Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-08-15
LONG DISTANCE FASTER ALIVE,
DR.. Tanner Tells of His Famous Feast Of
Air

a. DR.. Tanner Tells of His Famous Feast
Air.
u Who does not remember when D
% Tanner ate the watermelon? I'll
Il great faster had just finished his fort
y days of abstinence from food, and til
l. whole country enjoyed bis first mea
y that was nothing more than bis
s. luscious Gregory" melon sent by q
admirer. That was In $780, Ask an
i one now what has become of the ma
who then absorbed the attention OF th
world? Is he dead Not au all. Hell
in perfect health, is seventy two year.
old and still breaches fasting as a ne
penthe for many evils of the body.
DIR. Tanner doesn' t look over fifty de
spite his wonderful snowy hair II,
is rugged, full chested and full of lii,
and the enjoyment thereof. His eyes
are bright, his voice ringing and his
manner fascinating He has been hav
ing vacation in California and there
talked of the time when he astonished
all people by bis marvellous abstention
from food.
Il tasted forty two days with only
water before ever told any one of 1t, y
said DIR. Tanner. II was practicing
medicine and was crippled by infiam
matory rheumatism. One day
Strengthened up, was able to run about
like boy, and was informed by my
physician that the disease had gone to
my heart. He kindly warned me to
put my house in order, as would pass
away suddenly. l believed him and,
after deep thought, determined to go
out of life slowly and decently and by
my own volition. I will starve myself
to death, said l, 'and not suffer the
fearful uncertainty that overshadows
me-
ut was believed then that ten to
eleven days without food was the limit
OF mans endurance, and that the spir-
it would forsake the mortal tenement
after that period. l passed the ten
days limit and was getting stronger.
The pains of hunger had left me after
four or five days. Ny physician drop
ped in and said Tanner, you ought to |
be in coffia and you will be as soon
as you begin to eat.
"A sudden resolve seized me. told
him | had intended to rush to a res
,aurant after seeing him, but that |
lad made up my mind to keep on. II
lad gotten over the idea of killing NY
elf, but believed could fast forty
lays. He remarked that my sanity
Vas gone and that an examination of
ny brain after died would prove it.
II tasted then for forty two days al
ogether. The first fourteen days L S
lid not even touch water and l lost a | 9
'ound and half day. From the fif. +
zenith to the forty second days l drank h
little water daily and lost but half a | 8
ound day. All the time l took re-
ular exercise, walking about Minnea- f
Oils as usual. The forty first day l n
'alked five miles and the forty second g
ay ten miles. Then l resumed nv f.
let. G
My old doctor was wild to have me ~
i've out my experience. l refused,
moving L would be ridiculed. Final a.
=, after few weeks, be told it to the j,
loneer Press. Within three days 1 h
ad become the butt of every newspa- w
II editor, while the physicians of the -
orld called me fakir. The preach
said l liked myself to Christ, and | 4,
lily my physician knew the truth, l i,
lily affirmed the facts. Especially did ,v
rmer Surgeon General Hammond =,
tch into me. Then I got mad and q
ant to New York.
There l tasted forty days, watched
: doctors, detectives and reporters.
mes Gordon Bennett put watch on G
and spent 81, 700 in proving my hon. so
~ In my fast. At the end of forty -,
VS. l ate the historic watermelon. / T.
q taken only water during the ordeal q,
lie press of the country which had 10
lied me champion idiot. acknowl- m,
ged the truth
10 day DIR. Tanner is the most noted
)stle OF vegetarianism in the world. ~,
s health is perfect and he expects to ~
e to be "a hundred years young. y ho
w York Commercial.