Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-08
KniGp Hsntprs.

Every one knows that the itinerant Jug
glers who profess tO swallow knives, never
perform that feat in reality, but deceived
the ewes of their visitors by deXterity of
hand and skillful choice of position. There
are, however, several authentic cases of
knife swallowing on record; and the de-
plorable consequences that have uniformly
resulted, are alone sufficient to expose the
chicanery of the ingglers. The most re-
markable case of this kind, per APPS, that
ever occurred, is that of John Cummings,
who swallowed, at various times within a
few years, upwards of thirty clasp -knive'.
The following particulars respecting Cum
mings' insane teats are abridged from u
communication bV DR.. MArcet to the EdlR-
burg Philosophical Journal:
In the month OF June, l799 John Cum
mings, an American sailor, about twenty
three years of aye, bel & with his ship on
the coast of France, and having gone on
shore with some of his shipmates, about
two miles from the town of llavre de Grace,
he and his party directed their course to-
ward tent which they saw in field, with
a crowd of people around IL. Being told
that play was acting there, they entered,
and found in the tent Il mOuntebank, who
was entertaining the audience by pretend
ing to swallow clasp knives. Having re-
turned on board, and one OF the party
having related to the ships COM
pany the story of the knives, Cum
mings, after drinking freely, boasted
that he could swallow knives as well as the
Frenchman. He was taken at his word, and
challenged to do it. Thus pressed, and
though Gas he canddly acknowledged in
his narrative) "not particularly anxious to
take the job in hand, he did not like to go
against his word, and having good supply
OF grog inwardly," he took his pocket
knife, and on trying to swallow it, "it
slipped down his throat with great ease,
and by the assistance of some drink, and
the weight of the knife" it was conveyed
into his stomach. The spectators, however
were not satisfied with one experiment, and
asked the operator whether he could
swallow more % His answer was, "all the
knives on board the ships" upon which,
three knives were Immediately produced
which were swallowed as before "and by
this bold attempt of drunken man. 10
use his own eXpressions), 1.-THE company
were we'll entertained that night" In the
course of the two ensuing days he was re-
lieved of three of the four knives; but the
fourth, as far as he was aware, remained in
his stomach, though he never felt any in
convenience from it. After this great per-
formance, he thought no more of swallow
ing knives tor the space OfsiX years.
In the month of March, lS05 being then
at Boston, Massachusetts, he was one day
tempted, while drinking with a party OF
sailors, to boast of his former exploits, ad-
ding that he was the same mau still, and
ready to repeat his performance, upon
which small knife was produced, which
he instantly swallowed. In the course OF
that evening he swallowed five more. The
next morning Gro wds of visitors came to see
him, and in the course of that day he was
induced to swallow eight knives more,
making in all fourteen
This time, however, he paid dearly for
his trOlic, for he was seized the next morn
Ing with constant vomiting and pain at his
stomach, which made it necessary to carry
him to -Charlestown Hospital, where, be-
twixt that period and the 2Sth of the fol-
lowing month, he was again so fortunate as
to be relieved of his burden.
The next day he sailed for France, or
board the brig, which he parted there, anC
embarked on board another vessel to return
to America. But during her passage tht
vessel, which was probably carrying oil
some illicit traffic, was taken by His Males.
tvs ship, the Isis, of fifty guns, and sent tC
St. Johns, New Foundand, where she wai
condemned, while he himself was pressed
ana sent to England on board the Isis. ON
day, while at Spthead, where the ship lay
some time, having got intoxicated, and'hav
ing, as usual, renewed the topic his form
er follies, he was once more challenged Il
repeat the experiment. aud agaiu complied
%disdaihing," as he afterwards said, TO b.
worse than his word.H This took place OF