Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-29
THE FIRE KING.

Passages From the Life Of q Snowman.
Before relating & lew Of my adyentur-
ers, think &C explanation OF some Of my
principal fire tricks may perhaps be in
teresting. Daring my engagement with
Spicer, | was announced as "Victor De-
lareuz, the Fire King and though il
was presumed that | was q proficient in
the languages Of the continent, I OF
course knew not a word OF English; CON
sequently opcer performed the part of
talking exhibitor somewhatin this strain
"Ladies and gentlemen, introduce Mon
sieur Dearouy in his unequaled feat of
swallowing boiling Oil. There is no de-
ceptlon. This is an ordinary saucepan,
without any preparation. The oil is as
hot as it can be made. I pour the con
tents of the pan into this goblet" (The
goblet was an old laboratory mortar OF
gunmetal, which drew away much of the
heat from the OF. "He will now take a
stick Of lead and stir the OIL until it
melts away (rhe metal was not lead,
but compound in which bismutb pre-
dominated, and which may be procured
in the forln of teaspoons at any of the
principal dealers in magical toys. These
spoons will dissolve in cup of tea Or
cofee.) THE lead is melted; he will
now drink the Oil" At this point took
a spoon, in shape like punch-ladie, but
with mich longer handle. Having filled
this, took two turns down the stage, to
lei the audience have fair view then
took Wineg lass, apparently Of the Or
binary size, but only holding the con
tents of q thimb!e, flied it from the
ladle, ana drank it off with much show
OF suffering through the intelse heat; but
heat there was really none. By this
time the OIL IN the mortar was compare
lively cool, and INDUCED in g few glass
es more OF the naUseous stuff.
Another performance was supping q
bowlful of burning brandy. The bowl
which was OF the commOnest stone ware
the management c0ald not afford any
thing superIor-E placed on the table be-
fore the audience; the brandy, being first
tested, or rather tasted, by one or two OF the
front Seats" poured into the bowl, and
SET fire 10 it. When the flames flashed
high, l dipped dinner spoon into the
brandy, and seemed to fill it; when l
took it out OF the brandy, I inverted the
bowl Of the spoon, and held it blazing be-
fore my open Mouth; as | was closing
lips upon it, d 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 oTeTheatcd,
Unknown to the audience, l used another
spoon for my next sup, to give the first
spoon time Ter cooling; and | continued
supping 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 eff 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 he second with pre-,
paration OF distilled water, sui phurc acid
and onion juice. Having thus made my
self as it were fire pr>of, 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 l obtained by
slipping piece of red hot charcoal
powdered with the sui phur, between my
teeth, having previously inhaled lon:.
breath, and then breathing smartly, and
thus showing small mass Of blue and
red fire. Some may think that the
sulphur rendered the trick more difficult
and dangerous; but its action was quite
the contrary.
swallowing molten lead, which wa!
not lead, but the com pound already men
crucible into the palm Of my hand, al
lowed ii to rest there tor sec
ond or two, by which time it hardened
into lump, and then showed it on my
tongue, and appeared to swallow 1t
Under the pretense Of wiping my lips,
easily removed it unseen.
In my carly Snowman days the only
medium OF advertising was the bell
man of the town or village who was pait
for his services by q tree admission fo
himself and family on the first morning
vi CHCuIuS VI ptA III VIZ
often also had recourse to an indirec
method of advertising our show. Wher
not engaged at.the booth, our usual resor
was the largest and most popular tap
room of the neighborhood. Many a tim,
have l astonished and terrified the native
by taking with my bare fingers red-ho
coal from the fire and lighting nv pip
with it, and then carrying 1t round to th
gaping countrymen, Offering light t.
each.
Of course was always in condition
OF professional preparation during ny
reign as Firc-king. One evening, afte
successful performance at Uxbridge,
entered tap-room in little town.
had hardly sat down before was request
ed, as being nearest the fire, to give il
stir up. A glance round convinced me
that [ was goiu!; to be made the victim
ola plot. | seized the large ball which
formed the handle of the poker, and which
I saw at a glance had been previousl,
heated to redness for the benefit of tn,
first unsuspec Jog conner. The trick wa
at the time much in vogue, and neve
failed to elicit shouts of der slve laughte
tn expense OF the victim. The poke