Omaha daily bee., 1883-05-07
Blstt, the Man. Fish, Beats the
Record, But Comes Out Of
the ordeal Apparently
Lifeless.
a.. LOU. Qlohs. Dsmoerat.


as long as 4 minutes. Tne trial
WAS to take place between 81
and 4 o'clock, and at 81
an eager crowd was on hand to get q
glimpse of Blstt and witness the exhi.
billion. The water was found to be
quite cold, and a half an hour was
spent in warming 1t. At $3.50 all was
In readiness, Gregory and st. John
being present with their timekeepers,
etc. The judges were: MI. VIM.
Steigers for MI. Gregory, and Mr..
Eugene Werthelmer for Mr.. st. John;
VIM. Chrlsty, time caller; John w.
Parle. referee. Daring the proceed
ings, however, things got q little
mixed, and Mr., Steigers did the time
calling, Referee Parle examined the
tank and pronounced the water ali
right and the arrangements proper.
Mr.. Stewart, the museum orator, ex.
planned to the audience all about the
feat which was to be attempted.
At $40 o'clock Prof. Blatt made his
appearance In a handsome scale suit,
and after being %applauded, said he
would do his beat to win the money
for Mr.. Gregory. He would first make
q preliminary trial to get himself In
readiness for the great struggle. He
would ask that when he went under
water time be called at the end OF the
first minute, and then at the end of
each half minute thereafter.
THE TANK
In which the trial was to take place is
a glass compartment alb ut six feet In
length and five feet deep, containing
three feet of clear, transparent water,
sffording a good view of the exhibitor
and ali his movements.
On the preliminary trial he remain
ed under one minute and ffty-nine
seconds, and when he came up he
looked 30 .ed In the face, and his eyes
were 30 bicodahot that many said they
did not believe he could stay under
three minutes. When the moment
arrived for Bait to go under for his
four minute trial he moved gracefully
to the left, falling upon his right knee,
his lief; leg beng extended down the
tank and his chin just touching the
water. Then Re raised his chin q few
inches, opened his mouth wide, drew
a long, big breath to iLfate his lungs
with as much air as possible, and sank
into Que corner, facing the audience,
with hl- head resting in the sngle of
the glaoc case. His eyes were closed,
and he appeared like one asleep. For
a minute liz did not move q muscle,
there not being q perceptible move.
meet Of the body. When Mr.
Steleers called Zone minute" there
was a movement of the right
hand, and then of the body, aad
shortly afterwards the chest began to
rise and fall, At two minutes 1t was
apparent that the man fish had begun
to suffer. One foot was first drawn
up, and HIS right hand clutched the
water convulsively. At three minutes
the spectacle became one Of extreme
agony to most of the lookers.on. The
mans lungs were fighting for oxygen.
His broad chest rose and fell like those
of q person making a last grand strug.
gle for N more breath of air. Bub.
bles were coming thick and fast from
his nose to the surface of the water,
denoting the escape of the last of the
life giving remnant from his body.
His form writhed and his legs trembled
like those of a Victim on the gallows.
As the seconds piled up
h HORROR OF DEATH
from asyhyxia gathered on his face,
his mouth opened and shut quickly,
and two white eyebslls glared from the
water. On their faces were reflected
the agony of the nan In the tank. An
artist who had hold of the reporters
arm olinched 1t as If he would tear the
fesh of, and said: "Good God! why
don't 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 q half!'
Several exclaimed, "That's enough"
and Manager 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 wa In a st,te of unut.
terable suspense. The Madagascar
woman and the Albino man,
the spotted boy, the armless and leg.
less man, the lady vocalists and the
male gymnssts were waiting In bre ath.
less horror, the ladies saying, "Oh,
why don't they take him outf At
three and three-quarter minutes there
were significant indications that ma.
ture had surrendered. The body
ceased to move, there were no more
contortions, the head was limp upon
the breast, For the past minute the
spectators had been sustained by the
hope that the distortions were the
simple incidents of prolonged holding
of the breath, but new they were GER
tain that the man had given up the
ghost. Take him outl' "Take him
out!' was the general cry. But no one
moved. Five seconds more, if he
can live through IT." called out Time.
keeper Steigers, his eyes flashing with
mingled excitement and terror. How
those FIVE seconds dragged!
-FOUR Minutes"
called StoIgers, but the man In the
glass case did not move. He laid like
one asleep In death. Then there was
fearful cries Of "Fake him out" and
attendants rushed to the tank. His
coat of mail weighs over twenty
pOunds. and one mar coulinot handle