Some Unique Performances.

Hastings Standard, Issue 479, 18 November 1897, Page 4

Some Unique Performances.

It is astonishing what queer things people will undertake to perform for the sake of winning a wager. A German named Henrich Stotl made a bet of £250 that during the time between June 15, 18'j8, and Jnnuarv 1, 189G, he would walk through at least two countries of each of the five continents of the world, defraying the expenses of his journey with the money he earned en route. Stott had plenty of adventures on his journey. In Algiers he was arrested as a spy, but acquitted after being detained four months in prison. He finally won his wager with some days to spare. Another unique performance was that recently accomplished by a wealthy American named Hassam, of Cincinnati. This gentleman made a bet of SOOOdol against 10,000dol that he would trundle a wheelbarrow 10,000 miles in 490 days under the following peculiar restrictions and conditions: — He was to start from Cincinnati with only four cents in his possession, and he had to return within the time specified either with 3000dol in cash or a wife. He had neither to beg, borrow, nor steal any money during his journey, nor use any of his private fortune, but must earn the money to pay his way. He had to put up at the best hotel in every place at which he stopped, and must pay not less than 2dol. a day at each of them. The wager arose out of a discussion as to the chance of obtaining work in the United States, the man who eventually laid the wager contending that money could always be made easily by one able and willing to work. It is interesting to learn that he won his bet, bringing home a wife and the money also. Not long ago a Parisian student, in order to win a bet, swallowed five silk neckties. The event took place in a beerhouse just outside Paris. The conditions were that the neckties should be cut into pieces and dressed as a salad, with oil, salt, vinegar, and pepper, and this original mixture should be swallowed within six minutes. The student performed this difficult operation in five minutes and a half and washed down the salad with no less than 10 litres of beer. He therefore won the bet.

Some months ago a provincial hairdresser named Jacques won a bet of £2OO which he had made with a rival that he would, blindfolded, shave 80 men in an hour. He performed this remarkable feat in 59 minutes without inflicting a single cut. It is recorded that out of the £2OO Jacques gave half to the deserving poor of his town, whom he offered to shave gratuitously ever afterwards.

Another shaving feat was that performed some time ago by a Hungarian barber. He made a bet of 100 florins that he would, on a railway journey of 29 minutes, from Pistyan to Neustadt, shave '25 men without cutting them. The bet w r as more than won, for he actually shaved three more than the stipulated number. A year or two ago Professor Jules Gautier accomplished a remarkable feat in swimming from Folkestone to Dover, about eight miles, with his hands and feet manacled. Although the sea was somewhat rough and unfavorable Gautier started from the Victoria pier at Folkestone at 12.10 p.m. in the presence of a large concourse of people, and successfully accomplished the distance, reaching Dover at 4.10 p.m.