The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-02-08
A MARATHON DANCE
LASTS NINE HOURS
Three Couples Were Tied for
First Out of Seventeen
Couples Entered.

With swollen feet, stopped shoulders
and Precipitation covered countenan-
ces, three couples. Russell Cummins
and Blanche Cooke, Walter and Isabel
lie Bass, Warren Etter and Mrs. Trieva
Evans, had to cease dancing for the
Eagles Marthon dancing contest at
seven o'clock this morning as the man.
ager of the Coliseum announced that
the floor was needed for roller skating,
and that nine hours was long enough
for a person to dance anyway. Thus
the hrst local Marthon dance, which
was the main attraction at the Eagles
ball last night, was terminated. The
successful contestants.
At quarter after ten last evening,
seventeen couples started the Mart
thon glide two-step, on the signal of
the judges, Thomas Fryar, James
Burns, Cal Stevens, Roy Stanley, Will
liam Mercurio, Ben Bulla and Ed Voss.
All the thirty-four gay Terpsichoreans
were feeling strong, and commenced to
race about the Coliseum at rapid
pace.
Dancers Are Guarded.
At eleven o'clock the drill team of
the lodge formed around the dancers,
keeping them in the center of the floor
so that others could dance on the out
side The gallant thirty-four soon got
down to steady pace, experiencing
little trouble in shifting periodically
midnight, but one couple had retired
from the race, and a crowd of four
hundred people was still in the balcony
to witness the event.
Couples in the contest dropped out
in quick succession after one o'clock.
Among these early ones to retire was
Mrs. Hays, champion Marthon dancer
of Evansville who won her title after
only two and one half hours of the
light fantastic" Four or five women
participants collapsed as they left the
floor. but we're soon revived by DR.
Bulla.
About this hour feet began to swell
and the dancers slashed the shoes and
laces to prevent serious injury. The
contestants were all tired and covered
with perspiration.
! But still they danced.
Nine couples were on the floor al
half past two, but four of these soor
stopped because the feminine Terpsi
choreans were exhausted. One pail
was ruled out by the judges at three
o clock for momentarily changing from
the glide step to an ordinary two
step.
During this long period Of vigil IL
their efforts to prevent any violation
of the rules, the judges became exhaus
ted, and finally took turns sleeping il
the Coliseum basement.
! At four o'clock Mr.. and Mrs. Thoma:
Fryar left the race, and at Ave, wheI
the skies were being streaked with
morning light, another pair withdrew
when the woman was attacked will
cramps.
With only three teams remaining
each couple resolved it would not b.
vanquished. and so they continued tt
plod around the floor At six O'clocl
the janitors came to clean up the bull
ding. but were heartlessly turned
away. Finally at seven O'Clock. though
they were still feeling strong" the 81,
had to stop as it was necessary to pre-
pare the floor for skating. They divid
ed the SIS prize money equally. ant
went home.
| A drill by a picked team from tn
lodge made an attractive opening t.
the big event, which realized owe
500 for the Eagles.