The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-18
WILSON, CALLS HARDING TO ACCOUNT
M'SWnlEY FAST
LONGER THAN
BEST RECORDS
Begins 9th Day-Record
il 63 Days-Refer Case
to Holy Office.

- Is Days-Refer Case
to Holy Office. I
London, Oct. 1s.-Terence Mac
Swiney, Lord Mayor Of Cork. passed
a very good night at Brixton pris-
on. according to . bulletin Issued
early today by the Irish Self-Deter-
mination league. It ID said he slept
well. but seems to have caught a
slight cold. Every precaution. how
ever. Is being taken to prevent de-
velopment. '
In later bulletin the league says
q doctor has told MacSwiney that
his condition is becoming more pre-
carious. When be becomes uncon-
scious the doctor is said to have
declared he would feel bound to do
all he could to save the lord mayors
life, and would feed him as far as
he could while he was unconscious.
MacSwiney is quoted as saying that
If any attempt was made to feed
him under such circumstances, he
would again begin his hunger
strike as soon as revived.
Develops Chill
London, Oct. 18.-(United Press. }
Relatives today refrained from
telling Lord Mayor MacSwiney of
the death of Michael Fitzgerald. one
OF the II Cork prison hunger strik-
ers. The mayor developed a slight
cold over Sunday and his relatives
feared the depressing effect Of the
announcement.
Fitzgerald had tasted 50 days.
Other strikers in the Jail consented
to medical treatment for Fitzgerald
and another prisoner when their
condition changed for the worse
yesterday.
MacSwiney slept well last night
but developed a chill. It was the
9th day Of his fast.
Hunger Striker Dies.
Cork, Ireland. Oct. IS. - Robert
Fitzgerald, after fasting 50 days,
was the first of the hunger strikers
in the Cork county jail to die.
MacSwfney Exceeds Record.
Paris, Oct. 1S.-The long hunger
strike of Mayor MacSwiney of Cork
has caused much discussion here as
to how long it is possible for a man
to fast. DR.. Socauet has told the
Paris Midi that the record is, 6
days without food set BY William
Granfer in 1881.
"Grahier had been sentenced to
death and was confined in the pris-
on OF Toulouse" said DR.. Socquet
He had q horror Of the guill0tine
and to save himself from death by
that instrument. determined to
starve, which he did after 63 days
MANY hunger-strikers have lived
longer than could have been ex'
pected," he went on. There are
the cases Of Tanner. Succi and Mer'
latti, the latter of whom starved fol
4S days while he lost one-Quarter o.
his weight. Taylor tells Of the cast
| of a worker who was imprisoned ir
mine for 60 days without food. HI
lived three days after his rescue
and died as a result of being e1ces
sively fed. Many lunatics have re
fused to take food for 20, 80 or ever
40 days.
"No rule can be established as tt
length of time a man can fast. Hill
endurance wilt depend upon his pre-
I vious health, his constitution ant
also upon his spiritual condition
which is very important. 1t is wei
known that a starving man may in
crease his endurance great dea
by drinking water"
Pope Refers Case.
Rome, Oct. 17.-Pope Benedict
according to information secures
today. has referred the problem o
the status OF Lord Mayor MacSwi
ney of Cork and other Irish hunge
strikers to the congregation OF tn
holy office.
Many urgent appeals to max
some pronouncement regarding tn
cases have been received by tn
pope. These appeals implore tn
pontiff to reach Numerically op
posed decisions on the question
whether the death Of the prisoner
as a result of their strikes woul
make them suicides.
! Pope Benedict has personally ex
amined the many documents sub
mitted to him citing examples an
opinions, and has discussed the sit
uation with learned cardinals i
the church, but, it is indicated. ha
found them holding widely diver
gent opinions.