True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-10-13
VOL. 4NO. Al
A DiabOlioal Exhibition.

In the year 1852, said tous yeeler.
day a distinguished legal gentleman Of
New Orleans, ~ visited Paris in the
course Of European tour, that my Amer
icanism might be polished down by liz
lie attriton among the gentael particles
of Partisan society. found the world
OF Paris in a very considerable state of
excitement, in consequence of an extra
ordinary performance which was nightly
exhibited by an eastern juggler, and which
was nothing more nor less than the APP
parent decapi,aliou of man in the pres
ence Of an audience, and under the very
noses Of a committee Of medical gentle
men who stood only so far dis!an! while
the operation was being performed, as to
escape the swing Of the long tWo-edged
sword with which the juggler smote off
the head. / went to see this exhibition.
which took place in theatre. The the
atre was crowded with between two and
three Thousand spectators, and the curtain
was up, displaying common table six
feet long, upon the stage, at the very edge
of which l obtained a seat, having gone
very early.
At the given time the juggler. a singu-
lar looking man, came upon the stage
with his shirt sleeves rolled up to the
shoulders, and bearing long heavy two.
edged sword. He upset the table upon
the boards and showed that there was NO
concealed drawer or other recess, and
placed it ia the blaze of the foot-lights
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 decep'
tion." A number Of medical gentlemen,
who had been chosen as committee to
Investigate the matter if possible, took
their position upon the stage and soon
after, the victim, who had been sitting in
me parquette, mounted the stage, removed
his cravat and coat, turned back his shirt
collar, and lying down upon his back on
the table, elevated his chin to more fully
expose his neck to the juggler's weapon.
The headsman then raised his keen and
Fearful looking sword, and giving it wide
sweep. brought it down. say brought il
it down upon the neck-forno one could
see that he did not, even those within
three feet Of him--upon the neck OF tho
subj ject with great force
Blood spirited high into the air, some
Of it falling upon our party, and dsluged
the stage while the most fearful sound, q
something bs,ween groAn and shrek
of horror from the whole asssmblage,
shook the building, and numerous women
and some males fell fainting in their
seats, and were borne out by the ushers
OF the house. The juggler raised his
sword, aud repeated The blow, and the
discovered head fell upon the floor! Ia
king il by the hair he held itup to the
audimce for full hve minutes, until
the blood had ceased to flow from the
several arteries, the lower jaw had fallen,
and the face had assumed the appearance
of corpse, then throwing it heavily up
, on the stage, he requested the committee
5 10 examine it. which they did, passing il
. from hand to hand. They then examined
S the body upon the table, from the headless
/. neck of which the blood had not ceased
10 drop upoR the floor Of the stage; :hey
D lifted ihe limbs and let them fall with the
limp inertia Of lifeless matter, and Of
n course pronounced the man dead.
K After they had concluded their inves.
Q tgatioa the juggler Informed the audience
o that he was going 10 put the mans keat
e on again, and restore him to life again.
Taking up the head, he laid it on th'
e table, fisted the two parts Of the neck 4
a each other, and began 10 mu,ter and make
d some signs over the corpse. In FIVE min
T. u.es the lately decapitated man SLOWLY
: turned his gllastly and altogether horribl
Ie face-white as snow 10 the audience, an,
o. ap excitement followed, exceeding il any
\. thing, that which occurred when the frs
y blow fell. In few moments the eyelid
10 gradually opened and displayed the eye
n wearing CLASSY, corpse like stare; b
re degrees, life like speculation came int
IN them some color returned TO the face
IN and after stretching his limbs, the ma
nj arose from the table, resumed his Goa
y, walked down from the stage, and mingle
with the crowd.
,g The exhibition was over. The nee
as Of the apparently decapitated man bore
ct. red mark and scar around it, like the cicl
" trics Of newly healed wound. Allth
he saw with my own eyes, which weie
$ ; effsctually deceived as those Of tens
ell thousands Of other persons. l could
~ no way consistently with reason, accouI
ID, for any features Of This horrible thrillin
Is, feat Of HickerY. | have never heard I
ut the trick being performed by any oth'
on man and very possibly il originated an
- died with him. However, it's scarce
y. noro understandable than many often di
! ~. played fests Of the adroit eastern iugGler
Tor .----------senet------r-
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