The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-08
-Four Minntas under Water

When the moment arrived for Blatt
20 go under for his four-minute trial he
moved gracefully to the left, falling irD-
On his right knee, his left leg being ex-
tended down the tank and his chin inst
touching the water. Then he raised his
;hin few inches, opened his mouth
wide, drew a long, BIG breath to initiate
lhis lungs with as much air as nos
sible, and sank into one corner
facing the audience, with head resting
IN the angle OF the glass case. His ewes
were closed, and he appeared like one
asleep. For a minute he did not move
2 muscle, therenot being a perceptible
movement of the body When Mr.. Stei-
gers called zone minute, there was a
movement of the right hand, and then
Of the body, and shortly afterward the
chest began to rise and fall. At two
minutes it was apparent that the man
hsh had begun to suffer. One foot was
lrst drawn up, and his right hand clutch
ed the water convulsively. At three
minutes the spectacle became one ofex-
treme agony to most of the lookers-on.
The mans lungs were fighting for oxy-
] gen. His broad chest rose and fell like
that OF person making a last grand
struggle for one more breath of air.
Bubbles were coming thick and fast
from his nose to the surface of the wat
er, denoting the escape of the last of the
life-giving remnant from his body. As
the seconds piled up the horrors of death
IRON asphyxia gathered on his face, his
mouth opened and shut quickly, and
two white eyeballs glared from the wat
er. Spectators began to get sick with
terror. On their faces were reflected
the agony of the man in the tank. An
artist who had hold of the reporters,
arm clutched it as if he would tear the
flesh oil, and said; Good God! why
don they take the man out?" The
faces of the time-keepers and Judges
were livid with horrible excitement. and
when Mr.. Steigers called out wildly,
three minutes and n half!'' several
exclaimed, that's enoughr' and man.
ager Gregory cried, Take the man out,
I'll give the money up!' But the man
staid, piling one second on another in
his terrible feat. The whole museum
vas in state of unutterable suspense.
The Madagascar woman and the AlbinC
man, the spotted boy, the armless and
legless man, the lady vocaIists and the
male gymnasts were watching in breath
less horror. the ladies saying, ''oh. why
don't they take him out?' At three and
three-quarter minutes there were signif-
icant indications that nature had sur
| Il 4 10.
there were no more contOrtions, the
head was limp upon the breast. Fol
the past minute the spectators had been
sustained by the hope that the distor-
tons were the simple incidents ola pro
longel holding of the breath, but now
they We're certain that the man had Civ.
en- up the ghost. Take him outr
Take him out! was the general cry
Bat no one moved Five seconds
more, if he can live through it, called
out timekeeper Steigers, his eyes flash
inc with mingled excitement and terror
How those FIVE seconds dragged. .Fom
minhtes! called Sleigers, but the man
LIN the glass ca Hid no, .lnpy6, He lay
like one : leeisin death. Then Their,
| were fearful CRIES OF take him OUT
and attendants rushed TO the tank. His
coat of mail weighs over stweHtypounds
and one man could not handle him, ant
when the assistant got over the tank ant
Blatt was drawn up four minutes clever
and bali seconds had expired lie
was as limp as a rae. HIS body mt
limbs fell around like man Just dead
Cries oi take him To TIE platform!
roll him on the tloor" were heard on
all sides. For Il moment they resteC
the body on the frame of tine tank, then
it was DRAGGED down, hitting heavily
against the railing of the small stair
way HEADING to the platform. But
in the midst OF a wild uprUar and eX.
element, when everyone VAS filled with
a horror that life had been. wantonly
! sacrificed, Blatt began to show signs o.
vitality, and all at once he struggled tC
his feet, rubbed his eyes and head Wig
orously,. looked wildly about him anC
said: Ladies' and gentlemen, ear
beat that time. 81, Louis Globe Dem
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