Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-12-12
The Davenport Brothers Eclips-
ed-A Wonderful BOX Trick

A respectable audience filled about two
thirds of the large hall of the Cooper In
stitute, New York, Tuesday evening to
witness the now celebrated box trick of
Professor Hartz. After variety of clever
slight-of-hand performances, interspersed
with really excellent piano music by a
young lady, the professor stepped forward,
carrying a thick green rug, probably ten
feet square The semi-circular stage was
covered with heavy Brussels carpet, and
at the back between the pillars were hung
crimson curtains. The professor said that
he had heard it alleged that he had a con-
federate underneath the stage, and to show
that it was not true he spread the rug up
on the carpet, after satisfying the specta-
tors that it was uncut. An implanted box
about two feet long and seventeen inches
deep and wide was then carried upon the
stage and put down in the centre of the
rug. It had a turnover lid, fastened at
the back with three common iron hinges,
and two stout iron hasps. fitted to two
staples driven into the front of the box
A few air-holes had been bored through
the top and sides. The box had been put
together with clinch nails, the end being
bound with sheet-iron. Three gentlemen
from the audience stepped upon the stage
at the Professors request and having given
the box thorough examination bound it
round and round in expert fashion, tying
multiplicity Of curious knots at every pos
sible place. Even the rope-handles were
made use of, and the hasps, after being
placed over the staples, were securely fast
ened by taking turn through the latter.
A narrow red ribbon was tied tightly about
the first knot and sealed with sealing wax.
A canvas cover in the shape Of a Roman
cross was placed around the box, and the
committee bound this with another rope,
sealing the knot as in the other case. The
profess or's assistant, a full grown man, di-
vested himself of his coat and waist-coat,
and submitted to have long tight-ftting
sack of thin muslin drawn over his head
and body. Then, lying upon the box on
his back, he drew in his legs so as to en-
able the professor to get good grip on the
open end. One of the committee tied this
tightly with his own handkerchief, and it
was further secured by another piece of
ribbon, which was sealed. Three common
screens were then placed around the box,
and the Professor and his other assistant
and the committee stepped aside. This
was at $50 exactly. Two minutes later a
rapping was heard, the screens were re-
moved, and the muslin sack was seen ly-
ing empty upon the box. All the seals
were unbroken. The committee undld
the ropes and lifted the lid of the box, and
the man who had been tied in the sack
stepped out, looking none the worse, ex-
cept for flushed face, of his close quar-
tiers. The sack having been united, his
handkerchief was found in it, The pro-
fessor had in vain offered 81 900 to any one
who could take it out without breaking
the seal, cutting the material, or ripping
theseams. He disclaimed any spiritualis-
tic aid. It is certainly a much more Won
derful 'sillusion'' than any which Spiritu-
alists have heretofore produced, and is far
more difficult of performance, apparently,
than the cabinet trick Of the Davenport
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