“It seems almost incredible, but is nonetheless a fact, that two of the men got quite talkative after their methylated spirits ‘dope’ last night. After everyone else had got their heads down, these two warriors went on arguing about the position of a certain pub in Hull for fully an hour, until Wild, unable to endure it any longer, roared out ‘For God’s sake shut your bleating row, you two precious dears’, and, incidentally, woke up a good many self-respecting sleepers.

“The two contestants, who had occupied themselves in saying ‘I tell yer it is’, and ‘Well, I know it ain’t’ alternatively about 470 times, both uttered their parrot cries simultaneously and shut up like oysters.”

— Thomas Orde-Lees