The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-11-25
TORTURED TO GAIN $4,000
STA KED AWAKE Il WEEK no YIN
HE COSTLY WAGER.
Contrtvance Arranged That Kept Him
Busy Worked In n State of DeIirium
the Inst Ten Hours, Then Went to

the Last Ten Hours, Then Went ia
Sleep.
Some two years ago, While on visit
to friend of mine who is employed as a
gymnasium instructor in Chicago, q
party of friends had gathered at his
bachelor quarters, and the subject OF
long distance cycling, ETC., was intro
duced. Then arose a great argument
as to the possibility Of man going
without sleep for several days and
nights. My friend then related the
following story, which he claimed as
true, for he acted as a second to the
principal.
I'm the year 1881 he began, while
l was in New York, I attended a gath
ering of a few friends at one of the
leading clubs, and the matter of hu-
man endurance was freely discussed.
Prudden, now deceased, gave as his
opinion that six days was the limit of
human endurance without insanity in
more or less pronounced form super
vening. He said he had privately
tested some of the most likely men Of
the day, and had offered them a good
~ PllAC IL luey COulu WllHSldHu Tic
claims of Morpheus Off nearly a, week,
but which none had accomplished.
Charles Schmidt, who had hitherto
taken little part in the discussion,
here Joined in with:
Well, Mr. Prudden, just two years
ago young fellow / know intimately
went sleepless for between six and
seven days, and from that day to this
has suffered no ill effects
I'm answer to Pruddens inquiries
Schmidt answered that 1t was himself
that did it, and was willing to try it
again. The matter was soon arranged,
and the last week in September, at
Prudden's country house, were the
date and place fixed for the event.
Schmidt selected myself and Miller as
his assistants; Snow was toI act as
referee while Ness and Robbins We're
to look after Prudden's interest.
'Ae agreed, the party Selected met at
Prudden's country house on Friday,
September 20, but We're informed by
Prudden that it would take few
days longer to fix up the gymnasium
ION Friday, September 27, he asked
us to follow him, as the gymnasium
was IHCH ISduy. AIleT ldhlliB us uOWH
a flight or stairs, through narrow
passage and through several iron
bound doors, we found ourselves in the
gymnasium in reality a large cellar
extending under the most part of the
house, with a bathroom and bedroom
adjunct. The usual paraphernalia of
gymnasium We're, consptcuously want
ing. The rooms were, however, well
furnished and splendidly illuminated
by acetyline gas from sixty-four jets
the wilderness of the flame of which
harmonized with the walls, which were
painted a dazzling white. AT the |
northeast and southeast corners close
ly woven curtains, also of white, par
titioned off small portions of the room, |
and when we expressed our surprise,
Prudden pressed knob in the wall, |
and the curtains slid to the side. The !
two corners were fitted up similarly, |
In each, on a massive iron stand, was
a large sphere constructed of closely I
woven steel about three feet in diam
ater. Near the bottom was a spigor or
cock, on which hung a small pail about /
live inches deep and two in diameter.
The globe we looked at was empty.
odt WACll cGhCu " lHSPCCl Tie OtUGT
we found it was almost full to the top
with bright, glittering Decent pieces.
ITO say that we were astonished
would be putting it mild. Prudden
hen, addressing Schmidt, said;
THAT globe contains 100000 TO-
vent pieces, which you can have If you
larry out the little task of carrying
hem across the room and putting
hem in the globe over there according
10 the following directions: There's no
lifficulty about putting them in The
,lobe will be lowered at any position
,ou choose, and you will drop them in
~ small wooden chute at the top.
You see this cock? When spring at
is side is released 100 dimes per min
lite drop into the small pail, the ham
lie of which you see fits into niche
ut on the upper side of the cock. AS
Is regulated by weight, occasionally, |
tut very rarely, an extra piece drops
through 1t actually takes about
wenty seconds for the dimes to come
through, so you have about forty sec
nds to carry each little load of silver {
cross the gymnasium and drop it in !
D the chute of the other globe. /
Twice day, at intervals of /
welve houe by avery ingenius device, I
he machinery is stopped for six min I
ties. You can employ these twelve !
minutes per diem as you choose. My I
arder and wine cellar will be at your 8
isposal. Your seconds are not allow Q
d to assist you or interfere in any Ii
,ay with the carriage of the money. t
you drop any of them on the floor i
on may pick them up, and as long as {
ne 100 per minute are taken from the g
ne and deposited in the other globe,
on are safe, but failing in this re- {
pect even once means that you for v
1T the right to continue. T
If you succeed in emptying the n
ne aad filling the other globe on these f
,nditions the money is yours. But it h
Iust be understood that you win moth f
lg unless you move the whole 1000 n
10. You may choose your own time Q
n starting. In case of any question fl
Using or any dispute, the referees de- a
sion will bind us both. Whatever f.
ranges you wish to make in the room !,
ill be acceptable to me. n
"After consulting US for some time, n
y friend agreed to the conditions II
AIMED and set the following Monday Fl
orning at 10 o'clock as the time of O.
8 start Schmidt had hard task be- r.
re him, and | almost Ielt that the ~