The Washington herald., 1908-07-26

London, July arthur Lancaster, at
the Crystal Palace, On Thursday accom-
pIfshed something that had never been
even attempted before since the world be-
gan. He swung an eight-pound black
smiths hammer for twelve hours without
q moments rest
Lancaster was TO have competed in a
test OF endurance against a Frenchman.
but the latter did not keep his engage
ment so the Englishman began his task
alone.
Never, surely. has feat Of endurance
been carried out under such depressing
conditions On small stage IN a dark
ened room. lighted only BY footlights. q
pale-faced man OF twenty-five. stripped TO
the waist and wearing flannel trousers
and white boots. stood resting easily on
the handle Of a sledge-hammer.
Two other men were present as wit
nesses, and when at 9 g N. precisely the
word 10 start was given Lancaster swung
his hammer round his head. and for
=welve hours that eight pounds Of metal
continuously cleaved the air Round and
round. backward and forward. one-two-
three
No q eering strains from an orchestra
assisted Lancaster; not even the Jinkle
OF q piano helped 10 relieve the dreadful
InOnOtony. People dropped in By twos and
th-ees. but the iEsuferable sameness soon
drove them out again
Mix Diet.
Occasionally LancasteT's attendant
would cause G welcome break by supply
Ing him g glass OF miik-he drank eight
during the twelve hours; OF an inch
square egg saadwich-he consumed &
dozen IN all: or few cold boiled green
Dcas-he ate a handful during the day;
or an oatmeal biscuit-he nunched alto
gether twelve OF these. But directly these
interruptions were over Lancaster who
had continued swinging the hammer with
one hand. would resume his double-haud-
ed swinging Round and round. back
ward and forward, Oue-two-three.
Lancaster said that re IS considered
10 possess the strongest forearm and
wrist Of any one living He must also
possess one OF the strongest brains Of
any His performance was as much a
triumph mentally as physically
Maddening Repetition.
The moods changed quickly. The thing
was mad5eaing- one closed ones hands
spasmOdicaIly. Il was then time 10 leave
that darkened room 10 seek distraction.
The NonconformIst Choral Union was
singing in another part Of the building
but while listening TO them ones thoughts
were inevitably drawn 70 the man with
the iron hand Round and round, back
ward and forward. one-twO-threet
At $50 a terrific thunderstorm broke
over the Crystal Palace Vivid flashes OF
FIRE illuminated the faces Of the so pe0-
PIE who had come % see the finish. Ter
rible peaIs Of thunder shook the building
But Lancaster gave no sign that he saw
OF heard anything
At five minutes TO g, when the hammer
had Travelled nearly 80 miles and Lancas-
ter calculated he had lifted more than -
tons, his manager stepped from the wings
and counted or the minutes
"One-JwO-three-fo
Crash The hammer was flung on tht
boards and Lancaster. making q Guicl
bow. disappeared amid cheers, while tht
spectators stOrned the platform to tes
the geGuiness OF the hammer. Satisfied
they ClauOred for another look al tht
worlds champion hammer swinger.
Then they moved out into the night, still
partly dazed with that dreadful hammer
ing in their brains. Round and round
backward and forward. one-twO-three