The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-08-13
A Shocking, Fellow.

George Bell, of Portland, Oregon, now
visiting friends in, this city. possesses
the remarkable popularity Of being able
to deliver shock as perceptible and dis
tinct as that from a galvanic battery. lie
attended the ball given by the Master
Mariners Association at 9B'nai Birth
Hall, ap6 there created considerable
amusement ior those who. knew the
secret of his powers by the way in which
he treated the ladies to whom he was in
troduced and with whom he mingled in
the dance. A Chronicle reporter called
upon him at the residence of his brother.
in-law, ". F. Peck, on Mission street,
last evening, to request an explanation
of the phenomenon.
"You can call it a phenomenon or
anything else" said Mr.. Bell, "but I can
give no explanation Of it. ] simply
possess the power of giving these, shocks.
and that's about all there is about it: 1
don't care about any senseless publicity
on the subject, though you can mention
it if YOU want to. / will tell you
how it works. There is good deal OF
electricity in my system. and when L
catch person by each hand it seems TO
pass from me to them. You've seen peoa
Die take hold of the handles of aTbattery;
well, my hands are just like those
handles. Give your hands and, l. Will,
show YOU" ..,.sal.i ss..3- -cy.. -
Mr.. Bell took the hands ofthe reporter
in his and pressed them tightly. A
shock of electricity, in no way differing
from that given by a galvanic battery,
"You see," said the living battery,
"when I draw in my breath the cleo
trio current seems to acquire great
power" The reporter felt the truth of
the remark as the sharp. prickly sensa-,
ton increased, as if q hundred invisible.
needles were being shot through the
arms. ~ ,..uslcI ,.la- al. .... ;.,,,.,s
"There, you have the whole thing,
description and experience, as much as I
can give" said he, as he dropped the
hands of the reporter. - tc
81 understand you could pick up.
needles, Mr.. Bell, with your fingers as
with a magnet" said the searcher tor
facts. -,
"Oh, no, I never could do that These
stories are always exaggerated, you.
know" replied he, as he lit his cigarette
and blew the white smoke out through
the open window. go, ,q,, :.
II presume it furnishes yourself and
riends abundant amusement when you
desire it" suggested the reporter:
"Well, yes; can have some fun now
and then. give the shock, you know:
when no one expects, it, and often 4
frighten the ladies when I place one hand
upon shoulder and grasp their hand
with the other. They take it in good
part nearly always, though / now and
then get into a little trouble with those
cross grained specimens Of humanity
whs never can take a joke"
"How do the ladies treat your elec
trical powersp Are they more fright
eued than the men?" d is.zt5GaF iac
"Of course. Did you ever know a
lady who wouldn't scream louder than q
man could when she saw q. child fall
down stairs? Those who don't know
me at all sometimes get frightened ;;but
the ones who do usually say. Oh, how
you shock me, Mr.. Bell and laugh. ]
Shock the ladies often, but I can't help
it, you know Ut, ...s.... ~
At this point Mr.. Bell announced tha,
he had an engagement to I'LL, and the
reporter withdrew.-Sdn Francisco
GhTOnicle.' E.ssf.... .Est k..1.ts,g. r'.s.S M