El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-12

"HE strains which flesh and blood
are able to undergo, often with
out special training. have been
one of the surprises of humanity.
That brave Sandwich Island girl who
swan 40 miles. battling all the while
with a running surf, accomplished
feat which would seem impossible.
This feat probably holds the record for
endurance Of physical strength-and
remember, 1T 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 pale face brethren
was often the very refinement Of
cruelty 1t is well authenticated
fact that the pioneer Crawford sur
vived 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
The First Endurance Test.
We are indebted to that goodly soul
Uncle Remus-for the story of the
worlds first endurance contest Ac-
cording to him, Mr.. Crow and Brer
Buzzard were vain of their voices.
Each claimed he could sing the longer.
and was ready 10 back up his opinion
III 44O way. AIlcI Inc
chickering's and gatherings that precede
such things as prizefights and long
distance singing contests, an agree
ment was made and the duly signed
articles set forth that on a certain 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 contestants brought
them food and water. Hour after hour
the. battle of the voices ragged. Hoarse-
ness 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
Musical Endurance Tests.
There have been endurance tests in
music which have been strenuous
events A few years ago Dan Cold
smith played ragtime on a piano for
IS hours without missing a note or
sleeping a wink. He afterward an
nounced that he believed he could
make it SO hours, and proclaimed him
self the worlds champion 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
aften do, it ended in talk. Last year
Danny set out to lower his own record
in a contest against time in e Denver
music emporium. He was attended by
his handler. Chris Beckham, who fed
him ham sandwiches as he played.
Hour after hour he reeled off ragtime
by the yard, sometimes growing des-
perately weary. sometimes nearly fall
ing from his stool for want of sleep.
but never giving up. One by one the
I hours tolled off after the so mark was
reached, but Danny still played on.
At last the 60th hour struck, and Dan
Goldsmith. feeling that he had hung
the record on peg where it would
stay for years to come. fell into the
sleep of victory
One Of the earliest long distance
records of which the sporting world
takes cognizance was that OF William
Gale. a Welsh bookbinder, at Lily
I Bridge in 1S77-a contest against time.
He had something of a record as a
walker, and challenged all corners for
| a thousand-hour contest. He finally
| had to fight it out with only one en-
| trant against him-Old Father Time
| He started out to do 1900 miles in a
| thousand hours. He had taken no
| previous orthodox physical training
! had paid no attention whatever to the
usual rules Old let for those undergo
| ing great physical tests. Hour upon
J hour he walked around the course