Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-01-31

s. was found 10 be filed with smoke, and
some shelving and other wood work blazing
away at pretty good rate. The fire was
occasioned by some charcoal which Doct.
S. had been using in the afternoon. and
which lie supposed he had entirely extin-
guished before leaving his office. Here is
another lesson which it becomes every one
to heed, at this season of the year particu
larly, as to the imPortanc. Of guarding
against fires and disasters of this kind
People cannot be too care rul in this respect.
VARIETY IN Town - The DAVENPORT
BOYS. Our city has experienced quite
sensation during few days past by the
manifestations of the Davenport Buys
The first Exhibition was on Saturday ev-
ening, and such was the curiosity excited
that on Monday evening a good house was
i'll attendance. A committee Of two gen.
tlemen was appointed by the congregation.
What is denominated the hex, is port
able closet, about seven feet long, six feet
high inside and three feet wide. resemb-
ling small room. 1t was placed upna
chairs, the side towards the audience, and
three doors upon hinges, when thrown open
outwards towards the audience. exposed
the whole interior to the view of those pre-
sent At each end of this little rom a
board seat was made fast to walls of the
room. so that in occupying them the boys
faced each other when tied about FIVE feet
apart The committee tied their hands
fast to the bench behind them: tied
their feet to the floor, and their bodies
firmly to the seat ami then the ends Of the
ropes used were secured at points beyond
the each Of their h; nds cn7fned as they
were by the tying. When in this condi-
ton the doors were closed. No sooner
was this done than several hands were
thrust Though small aperture in the cen
ter of the middle docr near he top, on the
outside of which, professedly for the pur-
pose of excluding tie light, black cur
tain WIS place |. A violin and tamh Drne
made very gnod music in the closet, and
a speaking trumpet was thrown out of the
aperture by the projec ing land and, by
compound movement lodged upon the top
of he closet. and in one instance tie bare
arm was revealed nearly or quite to the ell
bow. These hands were grasptd al d sha-
ken by various individuals, ard one or two
gentlemen who attempted to hold the hand
represent that they experienced a power
which they conld not control, and which
gave them pain.
Immediately a ter these various and re-
peafed manifestations the doors were open
ed, aud the men found to he tied as at
6rst. 1t is worthy of nn,ice. that the
plain. strong, wooden bolts 20 the doors
were on the inside, inaccessible from with
out, and that often, when the occupants
had just b.en tied were hearl to shove at
the moment the door was closed, which
must have been d ne by some agent inside.
and if by the boys. they must have, as in
putting their hands out of the aperture,
freed their hanls very suddenly.
We omitted to state that Rev. Mr. Me-
Intire was admitted to occupy with the
boys on one occasion, having seat be-
tween them with his hands confined upon
the boys laps. so that he could detect any
considerable movement on their part. As
before. on closing the ,ors. the hand was
Immediately thrust thr ugh the aperture.
musical notes were heard. &c &c, and
on emerging he stated that the boys had
remained quiet. and that, soon as the
doors were closed. he was pattetl upon the
head and face as by hand. that the tam
BORNE was placed upon his head several
times and allowed to fall upon the q por
hut finally was so placed there as to re-
II ain like hat. in which position it was
seen by the audience. when the doors open
ed
With few unmportant exceptions the
same course was repeated ON Wednesday
evening. On that evening. however. sever
al gentlemen thought they discovered ''ihe
trick :" 1t had been often noticed that,
as soon as the boys were lief, to themselves
aud V bile the manifestations were being
made. at the place where one of the boys
sat, cracking was heard. indicating a
on his part and it was hence
conjeetured that his band was instantly
drawn from its bond, Just as S, me men are
known to have slipped off hand cuffs which
tightly fitted their wrists. But here arose
another difficulty allowing the hands to
be at liberty. until released from the seat
md while sting upen it, reitbsr of them !