Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-01-06
Tho Indian Box Trick.

The Indian box trick Il confound-
ing the thestre-goers In New York
and London. It seems to defy oil
known Laws Of science. from the fol-
lowing account In the New York TIT
buae:
AFTER a variety Of clever s~leightof-
hand performances, Interpreted with
really excellent plano music BY q
young lady. Professor Hartz stepped
forward. carrying q thick green ruT.
probably ten feet square. The SEMI
circular stage was covered with Q
heavy Brussels carpet, and at the back,
between the pillars, were hung GRIM
sou curtains. The Professor said thar
he had heard it alleged that he had q
confederate underneath the stage, aud
to show that this was not true he
spread the rug upon the carpet, AFTER
satisfying the spectators thar u was
uncut. An implanted box. about TWO
feet long and seventeen Inches deep
aud wide, was then carried upon the
stage and put down Ia the center Of
the rug. Il had q turnover lid, las
tened At the back with three common
Iron hinges, and two stout Iron
hasps fitted to two staples driven in-
to the front Of the box. A few
air.holes had been bored through tie
top and sides. The box had been put
together with cllnched nails, the ends
OF the box bound with shcet.iron.
Three gentlemen from the audience
stepped upon the stage, at the Fro
fessor's request, and, having given tho
box 4 thorough examinstiou, bound u
| round and round In expert fashion,
tying q multiplicity Of curious knots at
every possible place. Even tho rope
handles were made use Of mud tho
liasps, after being placed over tho
staple, were securely fastened by taxi
lug . turn through the latter. A mar.
now red ribbon RAJ tied tightly about
the irst knot aud sealed with scaling.
wax. A canvas cover, In the shape OF
a Roman cross was placcd around the
box, aud tho committee bound this
around with another rope, sealing tho
knot rs In the other case. The Fro.
f~essor's assistant, = full.grown man,
Invested himself Of his coat and waist
coat. and submitted to have n long,
tight-httlng 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 eni. One
OF the committee tied this tightly With
his own handkerchief, and It was fur.
ther secured by another piece OF rio-
bon, which was sealed. Three coin.
mon screens were then placed around
the box. aud the professor aud his 9th.
or assistant aud the committee stepped
aside. This was at 9:30 exactly. Two
minutes later q tapping was heard. the
screens were removed, and the muslin
sack was seen lying empty upon the
box. All the seals were nnbroken.
The committee undld tho ropes and
lifted the lid of the box, and the man
who had been tied In tho sack stepped
out looking none the worse, except q
flushed face, or Ills close quarters. The
sack having been united his handker-
chief was found In It. The professor
had In vain offered $1,000 TO any one
who could take 1t out without break.
Ing the seal, cutting the material or
ripping the seams. lie disclalmed any
spiritualistlc aid. II Is certainly q
much moro wonderful Illusion than
any which splritualists have hereto
fore produced, and II Is far more dlfi.
cult Of performance, apparently, than
the cabinet trick Of the Davenport
Brothers."