Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-12

The strains which flesh and blood are
able to undergo, often without special
training. have been one Of the surprises
of humanity. That brave Sandwich
Island girl who swan forty miles, bat
Ting all the while with a running surf.
accomplished a feat which would seem
impossible. This feat probably holds the
record for endurance Of physical strength
and remember, it was the feat of a
woman. But down through the years
there have been other stressful times that
have tried mems hearts and souls In
the days of Indian supremacy the tor
ture inflicted on his paleface brethren
was often the very refinement of cruelty.
1t is a. well authenticated fact that the
pioneer Crawford survived for four days
the firebrands put around him by his
captors; while Capt. Byrd made his
escape with his flesh burned to the very
bone in many spots
We are indebted to that goodly soul
Uncle Remus-for the story of the world 8
first endurance contest. According to
him. Mr.. Crow and B'rer Buzzard were
vain of their voices. Each claimed he
could sing the longer, and was ready to
back up his opinion in no uncertain way.
After the usual chickering's and banter
ings that precede such things as prize
an agreement. was made and the duly
signed articles set forth that on GER
tain day they were to meet forever to
settle the matter. The winner was to
have the privilege of doing all the singing
in the future and the loser must keep
silent for all time.
On the appointed day they met, to-
gether with all their clans. Adherents
Of the respective
Battle of Voices contestant
Waged for Hours. food and water.
Hour after hour the battle of the voices
waged. Hoarseness and sleepiness set
in, but still they sang on. Finally the
buzzard's voice refused to work. and the
crow, with one grand burst OF melody.
was declared the winner. This is the
reason why the buzzard never sings and
why the crow has such hoarse cav.
There have been endurance tests in
music which have been strenuous events.
A few years ago Dan Goldsmith played
ragtime on a piano for forty-eight hours
without missing note or sleeping a
wink. He afterward announced that he
believed he could make 1t sixty hours,
and proclaimed himself the worlds cham
pion endurance piano player, ready to
meet all Corners. There were some few
who talked good deal about taking up
the gauntlet thrown down. but. like such
things Ditch do, it ended in talk. Las.
year Danny set out to lower his own
record in a contest against time in Den
yer music emporium. He was attended
by his handler, Chris Beckham, who fed
him sandwiches as he played. Hour after
hour he reeled Off ragtime by the yard,
sometimes growing desperately weary,
sometimes nearly falling from his stool
for want of sleep, but never giving up
One by one the hours tolled OF after the
fifty mark was reached. but Danny still
played on. At last the sixtieth hour struck
and Dan Goldsmith, feeling that he had
hung the record on a peg where It would
stay for years to come, fell into the sleep
Of victory.
One of the earliest long distance con-
tests of which the sporting world takes
cognizance w a s
Walked Steadily that of William
for 1000 Hours. h u q o ( ,inaer ~e's $.
Lily Bridge, in 1S77-a contest against time
err, and challenged all corners for a thou
sand-hour contest. He finally had to
fight 1t out with only one entrant against
him, Old Father Time. He started out
to do 1900 miles in 1000 hours. He had
taken no previous orthodox physical train
ing, and paid no attention whatever to
the usual rules of diet for those under
going great physical tests. Hour upon
hour he walked around the course. often
doing q mile in ten minutes. There was
great protest against the contest, and
doctors were on hand to stop 1t IL the
walker showed signs of q collapse. But
they always found his heart, temperature
and appetite to be practically normal
Sometimes he would go to sleep while
walking, and upon one occasion fell to
the ground while asleep. But he always
rallied and started out refreshed after q
short slumber.