Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 206, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1911 — Spelling Bee of 17 Hours. [ARTICLE]

Spelling Bee of 17 Hours.

Mis Margaret Patterson hesitated for an instant, then spelled “S-e-p-p-u-l----c-h-r-e.” The two "p’s” ended the longest spelling bee ever held in Missouri, for Miss Patterson sat down, leaving Miss Ruth Crenshaw, the winner, still standing. The Pike county court house was filled with friends and relatives of the contestants, who for 17 hours, with only an occasional intermission, had withstood the bombardment of words until 10,000 had been given out The contest was held under the supervision of ths county school commissioner. It is estimated of the 10,000 words assigned to the contestants the winner spelled 2,600.—New York World.