The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-09-16
A Ds.sol..., Euh,s,s,on.

4 DsabolssAl Exhibstion.
In the year 1894, said to Us yesterday o
distinguished legal gentleman OF New Or
leans, 1 visited Paris in the course Of Eu-
ropean tour. that my Americanism might
be polished down by little attrition among
the genteel particles OF Partisan society. /
found the world Of Paris In q very conside-
rable state Of excitement in consequence
Of an extraordinary performance which was
nightly exhibited by an Eastern juggler,
and which was nothing more nor less than
the apparent decapitation Of man in the
presence Of an audience, and under the very
noses Of committee Of medical gentlemen,
who stood only 50 far distant while the ope-
ration was being performed as to escape the
swing Of the long-two edged sword with
which the juggler smote off the bead. l
went TO see this exhibition, which took place
in theatre, in company with several Amer.
lean gentlemen. The theatre was crowded
with two or 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, hav.
ing gone very early.
AT the given time, the juggler, singu-
lar looking man, came upon the stage, with
his shirt sleeves rolled up to the shoulders,
and bearing a long, heavy twoedged sword.
He upset the table upon the boards and
showed that there was no concealed drawer
or other recess, and placed II in the blaze Of
the footlights near the edge Of the stage.
In few words he stated what be was going
to do, and requested some Of the audience to
come forward and stand upon the stage,
that they might see there ras no deception.
A number Of the medical gentlemen who
had been chosen as committee to investi-
gate the matter, If possible, took their posi-.
ton upon the stage, and soon after, the vic.
tim, who had been sitting in the parquette,
mounted the stage, removed bis coat and
cravat, turned back his shirt collar, and
laying down upon his back upon the table
elevated his chin to more fairly expose bis
neck to the headsman's weapon. The jug.
gler then raised bis keen and fearful looking
sword, and giving it a wide sweep, brought
it down. say brought it down upon the
neck, for no one could see that be did not
even those within three feet Of him-upoD
the neck Of the subject with great force.
Blood spurted high into the air, some Of
it falling on our party, and deluged the stage
while the most fearful sound, something
between q groan and shrek of horror
from the whole assemblage shook the build
ing, 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 again, repeated 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 severed arteries
the lower jaw had fallen and the face had
assumed the appearance Of q corpse then
throwing it heavily upon the stage be re.
quested the committee to examine il, which
they did, passing it from hand to hand
They then examined the body upon the
table, from the headless 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
lileless matter, and, OF course, pronounced
the man dead to all intents and purposes.
After they had concluded their investiga
tion, 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 be laid il on the table, fitted the two
parts Of the neck to each other, and be.
gan TO mutter and make signs DOVER the
corpse. In about FIVE minutes the lately
decapitated man slowly turned bis ghastly
d altogether horrible face-white as snow
toward the audience, and an excitement
followed exceeding, II anything, that which
occurred when the first blow Of the sword
fell. In few moments the eyelids gradual.
ly opened and displayed the eyes wearing a
CLASSY, corpse-like stare; by degrees, a life.
ike speculation came into them, some color
returned TO the face; and, after stretching
his limbs, the man arose from the table,
resumed his coat, and walked down from the
stage and mingled with the crowd.
The exhibition was over. The neck Of the
apparently decapitated man bore red mark
and scar around il. like the cicatrice Of q
newly healed wound. All this saw with
my own eyes, which were as effectaally de.
ceived as those Of tens Of thousands OF other
persons. l could, in no way consistently
with reason, account Tor any feature Of this
horribly thrilling feat Of trickery. ! have
never heard Of the trick before, performed
by any other man, and very possibly il
originated and died with him. However, il
is scarcely more uDaecountable than many
often displayed feats Of the adroit Eastern
iugglers.-Nrr Orleans True Data.
The WEcossry BASKs-From the last
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