The Washington times., 1923-04-21
z SOLDIERS
ARE STILL
DANCING
After IS Hours Marine Corps
and Army Have Only Sur
vivors of Marathon.

marine corps and of the United
States army is at stake in the
marathon dancing enclosure on the
floor of the Arcade ballroom to-
day.
A marine corps private and an
ex-cavalry sergeant, the last sur
vivors from the large number Of
entrants in the contest Wednes-
day night, were still shuffling
on as they passed their sixty-fifth
hour at noon today, In a hard
battle for the world endurance
dancing record.
Are Standing Strain.
Aubrey w. Gilbert, twenty-five,
of the Marine Barracks, and Joe
'Baltrotsky, the cavalry sergeant, of
914 H street northwest, are the con-
testants. Following a thorough ex-
animation of the two men this
morning, attending physicians an.
nOunced that each of the men is
apparently physically q capable of
continuing for forty-eight hours
more, despite the fact that they
have now been going for more than
two and a half days, without cessa-
ton.
The two men are now contending
for $3.50 in cash prizes, in addition
to the title of the worlds greatest
marathon dancer. Gilbert Is also
trying to dance away an impending
court-martial for being A. w. o. l..
from the Marine Barracks. At the
Marine Barracks today the first
sergeant declared that If Gilbert up
held the traditions of the corps by
defeating his army opponent, he
would not only escape court-martial,
but he would be granted furlough
in which to recover from his Cruel
ling feat.
And If he fails?" he was asked.
HE won't"
Public interest in the dance IL
growing tenser as each passing hour
brings the men closer to the coveted
title. A crowd of between 500 and
l 900 people spent the entire night
last night in the galleries with their
eyes glued on the little square of
polished floor over which the two
contestants swaye6 gamely in their
battle against time and the limits
Of human endurance. Last nights
crowd was the most thoroughly
social gathering which has yet wit
messed the contests. Among the
guests was the daughter of former
Secretary McAdoo, who watched for
nearly an hour.
Shuttle With Partners.
are dancing alternately together or
with volunteer partners, and shut
fling about alone. Gilbert, whose
cheeks have gradually lost their
first ruddiness during the grind of
last night, still looks fairly fresh.
Boltrotsky likewise seems but little
affected by the long effort. Both
men are compactly built and have
notable records as athletes
In case the police close the hall
tonight and the men are still able
to continue, they will dance their
way into truck and be driven out
of the District, where they can con-
tlnue until they drop in their tracks.
About 12:45 this morning w. E.
Mendenhall, twenty-five, and his
wife, twenty-five, 3104 Bunker Hill
road, and Miss Florence Gentry,
twenty, 500 Twelfth street north
west, were removed to Emergency
Hospital as a result Of exhaustion.
Mrs. May Freeman, twenty-one,
1915 o street northwest, swooned
In the lobby of the same dance hall
| about 1910 this morning, and after
being given first aid treatment was
accompanied home by her husband.
Shrieking and crying, in state
of mental and physical collapse,
Florence Gentry. sos Twelfth street
northwest, was carried from the
floor at 1923 o'clock last night,
after dancing continuously for
forty-eight hours and fifteen minutes
She was taken to Emergency Hos
pital, where Mrs. Wallace Menden'
hall, of Mt. Rainier, was under
| treatment.
Miss Gentry's collapse eliminated
the last woman contestant and left
but three men on the floor. One,
| Wallace Mendenhall, was unable 10
continue and was carried out at
1905 o'clock this morning for treat
ment at Emergency Hospital. At
| the hospital it was reported today
| that all of the dancers, while suf-
fering from complete exhaustion
and nervous collapse, were out of
danger.
Miss Gentry, by her feat, won
two prizes, one of $50 for the
woman's endurance record, and one
of $50 to all contestants who pass
the fOPtV.NiRht hour MARI