Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-10-13
MistGjlaNtOQs.
A Diabolieal Exhibition.

'ln the year 1892" said to Us q distin-
guished legal gentle man of New Orleans.
81 visited Paris in the course of AN Euro
pean tour that my Americanism might be
polished down by a little attrition among
the genteel particles of Partisan society.
l found the world OF Paris in very CON
siderable state of excitement in conse.
queuce OF an extraordinary performance
which was nightly exhibited by an eastern
IJuggier and which was nothing more nor
les, than the apparent decaptation of q
man IN the presence OF an audience and
under the very noses of q committee of
medical gentlemen who stood only so far
distant while the operation was being per-
formed as to escape the swing of the long
two edged sword with which the iuggler
smote of the head. | went to see this o.
liioi|.oh' which tCoK place in theatre in
.onpany with several American gentle
men. The theatre was crowded with two
or three thousand spectators, and the
curtain was up, displaying a common ta-
Bile six feet long upon the stage, at the
very edge Of which obtained a seat hay
ing gone very early
At the given time the juggler, very
singular looking man, came upon the
stage with his shirt sleeves rolled up 20
the shoulders and bearing long two
edged sword. lie upset the table upon the
boards and showed that there was no con-
cealed drawer or other recess, and placed it
in the blaze of the footlights near the edge
of the stage In few words he stated
what he was going to do, and requested
some Of the audience to come forward and
stand upon the stage, that they might see
there was no deception" A rumber of
medical gentleman who had been chosen
as a committee to investigate the matter
il possible, took their position upon the
stage and soon after the victim, who had
been sitting in the parquette, mounted
the stage, removed his coat and cravat,
turned back his shirt collar and laving
down upon his back on the table, elevated
his chin to more fairly expose his neck to
the headsman's weapon. The juggler
raised his keen and fearful looking sword,
and giving it a sweep, brought it down
| say brought it down upon the neck, for
no one could see that he did not, even
those within three feet of him-upon the
neck of the subject with great force!
Blood spirited high into the air, some of
it falling on our party and deluged the
stage, while the most fearful sound, as
something between groam and shrek
of horror from the whole assemblage shook
the building, and numerous women and
some males fell fainting in their seats, and
were born ont by the ushers OF the house.
The .juggler raised his sword again repeat
ed the blow, the discovered head fell upon
the floor Taking it 10y the hair he held
it up to the audience for full five minutes
until the blood had ceased to flow from
the severed arteries, the lower jaw had fall
len and the face had assumed the appear
ance of a corpse; then throwing it heavis
ly upon the stage he requested the COM
mittee TO examine it, which they did, pas
sing it from hand to hand. They then
examined the body on the table from the
headless neck of which the blood Lad not
yet ceased to drop upon the floor of tn e
stage they lifted the limbs and let them
fall with the limp inertia Of liteless matter
and, of course, pronounced the man dead
to all intents and purposes.
After they had concluded their invests
cation, the juggler informed the audience
that he was going TO put the mans head
on again, and restore him to life. Taking
up the head he laid it on the table, fitted
i, he two parts of the neck to each other,
and began to mutter and make singns
oyer the corpse. In about five minutes
the lately despatcheG man slowly turned
his chastity. ana altogether horrible face
,ybife as snow-towor ords the audience, and
an excitement followed exceeding, if any