The Worthington advance., 1900-01-12
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
: PAID TO KEEP AWAKE :
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GONE two years ago, while on visit
y to a friend of mine, who is en-
ployed as a gymnasium instructor in
"Chicago, a party of friends had gath
cred at his bachelor quarters and the
subject of long-distance cycling, ETC.,
was introduced. Then arose a great ar
gument as to the possibility of a 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 1885," he began, ''while
/ was in New York, I attended gath
ering of a few friends at one of the
leading clubs, and the matter of hui
man endurance was freely discussed.
Prudden, now deceased, gave as his
opinion that six days was the limit
.of human endurance without insanity
in a more or less pronounced form in
tervening. He said he had privately
tested some of the most likely men
of the day and had offered a goodly
prize if they would withstand the claims
of Morpheus for nearly 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 l knew intimately
went sleepless for between six and
seven days, and from that day to this
has suffered no ill-effects'
I'm answer to Prudden's inquiries,
Schmidt answered that it 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 as
sistants; Snow was to act as referee,
while Ness and Robbins were to look
after Prudden's interest.
"As agreed, the party selected met at
.Prudden's country home on Friday,
September 20, but were informed by
Prudden that it would take few days
longer to fix up the gymnasium.
"On Friday, September p, he asked
us to follow him, as the gymnasium
was then ready. After taking us down
a flight of stairs, along a narrow pas
sage and through several iron-bound
doors, we found ourselves in the gym
nasium, in reality large cellar eN-
tending under the most part of the
house with bathroom and bedroom
adjunct. The usual paraphernalia of
agymnasium were conspicuously want
ing. The rooms were, however, we'll
furnished and splendidly illuminated
by acetylene gas from CT jets, the white
ness of the flames of which harmonized
with the walls, which were painted a
dazzling white. At the northeast and
southeast corners closely woven cur
tains, also of white, partitioned off
small portions of the room, and when
we expressed our surprise, Prudden
pressed knob in the wall and the cur
tains slid to the side. The two corners
were fitted up similarly. In each, on a
massive iron stand, was large sphere
constructed of closely woven steel
about three feet in diameter. Near the
bottom was a spigot or cock on which
hung a small pail about five inches deep
and two in diameter. The globe we
looked at was empty, but when asked
to inspect the other we found it was
full almost to the top with bright, gilt
tering silver ten-cent pieces.
"To say that we were astonished
would be putting it mildly. Prud.
den, then addressing Schmidt, said:
"'That globe contains 100000 ten
cent pieces, which you can have if you
carry out the little task of carrying
them across the room and putting
them in the globe over there accord
ing to the following directions:
There's no difficulty about putting
them in. The globe will be lowered
to any position you choose and you
will drop them in by a small wooden
chute at the top. You Sc, this cock
When spring at it's side is released
100 dimes per minute drop into the
small pail the handle of which you
see fits into a niche cut on the upper
side of the cock. AS it is regulated
by weight, occasionally, but very rare
ly, an extra piece drops through 1t
actually takes about 20 seconds for the
dimes to come through, so you have
about 40 seconds to carry each little
: load of silver across the gymnasium
and drop it into the chute of the 9th
. er globe. Twice day, at intervals OF
IL hours, by q very ingenious device
the machinery is stopped for six min
4 utes. You can employ these ~ min
utes per diem as you choose. My
larder and wine cellar will be at your
1 disposal. Your seconds are not al
lowed to assist you or interfere in
z any way with the carriage of the
{ money.
# eff you drop any of them on the
7 floor you may pick them up, and as
long as the 100 are deposited in the
other globe you are safe, but failing in
i this respect even once me:ns that you