American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-09-17
A DIABOLICAL EXHIBITION.

II
"In the year 1882" said to us YES.
terday distinguished legal gentleman
of New Orleans, 81 visited Paris, in
the course of u European tour, that nv
Americanism might be polished down
by a little attrition among the gcntecl
particles of Parsian society. / found
the world of Paris in very considera-
ole state OF excitement in consequence
OF an extraordinary performance which
was nightly exhibited by an eastern
jugglcr, and which was nothing more
nor less than the apparent decapita-
tlon of man in the presence of an au-
dience, and under the very noses of
committee of medical gentlemen who
stood only so far distant while the op
Grafton was being performed as to es-
cape the swing of the long, two o-cdged
sword with which the jaggler smote off
the head. | went to see this execu-
ton, which took place in theatre, in
company with several American gen
tlemen. The theatre was crowded
with between two and three thousand
spectators, and the curtain was up dis
playing common table six feet long.
upon the stage ut the very edge Of
which obtained seat, having gone
very early. .sa.,' ..-.
At the given time the juggler, sin
gplar looking man, came upon the
stage, with his shirt sleeves rolled up
to the shoulders, and bearing a long,
heavy two-edged sword. He upset the
table upon the boards and showed that
there was no concealed drawer or 9TH
or recess, and placed it in the blaze of
the foot lights near the edge Of tho
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 ''acas no deception" A num-
ber OF medical gentleman who had been
chosen as committee to investigate
the matter if possible, took their posi-
ton upon the stage, and soon after
the victim, who had been sitting in the
paraquette, mounted the stage, remSs-
ed his coat and cravat, turned back his
shlrt'collar, and laying down upon his
back upon the table, elevated his chin
to more fairly expose his neck to the
hoadsman's weapon. The iuggler then
raised his keen and fearful looking
sword, and giving it wide sweep,
bro't it down. say actually 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 - i....
Blood spirited high into the air, some
of it falling upon our party, and delug-
ing the stage, while the most fearful
sound, something between groan and
q shrek of horror from the whole as
semblago, shook the building, and nu-
merous women and some males fell
fainting in their seats, and were borne
out by the ushers of the house. The
jugglcT raised his sword again, repeat
ed the blow, and the discovered head
fell upon the floor. Taking it by the
hair, he held it up to the audience for
full five minutes, until the blood had
ceased to flow from the seved artirics,
the lower jaw had fallen and the face
had assumed the appearance of a
corpse S; then throwing it heavily up
on the stage, he requested the com
mittce to examine it, which they did ,
passing it from hand to hand. They
then examined the body upon the ta-
bic, from the hcadlcss neck Of which
the blood had not yet ceased to drop
upon the floor of the stage; they lifted
the limbs and let them fall with the
limp inertia of lifelcss matter. and of
course pronounced the man dead to all
inctnts and purposes.
After they had concluded their in
veshgat'on, the juggler informed the
audience that he was going to put the
mans head on again, and restore him
to life. Taking the head he laid it on
the table, fitted the two parts of the
neck to each other, and began to NUT,
ter and make signs over the corpse.
In about five minutes the lately decap-
ltatcd man slowly turned his ghastly
and altogenthcr horrible face-whitc
as snow--towards the audience, and
an excitement followed exceeding if .
nything, that which occurred when the
first blow Of the sword fell. In a few
moments the eyelids gradually opened
and displayed the eyes wearing a glas.
sy, corpsc-like stare; by degrees, q
lite-liko speculation came into them,
some color returned to the face and
after stretching his limbs, tho man re-
sumcd his coat, walked down from the
stage and mingled with the crowd.
The exhibitlf n was over. The neck
OF the apparently dccapitated man
bore q red mark and scar around il.