The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-12-05
Prof. Hartz's Box Trich
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
A respectable audience filled about
two thirds OF the large hall OF the Coop
er Institute Tuesday evening 10 wit
ness the low celebrated box trick OF
Professor Hartz. After a variety OF
clever sIeight-of- hand performances the
professor stepped forward, carrying a
thick green rug, probably ten feet
square. The semi circular stage wss
covered with heavy Brussels carpet,
and at the back between the pillars
were hung crimson curtains. The pro.
fessor eaid that many persons
thought be had confederate
underneath the stage, and 10 show that
this was not true be spread the rug up
on the carpet, alter satisfying the spec-
tators that it was uncut. An unpaInt-
ed box, about two feet long and seven
teen inches deep and wide, was then
carried upon the stage and put down 10
the centre OF the rug. 1t had turn
over lid, fastened at the back with three
common iron hinges, and two stout iron
hasps fitted 10 two staples driven into
the front OF the box. A few air-h oles
had been bored through the top and
side. The box had been put together
with clinched nails, the ends being
bound with sheet.iron. Three gentle
man from the audience stepped upon
the stage at the professor g request, an 3
having given the box a thorough ex-
animation bound il roupd and round
in expert fashion, tying q multiplicity
OF curious knots at every possible place.
Even the rope-handles were made use
OF, and the hssps, after being placed
over the staples, were securely fastened
by taking a turn through the latter. A
narrow red ribbon was tied tightly
about the frat knot snd sealed with
sealing-wax. A canvas cover in the
shape OF Roman cross was placed
around the box, and the committee
wound this around with another rope,
sealing the knot as 10 the other case.
The professor assistant, . full-grown
man, divested himself OF his coat and
b aistcoa;, aud submitted to have long
tight-fitipg sack OF thin muslin drawn
over his head and body. Then. lying
pom the box on his back, he drew 10
his legs 60 as to enable the professor to
get good grip on the open end. One
OF the committee tied this tightly
with b "a own handkerchief, aud il was
further secured By anotber piece OF rib
bon, which was sealed. Three common
screens were then placed around the
box, and the professor and his other
assistant aud the committee stepped
aside. This was a. $50 exactly. Two
minutes later q rspping was heard, the
screens were removed, and the muslin
sack WIS seen lying empty upon the
box. All the seals were unbrokeu The
committee undid the ropes and lifted
the lid OF the box, and the man who
had been tied 10 the ssck stepped out,
looking none the worse, except for a
flushed lace, Of his close quarters. The
sack, having been united, his hsndker-
chief vas found IN It. The professor
had in vain offered $1,000 to any one
who could take Il ou. without breaking z
the seal, cutting the material, or rip
ping the seaunr. He disclsined any
spiritualistic aid. II is certainly q much
more wonderful "illus:oa" than any
which spiritualists have heretofore pro-
duced, and ia far more difficult OF per-
tormsnce, apparently, than the
cabinet trick OF the Davenport Brothers.