The Hawaiian gazette., 1883-10-10
Fonr Minutes Under Water.


When the moment arrived for Blatt to 60
under for his four minute trial be moved grace
fully to the left, falling upon his right knee,
his left leg being extended down the tank, and
his chin Just touching the water. Then he
raised his chin few inches, opened his mouth
wide, drew a long big breath, TO initiate his
lungs with as much air as possible, and sank
into one corner, facing the audience, with ms
head resting in the angle Of tie glass case his
eyes were closed, and he appeared Ike one
asleep. For minute he did not move mus
Gle, there not being perceplble movement
of The body. When Mr.. Steigers called one
minute" there was a movement oil Inc rlghI
hand, and then of the body, and shortly aiter-
wards the chest began to rise and iall. Az
two minutes II was apparent that the man-hsh
had begun TO suffer- One foot was firstdrawn
mn and his right hand clutched the water con-
vulsively. At three minutes the spectacle be-
came one of extreme agony to most OF the look
ers.on. The mans lungs were hghtlng lor
oxygen. His broad chest rose and fell like
that of person making last grand struggle
for one more breath Of air. Bubbles were
coming thick and fast from his nose to the sur
face 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 of the gallows. As the sec
onds piled M, the horrors of death from as
phyxia gathered on his face, his month opened
and shut quickly, and two white eye-balls
rlared from the water. Spectators began to
get sick with terror On their faces were re-
hected 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 of,
and said: GOOD God! why don't they take
the man out?" The faces of the timekeepers
and Judges were livid with horrible excitement,
and when Mr.. Steigers called out wildly,
Three minutes and half" several exclaim-
ed, "That's enoughl," and Manager Gregory
cried. "Take the man out; I'll give the money
up!" But the man stayed, piling one second
on another in his terrible feat. The whole
museum was in state Of unutterable suspense
The Madagascar woman and the Albino man,
the spotted boy, the armless and legless man,
the lady vocalists, and the male gymnasts
were watching in breathless horror, the ladies
saving. ooh, why don't they take HIM ont?'
At three and three-quarter minutes there were
significant indications that nature had sur
rendered. The body ceased to move, there
were no more contortious, 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 now
they were certain that the man had given up
the ghost. "Tale him out! take him out!
was the general cry. But no one moved.
Give seconds more, if he can live through
it'' called out Timekeeper Steigers, his eyes
flashing with mingled excitement and terror.
How those five seconds dragged! -Four
minutesi' called Steigers; but the man in
the glass case did not move He lay like one
asleep in death Then there were fearful
cries Of "Take him outl' and attendants
rushed to the tank His coat Of mail weighs
over 2Olb., and one man could not handle
him, and when the assistant got over the tank
and Blatt was drawn up 4min. II 5sec. had
expired He was as limp as . rag. His body
and limbs fell around like man Just dead.
Cries Of "Take him on the platforml" "Roll
him on the hoorl'' were heard on all sides.
For a moment they rested the body on the
frame of the tank, then it was dragged down,
hitting heavily against the railing Of the small
stairway leading to the platform. Many peo-
pie rushed out as if they wanted to escape
the last act of the tragedy. But in the midst
of a wild uproar and excitement, when every
one was filled with horror that life had
been wantonly sacrificed, Blatt began to show
signs of vitality, and all at once he struggled
to his feet, rubbed his eyes and head vigorous
Iy, looked wildly about him, and said: Ladies
and gentlemen, / can beat that time. M.
Louis Globe Democrat.