HEIGHT OF FOLLY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1928, Page 3

HEIGHT OF FOLLY

MEN PERCH ON POLES

FREAK EXDRANCE TEST.

SYDNEY, September 13,

In its sea roll for novelty the world seems to be going mad. Such an observation is forced upon one by news of the latest freak contest in Melbourne. There have been many freak artists in Australia this year. They started with endurance dancing and most of them danced until they were carried from the floor exhausted. Then there was a man who danced from Geelong to Melbourne and seemed to be contented when a certain section of the community hailed him as a hero. Later a man skipped for days on end and claimed that lie had established a world’s record. Nobody disputed- the fact, and the £lO lie received was probably regained by him as ample compensation. Not to lie outdone by these human ‘freaks another man punched a ball for hours and hours, but in this instance the claim to a world record was disputed by a Queenslander, and as far as can be ascertained the dispute has not been settled. Still, the world goes on, and politicians continue to accumulate deficits. But now for Melbourne’s latest freak contest. On Wednesday last week, at 9 p.m.; twelve young men took their places 011 seats on the top of poles placed around a Melbourne dance ball. The one who could stay up there longest was to be the winner of the contest. The twelve competitors, it was announced, had been chosen from 300 applicants, one or two of whom were steeplejacks, and had Satisfied the management that they had special powers of endurance. The management offered an inducement of £SO to be divided between all who remained on tlieir poles a’t midnight on the following „Saturday, in addition to cash prizes for those who outstayed the others.

Each pole was 40 feet high, and the circular seats on the top were about 10in in diameter. There was no rest for the back and no support of any kind. Rope nets were spread a few feet beloiv in case any of tlie competitors fell. The contest had not proceeded manv hours before one of the then toppled into the net—a miserable sight. As time went on others, overcome by fatigue, and some obviously in a state of semi-collapse, called to be taken down. 1 ’ Meanwhile,.each day and night, the morbid, the curious, and the sensation seekers visited tlie hall to scoff at them, and to make bets as to who would be the next to topple over into tlie net. Round the foot of some poles friends and proud par'ents gathered to urge those above to “stick it out.” Meals were served to the competitors from a movable platform. At times tlie mep seemed to be in a pitiable condition. When Saturday night came three of the twelve competitors remained in their post. Between dances patrons of the places stared at them as at animals in a cage. One or two of the men appeared to be scarcely conscious When dancing ceased many of the crowd still waited. At a quarter to 12 o’clock the manager announced that as far as lie was concerned it was midnight and he was prepared to divide the prize money among those who remained. One man immediately slid into the net.

Then followed a loud controversy as to whether the three would share equally in the prize-money as well as 111 the additional grant of £SO. The crowd 011 the floor joined freely in tlie argument. The men themselves were too ill to take part in the argument. When midnight actually arrived the second man began to descend, but a friend called to him loudly not to do so. He struggled desperately for a few minutes to regain liis seat, but fell from weakness and collapsed into the net, a sorry figure. He was removed from the hall apparently exhausted. The third man was then brought down and had to be carried away. It was announced that the last man to descend would receive £39, Rhe second to descend would receive £ls, and the 'third £5, and that the three men would share the additional £SO.