Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-01-10
The Lates. Triumph. of LsserdemaIn.


prof" Hartz is executing "a box
trick" before large New York audien-
ces, that is a triumph Of che necro-
mancer's art and beats anything yet
done BY the spirit performers. We
quote the story Of it from tho New
York Tribune: ais -l.19l sea
The professor steps forward, carry
ing a thick green rug probably ten
feet square. The seml-eIrcnlar stage
was covered with a heavy Brusselscar-
pet, and at the back between the pill
lars were hung crimson curtains. The
professor said that he had heard it
alleged that he had confederate un-
derneath the stage, and to show that
this was not true spread the rug upon
the carpet, after satisfying the specta-
tors that it was uncut An unpainted
box, about II feet long and Ia inches
deep and wide, was then carried upon
the stage and put down in the center of
the rug. 1t had aturn -over lid, fasteu-
ed at the back with three common iron
hinges, and two stout iron hasps fitted
to two staples driven into the trout of
the box. A few air-holes had been
bored through the top and sides. The
box had been put together with clineh-
ed nails, the ends 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 a multiplicity of curious knots
at every possible place. Even the
rope handles were made use of, and
the hasps, after being placed over the
staples, were securely fastened By tax
ing 4 turn through the latter. A mar
row 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 aroundi the
box, and the committee bound this
around with another rope, sealing the
knot as in the other case. The pro-
fessor $ assistant, q sfall-grown man,
diyested himself of his coat and dwaist-
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 enable the professor
to get a good grip on the open end.
One of the committee tied this tight
ly 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 9.39exact-
ly. Two minutes later rapping1 was
heard, the screens were removed, and
the muslin sack was seen lying empty
upon the box. All the seals were un-
broken The committee undid the
ropes and lifted the lid of the box,
and the man who had been tied up in
the sack stepped out, looking none the
worse, except for flushed face, Of his
close quarters. The professor had in
vain offered $1,000 to any one who could
take it out without breaking the seal,
cutting the material, or ripping the
seams. He disclaims any spiritualistic
aid. 1t is certainly a much more won
derful illusion" thanany Whichspiri
ualists have heretofore produced, and
is far more difficult Of performance,
apparently, than the cabinet trick of
the Davenport brothers. aaifH