Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-24
VOLUME XVI.

machinery to assist him--no tables, with
Its false top, concealed apartments, and con-
tederate, perhaps, to effect the change, as
we see similar tricks performed in a place
fitted up by the magician for the purpose
but only my own quarters, in the full
bright light of day, with myself sharply
watching him within five feet, and my at
tendants grouped around almost as near
Having covered the rose with the cup, as
would be willing to make oath--for | saw
the rose distinctly, as the hollow vessel,
held by the top, went slowly down over it
the con Juror resumed his former place,
and said, Will your excellency be kind
enough to lift the cup and see what is un-
der it 2"
OF course | would have wagered a heavy
sum that the rose was still there for one
thing, because, expecting some trick, had
kept my eye Oh it to the last moment, and
was certain there was no possibility Of its
being removed after the hand had let go of
the cup at the top. | complied with his re-
quest stepped forward and raised the cup;
| but instantly dropped it, and bounded back
with cry Of terror-for there, instead Of
the red rose, was one of the little green,
deadly serpents Of India coied up and
!
| eyes fixed intently on mine. Snakes of any
! kind are my horror and this one not only
! Mortified me, but all my attendants, who,
with cries of alarm, enlarged the circle
very rapidly, for they knew its bite to be
| fatal
mo more such tricks as these, conju-
ror," said | sternly.
at is perfectly harmless, your excel
! lency," grinned the old man, walking up to
it, lifting it up by the neck, putting its
| head into his mouth, and allowing it to run
down his throat
! shuddered and half believed the Jug
! gler possessed of a devil, if not devil him
| self
| He next produced tube that looked like
brass, about two feet long, and half an inch
in diameter, and next the ball of twine
again.
| Where these things came from, or went
! to, could not tell. They seemed to be i'll
! his hands when he wanted them but |
never observed his hands passing near his
dress, either when they appeared or disap-
peared When | looked for the cup that
had lifted from the snake, it was gone, and
yet neither myself nor any of my atten-
dants had seen this wonderful man pick it
up! 1t was indeed jugglery, if not magic,
of the most unquestionable kind.
Through the brass tube the coniuror now
raised one end of the twine, which he put
between his teeth. He then placed the
tube between his lips, threw back his head,
and held it perpendicularly, with the ball
Of twine on the upper end. Then suddenly
the ball began to turn rapidly, and grad
ualy grew smaller, till it entirely disap-
peared, as if the twine had been run off on
a reel What turned it, or where it went
to- no one could see. The iuggler then
set the tube the other end up, and a new
ball began to form on the top, but appa-
rently ribbon, of half an inch in width and
of different colors. These rolled up, as if
on a bobbin, till it formed wheel of two
or three inches i'll diameter, when the per-
former seemed to toss ribbon and tube over
his shoulder, and that was the last | saw of
either.
He next reproduced what appeared to
be the same cup had lifted from the snake,
and showed something that looked like ali
egg, advanced the same as before, and
placed the latter on the ground and the for
mer over it, and again requested me to
raise it, which | declined to do, fearing |
Z
equally horrifying.
VIII any one lift the cup 2" said he,
turning to the others.
No one volunteered to do so, but all
rather drew back.
At this he took up the cup himself and
appeared to throw it into the air, and there
sat in its place beautiful dove, which flew
ND and alighted on his shoulder He took
it in his hand, muttered over some unintel-
Iigible words, seemed to cram it into his
mouth, and that was the last | saw of that
also.
He performed some other tricks similar
to these, and concluded with the mysteri-
Gus bag This bag--which somehow came
into his hands, as did the other things he
used in a manner unknown to myself-was
from two to three feet long, and about a
foot wide 1t looked as if it had been used
to hold some kind of -four, and | certainly
saw something like the dust of -four fly
from it when he turned it inside out and
beat it across his hands. He turned it
back again, and tied up the mouth of it
with string, muttering a low incarnation
all the time. This done, he threw it on the
ground and stamped on it, treading it all
out fiat with his feet. He then stepped
back few PAGES and requested us all to
fix our eyes upon it. We did so and af-
ter a lapse perhaps Of thirty seconds, we
saw it begin to swell up like a bladder
when being expanded with wind. 1t con-
tinued to swell till every part became dis
tended, and it appeared as round and as
as if filled with sand. Its solidity, how
ever, was apparent-for when the juggIer
went up and placed his foot omit, it yielded
to the pressure, but Immediately sprung
back, or rounded out as soon as that was
removed. He then jumped on it with both
feet, and 1attened it all out as at first. He
then went away again and the bag, being
left to itself as before, again began to rise
or initiate, but this time as if some animal
! like cat were inside of it. In fact could
see where there appeared to be legs and
| then, to my utter amazement, may almost
say horror, it began to move toward me, as
| if impelled by the unknown something in
| it?
! do not thing | am a coward--my worst
enemy has never accused me of being one,
at least-but | confess that on this oc ca
sion my nerves would not let me remain
passive, and | retreated from the advanc-
| inor ,J ;rf,