George Henry Stratton

The week of October 5th 1891 at Huber's Palace Museum began with a "Fifty Day Fasting Contest," of which Henry G. Stratton of Cortlandt, New York was ultimately the winner--and loser.

The contest started with six entrants, and by October 25th, Stratton had beaten his final competitor Elmer Collins. According to Odell in his "Annals of The New York Stage," "Stratton, hungry for fame, fasted on, determined to beat the record of Succi; he still weighed over 200 pounds."