The Waco Daily Examiner

The Longest Fasting Record.

News comes of the death of the fasting negro, Perry Cooley, who was confined in the county jail for six weeks without eating. This is a strange case. There is no doubt about this man having fasted six weeks, while confined in jail, without food. He positively refused to take the food. The only reason that he gave was that he did not want it. After much effort Sheriff King induced him to take ice and wine. He would dip a lump of ice into the wine and suck it. After six weeks he was persuaded, by the promise of a milk punch, to take a bite of beef steak. Then his appetite could not be controlled as it had been, and he ate. His stomach was so disordered by his long fast, however, that he could not eat and digest as he needed to do and hence he continued sick until his sickness culminated finally a few days since. He was certainly the longest faster on record.