The Volcano lubricator. (Volcano, W. Va.) 1871-1879, 1873-12-16
From The New York Tribune.
Prof. Eartz'S Box Trick.

A respectable audience filed about
two-thirdS Of the large hall OF the
Cooper Institute Tuesday evening, to
witness the now celebrated box trick |
Of Professor Ilar;z. After variety |
Of clever Slcight of-hand performances
the Professor stepped forward, carry |
ing thick green rvg, probably ten
feet square. The Scmi.circular stage
was covered with heavy Brussels |
carpet, and at the back between the
pillars were hing crimson curtains
The Professor said that many persons
thought ne had a confederate under
Meath the stage, and to show that this |
was not true he spread the rug upon
the carpet, after satisfying the specta'
tors that it was urcut. An urPain'ed
box, about two feet long and seven
teen inches deep and wide, was then
carried upon the stage and put down
in the center of the rug. 1t had a
turn over I'D, fastened at the back with
three common iron hinges, and two
stout iron hasps fitted TO two staples
driven into tie front of the box. a
few air-holcS had been bored through
the top and side. The box had been
put together with clinchcd nails, the
ends being bound with sheet-iron.-'
Three gentlemen from the audience
stepped upon the stage at the Profess
sor'S request, and having given the box
a thorough examination, bound it
round and round in expert fashion, ty-
ing multiplicity Of curious knots at
every possible place. Even the rope
handles were made use Of, and the
ha$pS, after being placed over the sta
pies, were securely fastened by taking
a turn through the latter. a narrow
red ribbon was tied tightly about the
first knot and sealed with sealing-waX.
\ canvas cover in the sh7 pc Of Ro-
man cross was placed around the box,
and the committee wound this around
with another rope, sealing the knot as
in the other case. The Professors as
sistant. full-grown man, Invested
himself Of his coats and waiStcoat, and
submitted to have long tight fitting
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 enable the Professor to get
good grip on the open end. One OF
the committee tied this tightly with his
own handkerchief. and il 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 0:3o exactly. Two
minutes later rapping was heard, The
screens were removed, and the muslin
sack was seen lying empty upon the
box. All the seals were unbroken.-
The committee undid 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, except
for flushed face. or his close quar-
rcrs. The sack having been united,
the handkerchief was found in it.
The Professor had in vain offered ST.
900 to any one who could take it out
without breaking Tie seal, cutting the
material, or ripping the seams. He
disclaimed any spiritualistic aid. 1t
is certainly much more wonderful!
illusion" than any which spiritualists
have heretofore produced, and is far
more difficult OF performance, appa-
rently, than the cabinet trick of the
Davenport Brothers.