The Worthington advance., 1879-01-02
THE FIRE KING.
Passages From tile Life of a Snowman

Before relating few Of my advehtur-
ers, think al explanation Of some of my
principal fire.tricks may perhaps be in
teresting. During my engagement with
! Spicer, was announced us ''Victor De-
: |areuy, tho Fire King and though it
was presumed that was proficient in
the languages Of the continent, l 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 fest Of
swallowing boiling oil. There is no de-
ception. This is al 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
leat from the Ok, 'He will now take
stick of lead and stir the oil until it
melts away" (The metal Was not lead,
but a 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
cotfee.) "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, I took two turns down the stage, to
let the audience have fair view. ! then
took winegIass, apparently Of the or
dinary size, but only holding the con :
tents Of thimble. filled it from the
ladle, anp drank it off with much show
OF suffering through the inteL Sc heat; but
heat there was really none. By,'this
time the oil in the mortar was coiinpara-'
lively cool, and indulged in few glass;
es more OF the nauseous stuff.
Another performance was suppiny
bowlful Of burning brandy. The bowl
which was Of the commonest stone ware
the management could not afford any.
thing superior-1 placed on the table be-.
fore the audience; the brandy, being first
tested ,or rather tasted, by ene or two Of the
front Seats poured into the howl, and
set fire t. it. When the flames Halhea
high, l dipped dinner spoon into the
brandy, and seemed to iii it; when
took it out Of the brandy, I inverted the
bowl OF the spoon, and held it blazing be-
fore my open E1o outh; as I was closing
lips upon it, a gentle breath blew out the
Hame, end nothing entered my mouth
but the slightly heated spoon. This fire
supping required to be done speedily, to
prevent the spoon becoming overheated.
Unknown to the audience, used another
spoon tor my next sup, to give the first
spoon time for 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 prepara.
tion ef the: mouth was required; but in
those am about to describe, I rend. |
cred my mouth and skin much less sensR
tive, even to great heat, by a continual |
application Of liquid borax to the first, I
and by Amounting the second with pre.:l
paration of distilled water, sulphuric acid |
and onion-juice. Having thus made my;
sell. as it were fire prcof, I was prepared |
to eat any Quantity or tow, and a!terward |
blow volumes Of smoke out of nv mot1th, |
the inside OF which was lighted up with |
glow Of red heat. This l obtained by1
slipping a piece OF red-hot .harcosI, |
powdered with the sulphur, between my
teeth, having previousi y inhaled q long
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 t9ificu |
and dangerous; but its action WAS quite
the contrary. i
In swallowing molten lead, which was
not lead, but the compound already men
toned, poured the metal out OF the
crucibe into the palm Of my hand, al
lowed II to rest there tor Sec
ond OR two, iy which time it hardened
into lump. and then I showed it On nv
tongue, and appeared: to swallow It
Under the pretenec Of wiping my lips, | |
easily removed it unseen. II
= In my early Snowman days the only !
medium of advertising was, the bell:
man Of the town or village, wilo was paid
for his services by FREQ admission for
himself and family on the firsss morning /
Or evening of the performances. We !
often also had recourse to an indirect
method OF advertising our show; When t
not engaged atsthe booth, our usual resort !
was'the largest and most popular tap
room Of the neighborhood. Many time
have astoDished and terrified tie iDativ !