The St. Johns herald., 1892-01-14
1 WITHOUT SLEEP.
How It Feels to Remain Awake
 for Six Days.
A Contestant Tn a SIeep-Fasting Match Describes Some of the Strange Sensations He Ex-
 perienced.

seven days III Oau rIdAci5CO oS dA4 e@I traction for 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 phy- sician in charge compelled the manage ment to stop the cruel exhibition. Woodford, who is a bright, well-edu- cated fellow, says:
 '1 entered the sleep-fasting match with the intention of staying till the end. I never undertook anything In my life unless I had first determined to see it through. The only time l had ever remained up for any length Of time was on one occasion when my ship en- countered typhoon in the China sea. was awake for four nights and days. thought of that when went in and felt that I could remain awake longer under the favorable conditions that were guaranteed, but, l must say, not fulfilled.
 1.-The first night of the contest seemed rather long, and I 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 frs. to be rung out.
 ''I 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, felt just like man who was 'way out in the country and had to walk home with the rest or be left behind.
 'sOne by one the contestants were rung out, but the time seemed a month. The hours grew longer and longer. Sat urday afternoon I had an idea that my reason was going to leave me and that [ was going to be maniac. For an hour didn't know where 1 was. was walking about the hall, but didn't know it. Once I nearly fell, but one of the contestants caught me and held me up. This was the worst sensation I experi- enced during all the seven days and six nights that I remained awake. It was simply awful, and would not go 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 rather peculiar experience. l had waking dream which lasted several hours. The audience seemed to be enacting scene in my early life, and although l 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, but at the same time l saw before me the other scene. Men seemed to going through the sports that used to enjoy at school and 1 saw the faces of many of my old schoolmates.
 "About this time I began to notice that the old man who claimed on enter inc to have remained awake an almost incredible length of time, and who, to- pether with Jackson, thought most likely to win, was showing signs ot weariness. Then it was that thought Ireally had some show. It was too late now to give in. Unless that l felt that it was iniuring my health in some way determined to stick it out. l started out almost like new man. Then l had more waking dreams, especially just before daybreak.
 "These hours were my mauvais quart d'heure. Then only felt real sleepy.
 ''Slee2y is mild name for it. l couldn't keep my eyes open at all, and to prevent myself falling asleep in dead earnest ran about the hall for more than an hour at a time. Sometimes my eyes were closed.
 s'It was only by repeated sponge baths that managed to keep my eye lids from coming together and staying so.
 Howard eight o'clock in the morn .ng the sleepiness passed away and felt as if I had just awaked from re freshing sleep. Expecting to feel the same way every nor ming became pre- pared.
 ''Often I thought was wandering about the streets taking in the sights and then I would return and mingle with the crowds at the door.
 s'On these wanderings l often fel puzzled that I was not missed. While was perfectly aware that these were al vagaries of the brain l was unable t; restrain myself. think it benefited me though. It relieved my brain of req work.
 Thursday morning had kind O waking dream. imagined has holn in my room looking at the birds.
 "A little paroquet is my favorite, an alwa- played with it. l dreamed had had no food and was starving.
 wanted to go and feed it, but was as sured, of course, that the birds were ra ceiving the best of care from the ladle of the house. It passed away afte awhile, but had the vision before me
 "When I got home on Thursda. afternoon found things just as the appeared in the dream. Through som oversight the birds had not been fe' and were nearly famished. The paro quet was biting away at the woodwork think that is the strangest thing abou the whole contest"