The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-11-11
From the London Courier Of Sept "a.
MONS. CHABERT, THE FIRE-KING

An advertisement appeared few days
ago, in which Mr.. ]. Smith, after lnslnu-
ating that nj. Chabert, the fire-king, prac-
tised some juggle when he appeared to
enter into an oven heated to five hundred
degrees, and to swallow twenty grains of
phosphorus, challenged him for any sum
which he might please to mention to per-
form the exploits. The fire-king publicly
accepted Mr.. Smiths challenge for ESQ, re-
questing him to provide the poisons himself,
and offering to allow him the same conven-
fences which he used himself, whilst he
remaided in the oven. Mr.. Smith in his
rejoinder to M. Chabert, informed him that
he would meet him in the Argyll Rooms,
at his ordinary hour of performance, and
would then "enter the oven with him, and
perform his other feats." Yesterday was
mutually fixed upon as the day on which
the two contracting parties to this extraordi-
nary challenge were to try their merits. At
little before 3 O'clock, the fire-king made
his appearance near his oven, and offered to
amuse the company with a few trifiing eX-
periments. He then made shovel red hot
and rubbed it over his tongue. He next
rubbed it over his hair and face, declaring
ti'"S ~"y holy might perform the same feat
spirits of sui phur and of alum, which, by
cauterizing the epidermis, hardened the skin
to resist the fire. He then put his hands
into some melted lead, took small portion
of it out, placed it in his mouth, and then
gave it in solid state to some of the COM
pany. By the time that these ''little tricks"
as he called them, were performed, call
was made for Mr.. Smiths appearance
The tire-king looked around the room, and
seeing his challenger in one corner of it,
called him from his retirement. The time
for trifllng was now over and M. Chabert
forthwith prepared himself for mightier un-
dertakings. A cruise of oil was brought
forward and poured into a sauce pan. He
intended to drink the oil when the Their
mometer would prove that it was heated to
800 degrees.
In few minutes afterwards he slipped
off spoonful with the greatest apparent
ease, although the spoon, from contact with
the boiling fluid, had become too hot for
ordinary fingers TO handle. And now,
Monsieur Smith," said the king, snow
for your challenge. Have you prepared
yourself with phosphorus, or will you take
some of mine, which is laid on that table 90
Mr.. Smith walked up to the table, and
pulling a phial out of his pocket offered it
to the poison swallower.
The fre-king-I ask you on your honor
as gentleman, is this genuine unmixed
poison?
Mr.. Smith-It is, upon my honor.
The fre-king-ls there any medical gem
tleman here who will examine it?
DR.. Gordon Smith, one of the medical
professors in the London University, went
to the table and examining the phial, ex-
claimed that it was genuine phosphorus.
This did not content several gentlemen
in the room; they desired 20 see whether
it would ignite by friction. The expert
ment was made, and small piece soon set
the paper in which it was wrapped into a
hla-~. 'rirv ,su',sy OF rHe poison Uerrrg ''.,.,
how many grains he wished to commence
his first dranght with.
Mr.. Smith-Twenty grains will do as
commencement.
M. Chabert-Ah, my good sir, it is a very
small dose, should not object to take "a
pound or two.
The poisons were now prepared. A wine
glass contained the portion set aside for the
fire-king-a tumbler the portion reserved
for Mr.. Smith.
The fre-king-I suppose, gentlemen, /
must begin. Well, then, to convince you
that do not juggle, will first of all take
off my coat, and then, as another precau-
ton, | will trouble you, Doctor (sbcaking to
DIR. Gordon Smith,) 20 tie my hands togeth-
er behind me.
After he had been bandaged, he planted
himself on one knee in the centre of the
room, and requested some gentlemen to
p1ooa tho phocnb0rno HI, I
pour the water down his throat This was
accordingly done, and the water and phos-
phorus swallowed together. The fire king
then turned to Mr.. Smith and offered him
the other glass of phosphorus" And now,
my good sir, | shall have great pleasure in
seeing you take off your glass too"
Mr. Smith started back in infinite alarm
=" Not for worlds, sir, not for worlds;
beg to decline it."
The fre-king-Ehl mon Dieu! you de-
cline it Oh dear sr-no, no-yon will
drink Won little glass to oblige the company.
Mr.. Smith-the company must excuse
me. / don't often drink in the morning.
and least of all such an ardent spirit ms
phosphorus.
The -king-Then why for did YOU
send me a challenge? You have pledged
your honor TO drink II IT did. | have done
it; and if you are gentleman, you must
drink it too.
Mr.. Smith-No, no; must he excused ::
am quite satisfied without it.
Here several voices exclaimed that the
bet was lost.
The fre-king here asked Mr.. Smith if he
intended to go into the oven with him.
Mr.. Smith replied that he could answer
that question better after he saw the fire.
king come out.
The fre-king-But, my good sir, that
makes no matter, for you have lost your bet
already, II you do not swallow the phospho-
Mr.. Smith, after very slight hesitation,
admitted that he was.
The fre-king here turned round with.
great exutation to the company, and null
inn bottle ouf of hio nocLat -.