August 29, 1928
Champion Sitter Shins Up Hotel Hussmann Flagpole At 2 o’Clock
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The state is all set for Ben Fox, world’s champion flagpole sitter, to shin up the Hotel Hussmann flagpole this afternoon at 2 o’clock, for a “sit” of 100 hours.
Workmen yesterday completed lengthening the pole to a height of 50 feet. Fox was on hand and immediately went up the pole for a “tour of inspection.” He announced the pole in perfect condition and said that it had about four feet of sway.
Hundreds on the street below thought that this youthful daredevil was getting ready for his 100-hour perch when they saw him going up the pole, and performing a few “limbering up” exercised on top of it.
“I am certainly glad that Mr. Hussmann lengthened the pole,” Ben said. “That gives me a better view, and affords a better view for the people over the city. Too, making it 15 feet higher gives more sway, and that’s what I like. The higher the wind and the more sway to the pole helps me pass away the time.”
Fox will ascend the pole from his roof in the presence of Harry L. Hussmann, C. Frank Meyer, Mayor R.E. Thomason, J.R. Moffett, Robert Price, J.B. Blaugrund, T.G. Magg, Matt Jure and others.
Chief of Detectives Joe Stowe will also be on hand to handcuff the stunt artist to his 100-hour perch. Enough play in the chains will give him an opportunity to “crawl” all over the top of the pole and perform his stunts.
Fox announced Tuesday that he would spend the first 30 minutes on the pole entertaining the crowd below with stunts. He is in perfect condition, his wife-trainer says. She keeps tab on him herself, being a registered nurse.
Workmen were still busy at a late hour last night installing two powerful beacons, which will be trained on the “sitter” during the night. Three large amplifiers have already been installed at advantageous points of the hotel by the Radio Electric Service company. Through these Fox will talk with the people below.
How he will sleep is a question frequently asked, though on the Hussmann pole he will have little chance. With the powerful beacon lights being played on him constantly throughout the night and the gigantic 60-foot electric sign on the hotel roof, he will probably be glad to see morning come.
Arrangements have been made for those who wish to visit Fox to go to the hotel roof.
Robert Price, of Price’s dairy, has agreed to furnish the 105-pound champion all the milk he needs to drink. He has only two meals a day, subsisting mostly on milk and ice cream. Billy Regan of the new Toffee cafe, Juarez, has invited Ben to have his first “heavy” meal at his place.
“I have found that this is the only safe way,” Fox said. “when you overload your stomach on a flagpole, you are sure to get sick, and for that reason I east mostly ice cream and drink milk.”
Matt Jure, manager of the Mistletoe creameries, told Fox that he could depend on Mistletoe ice cream being sent to him daily, through the Renfro-Cordell drug store in Hotel Hussmann.
Arrangements were also completed Tuesday afternoon for Fox to “sleep off” his stunt in the Stanton street windows of the American Furniture company.
Fox says that he is going to treat El Paso to more thrills in the 100 hours he spends on the pole than they ever before witnessed. “I have many cards up my sleeve to play, and I think I’ll be safe in saying that El Pasoans are going to see things they never before thought a man had nerve enough to attempt,” he said.
If another wind like the one of Monday night blows up, El Paso will be treated to a real thrill. Fox says he relishes strong winds and hard rains.
Realizing that he would need a suitable change of outer clothing, Fox found all the necessary garments included in the Leadall line of clothing manufactured by Haymon Krupp and company.
During the day he will wear Leadall “Snugglers,” blue denim trousers with an elastic waistband, which will add to his comfort. The new Leadall shirt Fox hailed as a discovery, it having a cleverly arranged “packet” pocket. Fox is a smoker and this will prove an ideal place for cigarettes while he is performing stunts.
At night Fox will wear Leadall trousers of corduroy, or moleskin with the new aviation type weather-jacket. The latter garment is designed to provide warmth and comfort, and gives complete freedom of movement.
In discussing his wardrobe Fox said he got the idea somehow that Haymon Krupp and company made only overalls. He soon learned, however, that they make “not only a complete lien of utility clothes, but that among their garments there are several so well adapted to my purposes, that I intend carrying a supply with me when I leave El Paso.”
September 03, 1928
Upon the advice of two physicians, Ben Fox, world’s champion flag pole sitter, failed to perform his sensation headfirst rope slide from the roof of the Hussmann hotel to the street level.
Fox, who completed his 100-hour sit, came down from the pole shortly after 6 o’clock yesterday afternoon while thousands in San Jacinto plaza and the street below had gathered for his daring feat, which he had announced he would perform.
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