The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-06-25
The Indian Basket Trick.

The Indian Basket Trick.
One of the most surprising feats of the
Indian jugglers is known as the basket
trick. The performer begins by bringing
upon the stage first young girl, and a
long, sharp-looking sword, then stand, or
short-legged table; and lastly large, deep,
oblong basket This basket he turns about
in all directions before the audience,
opening and shutting its flap or cover with
bang, and in fact doing everything he
can, even to thursting his sword through
its side, to show that it is basket and
nothing else. He then places the basket
upon the table, SO that the audience may
see that there is no communication between
it and the floor. He again ostentatiously
turns the basket on it's side, that the audi
ence may be finally satisfied that there is
nothing inside. "Now," says he, 81
intend to place the little girl in the basket,
and in order that you may see that the
basket is really empty, put in this stool
for her to sit upon for few minutes, before
pearce her with the swordr' After that
the table. lie then takes up the sword
and brandishes it fiercely. At this he
leads the girl up to the basket and bids her
get inside. But she runs off screaming
loudly. He brings her back, and asks her
why she is SO alarmed. She points to the
sword, which he then lays down, and tells
her that he will blindfold her. SO that she
cannot see the dreadful weapon. He then
proceeds to blindfold her with white
handkerchief, which nearly covers her face.
He picks up the sword again, when she
once more runs off, screaming, even though
she is blindfolded. At this the performer
seems to be very angry runs after her, and
drags her back to the stage. Taking out
the stool, he lifts her quickly into the bas-
ket and closes the lid. The audience are
then aware that the girl is actually in the
basket, for everything has been done in the
most natural and straightforward manner.
The performer then picks up the sword,
passes his finger along the edge, feels its
point, and suddenly thrusts it up to the
hilt into the basket. A piercing screams
follows the action, which he repeats again
and again, each thrust being followed by
scream, which presently dies away into
wailing moan; the girl is evidently dying
Another thrust, and no reply from the
imprisoned victim; she is evidently dead.
The juggler then turns the basket on its
side, opens the lid; and 10! there is nothing
inside. The murdered girl has mysterious
ly disappeared; and while the audience is
wondering how the trick is performed she
is seen at side box. She has torn off the
bandage, and jumps upon the stage, bowling
and smiling; attendants come in and remove
the basket and the performer retires amidst
great applause.
This is all the audience know and see;
but we will now disclose to you the modus
operanda of. this excellent performance
You must first have basket made with
false bottom, long enough to allow the girl
to lie down in it at full length; the basket
must be deep enough to deceive the audience
as to its false bottom-say four feet six
inches deep, and equally wide, with the
false bottom raised eighteen inches from
the real bottom. Young performers will
do we'll to have the false bottem lined with
sheet iron, to provide against such mistake
as thursting the sword too low. 1t will
also be as well to allow the audience to
examine and handle the sword, to show
that it is actually steel.
1t is necessary to have two girls of SINH
lar hight complexion, and color of hair,
dressed in exactly the same style. When
you begin, one of the girls must wait out
side the door until she is wanted. When
the first girl runs off the stage with her
handkerchief ON, you bring in the other
girl and quickly put her into the basket
Of course the audience will suppose it was
the girl who ran away, if this is done neatly
and rapidly. You shut her down in the
basket, and while in the act Of putting her
in you remove the stool. The latter action
allows you to lift the false bottom of the
basket, which the girl Immediately fastens
by means of catch-spring inside. This
prevents her from falling out when you
turn the basket on its side. You then
pierce the basket several times through the
middle with the sword, and at every thurst
the girl inside screams, and finally she
appears to die in anguish.
Meanwhile the first girl goes quietly
round to side box, or anywhere else you
may choose, ready to appear at the moment
you turn the basket on its side, to show
that it is really empty.