And Unbroken "Record"

NZ Truth, Issue 994, 13 December 1924, Page 5

And Unbroken "Record"

MONTECINO SINKS TO SLUMBER

IN DUNEDIN

(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)

Unheralded and unsung, Montecino, the self-styled world's champion endurance pianist, hit Dunedin during Show Week and made an effort to 'break the "record" of 100 hours 33 minutes of continuous piano playing established by himself m Wellington recently. The raucous- voiced spruiker ■\Y,ho, ceaselessly" drew the attention of passers-by to a copy of a recent issue of "Truth" displayed, on the door of the hall, was not over -successful »n' enticing patronage and one of the leas: disrespectful remarks : that the writer heard hurled up to him was one telling him to "go and get work." To the observant : it was obvious quite early m the- test that sleep was making a determined effort to claim' its victim, and when the writer looked m early on the Saturday the melody maker was feeling the pressure. But that was "his worst time, you kiiow. 'When we get him over this he'll go on f or ; ever. He'll do it on his head." Late on . Sunday night h? began to droop badly and all sorts of| hideous noises were made m the hope of freeing him from the lethargy that was slowly but surely gripping him. Dawn, down he drooped and the end came just after six o'clock when the huddled heap was lifted off the stool and later carried to ah hotel, The "record" was riot equalled by 12 hours 49 minutes; A local pressman and a friend con - siituted themselves something m the nature of a vigilance committee and were m attendance mostly m the quiet hours of the early morning.