The herald., 1897-02-27
Robert Gardner Contemplates
More CrazinesS
TASTED FlfTY.oNE DAYS
And Now Wants to Be Ducked to the
River
A phvs,ciau and q PoIlceman Interfere and
Probably Save His Life-A Candi.
date fer the Asylum

Owing TO q little occurrence Thursday
Robert Gardner, the young religious en-
thusiast who has Just completed fifty
days fast, did not partake Of food, as
he had intended, and will now continue
his abstention until he has been bap-
tiEed. or, what is more likely.
sent to an asylum for the
insane. Since the 5th Of January
last, or exactly fifty-two days,he claims
he has not tasted food in any form. TAX
ing nothing into his mouth or stomach
save a little water. His self-imposed
fast was undertaken through religious
conviction and he had announced that
with the expira ton of the fiftieth day,
he should complete his task. and on
Thursday commence to take food Ow-
ing to a conversation with couple of
religious cranks Thursday,he has taken
a new turn and made up his mind that
he must be immersed and his sins
washed away before he can finish his
task. 1t was only through the interven-
tion Of a police officer that Gardner's
visitors were prevented from taking
him away and baptizing him in the icy
waters OF the river which proceeding,
in his present weak and debilitated con-
dition, might have been the cause of
death.
On Wednesday afternoon two men
called at the Hotel Vogel, where Gard
ner is stopping, and announced to c. H.
Smith, the manager. that they had taken
great interest in Gardner's case. as re-
ported In the newspapers, and requested
to see him. Mr. Smith told them that
as 1t had been expressed by Gardner that
he was completing the last day of his
fast and would on the morrow take
something to eat, it would perhaps be
better that he should see no visitors
until the following day. With this the
callers seemed content and left, saying
they would return in the morning. They
were as good as their word for about
9 o'clock Thursday they appeared and
were allowed to see the young faster,
who had not yet tasted the food which
had been prepared for him.
One OF the visitors was an elderly man
with long gray whiskers and gave the
name Of Rufus C. White; the second
caller was younger and announced him
self as c. M. GruwelL Gardner had been
them cordially and the two were soon
deep in a religious discussion, it ap-
pearing that they were in accordance
with the faster's views on things spir-
itual. The conversation finally led
around to the question of baptism, and
the visitors were surprised when they
learned that, although Gardner had been
pursuing his fast to purify his spiritual
character. he had never received the
solemn rite of baptism. It was finally
concluded that Gardner must immedi-
ately be immersed in the same manner
as the Saviour was; that Is, be dipped
beneath the waters of stream and
Rev. p F. Bresee was sent for to per-
form the ceremony.
Rev. Bresee has a son, Dr. Paul Bre-
see, whose offices are situated at Sew
enth and Broadway close to the hotel,
and mentioning to the doctor his call
was advised by him to go slow as there
was little doubt that Gardner must be
in very weak condition owing to his
protracted fast However, Rev. Bresee
called as requested, but after seeing the
would-be convert said that he could only
baptize him when physician had pass
ed on his condition. Gardner and his
new found friends protested that the
Lord had called on them, and the i'm
mersion must take place at once. Fin
ally Mr. Bresee left and another plan
was decided on. White and Gruwell
left soon afterward, but returned shcrt-
ly carrying a couple of satchels which
contained baptismal robes, and an
nounced their intention of taking Gard
ner down to the river under the Buena
Vista street bridge and immersing
him themselves.
To this serious objection was raised
by Mr.. Smith, who said that he should
not allow the faster to be taken out of
his house for any such purpose. Only
on one condition would he allow him to
go, that was upon the advice of physi-
clan. Accordingly Drs. Bresee and
Montgomery were called in and examin-
ed the faster. They found him greatly
emaciated and weak his temperature
I $40 degrees below the normal, and an
irregular and intermittent pulse. At
the conclusion of the examination both
physicians agreed that it would be the
hei-ht of folly, if not absolutely dan