Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-29
THE FIRE KING.
Passages From the Life of Snowman.

THE FIRE KING.
Passages From the Life of a Snowman.
Before relating few of my adventur-
ers, think az explanation of some of my
principal fire tricks may perhaps be in
teresting. During my engagement with
Spicer, was announced as "Victor De-
lareux, the Fire King" and though it
was presumed that I was proficient in
the languages of the continent, I of
course knew not a word OF English; con-
sequently opicer performed the part Of
talking exhibitor somewhat in this strain !:
"Ladies and gentlemen, introduce Mon
sieur Delareux in his unequaled feat of
swallowing boiling oil. There is no de-
ception. This is an ordinary saucepan,
without any preparation. The oil is as
hot as it can be made. pour the con-
tents of the pan into this goblet" (The
goblet was an old laboratory mortar of
gun-metal, which drew away much of the
heat from the OF. "He will now take
stick of lead and stir the oil until it
melts away" (rhe metal was not lead,
but compound in which bismuth pre-
dominated, and which may be procured
in the form of teaspoons at any of the
principal dealers in magical toys. These
spoons will dissolve in a cup of tea or
cofee.) 1.-THE lead is melted; he will
now drink the OIL" At this point took
a spoon, in shape like punch-ladle, but
with much longer handle. Having filled
this, took two turns down the stage, to
let the audience have fair view. then
took wineg ASS, apparently of the Or
binary size, but only holding the con
tents of a thimbIe, filled it from the
ladle, ana drank it off with much show
Of suffering through the intense heat; but
heat there was really none. By this
time the oil in the mortar was compare
lively cool, and INDUCED in few glass
as more OF the nauseous stuff.
Another performance was supping
bowlful of burning brandy. The bowl
which was OF the commonest stone ware
the management could not afford any
thing SUPERIOR placed on the table be-
fore the audience; the brandy, being first
tested, or rather tasted, by one or two of the
"Gont seats" poured into the bowl, and
set fire to it, When the flames flashed
high, dipped dinner spoon into the
brandy, and seemed to fill it; when l
took it out OF the brandy, inverted the
bowl of the spoon, and held it blazing be-
fore my open mouth; as was closing
lips upon it, gentle breath blew out the
fame, and nothing entered my mouth
but the slightly heated spoon. This FIRE
suppiug required to be done speedily, to
prevent the spoon becoming overheated
Unknown to the audience, used another
spoon for my next sup, to give the frat
spoon time 1cr cooling; and l continued
suppiug until the flames died out. finish
ing the feat by drinking off the small
quantity Of harmless liquid that was left.
In the above performances no prepare
ton Of the mouth was required; but in
those I am about to describe, I rend.
cred my mouth and skin much less sensi-
tive, even TO great heat, by continual
application OF liquid borax to the first,
and by amounting The second with pre-
paration OF distilled water, sulphuric acid
and onion-juice. Having thus made my.
self as it were fire prcof, I was prepared
to eat any quantity of tow, and atterward
blow volumes Of smoke out of my mouth,
the inside OF which was lighted up with
glow of red heat. This I obtained by
slipping q piece of red-hot charcoal,
powdered with the sulphur, between my
teeth, having previously inhaled a Ion
breath, and then breathing smartly, and
thus showing small mass of blues and
red fire. Some may think that >the
sulphur rendered the trick more difficult
and dangerous; but its action was quite
the contrary.
nswallowing molten lead, which was
not lead, but the compound already men
toned, poured the metal out OF the
crucibIe into the palm of my hand, al
lowed il to rest there tor a Sec
ond or two, by which time it hardened
into lump, and then I showed it on my
tongue, and appeared to swallow 1t
Under the pretense of wiping my lips,
easily removed it unseen.
In MY early Snowman days the only
medium OF advertising was the bell
man of the town or village, who was paid
for his services by tree admission fol
himself and family on the first morning
or evening Of the performances. We
often also had recourse to an indirect
method OF advertising our show. When
not engaged at.the booth, our usual resor,
was the largest and most popular tap
room Of the neighborhood. Many time
have astonished and terrified the native;
by taking with my bare fingers red-hot
coal from the fire and lighting nv pipe
with it, and then carrying 1t round to the
gaping countrymen, offering light tc
each.
OF course was always in condition
OF professional preparation during my
reign as Flre-king. One evening, after
successful performances at Uxbridge,
entered a tap-roomin little town.
had hardly sat down before was request
ed, as being nearest the fire, to give ii a
stir up. A glance round convinced me
that was goin, to be made the victim
of plot seized the large ball which
formed the handle of the poker, and which
l saw at a glance had been previously
heated to redness for the benefit of the
first unsuspeciing conner. The trick was
at the time much in vogue, and neve,
failed to elicit shouts of der slve laughte,
III expense OF the victim. The poke,