The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-11-30
THE INDIAN BASKET TRICK.



| of the Indian basket trick made
great sensation. The curtain aros
and disclosed a wicker basket o. oh
! long shape standing upon what ap
peared to be a light table, withou
any cloth cover upon it. The jug
gler entered, dragging q beautlc
youth, dressed as an Indian prince
wearing a robe of white cashmer
embroidered with gold, while upol
his head waved reaccck's plum
held by a diamond star.
"Mercyl mercy'' cried the child
"No-no mercy. You are II
Indian and prince, and must die,
was the savage response.
II am only child, cried the ino
nocent boy.
"That will not prevent my killing
YOU
With piercing sArieks the child
broke away and rushed to the side
wing, to be seized there by his
executiorer, who, lifting him in his
arms, plunged him into the basket,
which he closed, strapping down the
cover. Then he drew his sword,
and having tested its sharpness By
striking it in the floor, he thrust it
in the basket again and again, while
the victim inside gave the most
heartreuding cries Of pain and agony.
Each time the sword was pulled out
it was seen to be covered with blood,
while the sobs and groans from the
inside OF the basket grew fainter,
till at length they ceased, and a
ghostly silence ensued. During this
scene the excitement among the au-
dience was intense. Ladies hid
their faces behind their fans: some
wept aloud; men shouted hoarsely,
enough The smiling juggler
bowed, and proceeded TO unstrap
The basket, which he turned mouth
upward, to the audience. IN the
midst of ne applause which followed |
rom the amused and relieved audi |
,nce, the littlo Indian prince was
cen to he seated in q box in the
entire of the auditorium, kissing his
my hand TO those about him, as
veil as to his friend, the execusioner
N the stage
This trick was performed with
he aid of looking-glass inserted
etween the table legs, a contrivance
ow commonly used in pantomimes
nd other showpieces upon our stage.
'ut il was a new thing then, and
he scene was Ikably we'll
layed by HOudin aud the child. As
BON as the boy got in the basket be :
pened trap door in the bottom
( it which was placed over cor.
opening in the table.
hidden by the looking glass, he
rouched below, between the table 6
,gs, and shrieked and sobbed until
10 proper moment came for him to T
escend through a trap in the |
age, and so pass around TO the |
OK in front Of the theatre. A q
,onge full Of red liquid was placed /
a certain spot inside the basket, c
nd the sword, passing through d
lis, seemed to be dripping with |
Iood. 1t was imperative that i
Ie juggler should not pass in front s
the table, his legs would have l
zen reflected there, and that would s
I'VE disclosed the entire secret. n
oudin became dissatisfied with this u
ick, and made many improvements s
it, which the joggiers of our
y have still further perfected. 1t s.
palpable that this cannot be the
~ in which the Indian jugglers
rform the trick in the market C.
aces or other public squares in b
Dad day light. They have no u
1king glass table, no traps through el
e earth. I;
Houdins' theory concerning them tC
Is that their basket had an OPEN
: in it either at. its front or its 81
ok, and that, while buckling and n
apping down the cover. with the
ee lifted up and pressed on the 81
sket as if to tighten the leather Il
ap more securely, the child crept ii
t uuder the bent knee, and hid IL
meath the voluminous robes Of the IN
,gler. Then. while the sword is al
,rcing lbe basket, and the childis
1s are most heartrending, the fc