CLUB-SWINGING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1217, 28 June 1895, Page 24

CLUB-SWINGING.

Mr T. B. Bax, of Blenheim, successfully concluded Wednesday night his attempt, at the Wellington Amateur Gymnastic Club's Rooms, to break the world's record fcr continuous club-swinging. - A large number of people assembled in the room in the evening to watch the close of the performance, and at 9 o'clock when Bax equalled the world's record of 25 hours a ringing burst of cheering was accorded him. Mr J. Doyle then announced, amid further cheers, that Bax proposed to beat the record by half an hour, but subsequently stated that he proposed to keep on for a full hour. This Bax succeeded in doing, and during the last 20 minutes gave a very fine exhibition of fancy club-swing-, ing, which showed that, despite the great strain he must have been subjected to, he still had plenty of go left in him. At 10 o'clock round after round of cheers was accorded him, and Mr Fischer at the piano struck up " See tlie Conquering Hero," and a number of enthusiastic spectators then carried him breast high to the dressing-room, where, after a good rub down, he was conveyed to his home in a cab. In response to enquiries he stated that he felt by no means exhausted. Mr Bax, who is 45 years of age and weighs lOst 81b, is of medium height, and 38in round the chest, but his muscular development is by no means extraordinary. During the night he suffered much from cold, but eventually a fire was lighted in a tin, which added considerably to his comfort. He was fed during the progress of his task by means of a cup with a long spout, which was held to his mouth while ho kept up a slow front movement with the clubs. He. drank a little over a pint of beef tea, and ate a small custard, besides consuming four eggs beaten up in a teaspoonful of brandy. The rate of revolutions of the clubs varied from 56 to 84 to the minute, and from 8 to 9 Wednesday night the rate was 74. At 2 a.m. on Wednesday Mr T. E. Ellison handed over his duties of judge to Mr Marshall, who at 5.30 gave way to Mr S. Mathews. At noon the last-named was relieved by Mr J. Doyle, and at 3 p.m. Mr Louissbn took over the duties until the public began to arrive in the evening. Mr Bax was assisted during the progress of his feat by Messrs Mason and Lane, of Blenheim.

During the evening Miss Clara Bax, daughter of Mr Bax, gave a very clever exhibition of club-swinging. Other gymnastic performances completed a good programme.

At a meeting of the committee of the Wanganui Amateur Athletic Club, Mr McNaught, who presided, said, as it was the last meeting of the old committee, he took the oppportunity, on behalf of the members, of making a presentation to Mr H. W. Pownall, the energetic secretary. Mr McNaught dwelt at considerable length on the rapid progress tho olub had made during Mr Pownall's able secretaryship, and warmly expressed the admiration and esteem in which he was held by the members, one and all. The presentation took the form t of a " smoker's outfit," and included a handsome silver-mounted pipe, cigar-case and solid silver matchbox, each article being suitably engraved. Mr Pownall replied in an appropriate speech.