeu Pete was the favorite at three 10
one, because Of the size of his mouth, with
Billy Fangs a close second, and the Nauga-
tuok third Encouraging remarks arose on
all sides such as:
sock it to 'em, Pete!' Look at them
grinde, grindr' "Holv mnckerel, McMil-
Ian amt keepin' time; he's off his beatr'
Steve kept them chewing on the first
cube for more than half minute. Then
he handed each man another piece of gum,
taneously no ordered the musicians to play
faster. The chewers began to feel tho
strain now. 1t was quite easy to chew OH Il
single piece of gum, but when the quantity
was doubled and the time perceptlbly in
: creased the work became much harder.
Johnny Halls pet tied to enter protest,
but Brodis shook his head sternly and
said:
mo kickin'. You keep on waRQin' your
jaws or drop out"
The pace was getting to be very hot and
sweat began to roll down tho faces of the
men. At the expiration of two minutes a
third chunk was added to the gum already
tara" and of jaws rose and fell together.
Johnny Halls pet waa getting groRgy. Ills
eyes rolled, his jaws wobbled and with Il
loud groan his gum fell out of his mouth
and he gave up exhausted amid ronrs
of laughter. The Naugatuck masticator
dropped ont in the fourth round and began
to bathe his jaws in cold water. BY this
time Brodie changed the tempo of the music,
for it was lmpossible to keep up liv ly
gait on four chunks of gum. Hoboken Pete
was still in the lead closely followed by
Billy Fangs. who might have won in IL Q
last round but for the lRmentable
fact that ss his jaws came together his
teeth stuck in the plastic mass of
gum and were held there as in wise. He
nearly dislocated his vertebre in his efforts
to separate his molars, but all in vain, and
he was knocked out. Tho contestants had
now been chewing for five minutes. which
seemed an eternity for them. There were
only two left at this stage of the contest,
Hoboken Psts and Blinky Mohlillan. The
latter was toilinR along bravely, while pail
demonium reiRned i'll the saloon. Blinky' q
baeksrs wanted to bathe his jaws with
water, but tho referee sternly forbade such
relief. But the match was b. ought almost
to q tragic end when Biinkey fell over upon
the floor. unconscious. His jaws were glued
together and the referee WAS forced to pry
his teeth apart with u knife blade.
Hoboken Peto won the medal with n
record OF eight pieces Of gum in seven min
utes. Az he leaned on the bar. surrounde |
by hla many bneker and with v huge chunk
Of ice held tightly against his aching jaws.
he thus described the closing scenes Of the
somsdy:
II never seen such a thing in my life.
There was Blinky sittin' OH the floor. while
Stove held him up by the hair OF his head
and Johnny Halls Pct held his mouth open.
What was that thing that Rrodie used to
6sh the gum out OF Blinkes's mouth2"
Thirteen deeply interested spectators re-
piled in chorus:
"His wife'S button hook.'