Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-06-06
WONDERFUL POWERS
INCIDENTS IN THE CAREER OF
A MIND READER.
Remarkable Performances While on
a Trip Through Mexico and Cuba
"A Tunult IN Havana.

Irving Bishop, the noted mind reader,
whose recent death in New York during
a trance created great sensation, is the
subject of an article in the New York
Herald by Harrison Willard. We quote
as follows:
Last August, after having given few
joint performances in California, Irving
Bishop and myself signed a contract to
go via Japan and China to Australia,
where brilliant business prospects Were
offered
After three performances in Mexico
we went to Guadalaiaro, Guanalatro
and Vera Cruz, always mystifying the
people and drawing good houses Bish-
OPP, however, was badly handicapped by
not knowing the language, as oftentimes
the interpreter but poorly translated the
intent of his remarks.
1t Guadalaiaro, Mexico, while the
committee were absent hiding valuable
diamond brooch. Bishop traced on a
map of the city the route the committee
took or We're taking. lie was blindfold-
ed while tracing the route. In Mexico
City, although the streets were, most Of
them, almost impossible. on account of
the floods and bad drainage, oven in the
daytime, yet ON the evening of the en-
tertainment at the Hotel Jardin, he
| dragged his committee at Il breakneck
/ speed through the streets, over the open
sewers, which were being pumped out.
They all returned from the private house
of Signor Escandon, where scarf pin
had been concealed, after frightening the
ladies Of the household, who thought
burglars were entering the house or
that they were beng invaded by band
of escaped lunatics The committee
were all wet, while he, with low pumps
and silk stockings, was scarcely damp.
While at Vera Cruz it occurred to us
TO go to Havana, and our manager (Sig-
nor Pastor) engaged by telegraph the
Tacon Theatre for three nights. We
opened to good house. But the man
ager Of the Alma Theatre was determined
ifpossible, that the entertainments should
not be a success, as it would naturally
draw away the public frop. his own
theatre.
He therefore posted people in differ
cut parts Of the house to call to each
other, with comments ON the perform
ance during the evening. At the first
experiment one of the physicians on the
committee expressed his doubts openly
TO the audience as TO whether Mr. Bishop
could not see through his blindfold 1t
was only when ] explained to him that
Mr.. Bishop could not do the experiments
unless he was tightly blindfoldcd, with
the eyeballs turned upwards as in a
hypnotism, that he was satisfied.
With constant Interruptions and L.
creasing discomfort the entertainment
proceeded until it became time for me
to sing my songs, as usual, in the mid
die of the evening. Mr.. Bishop was
only too glad to leave the stage after an
nouncing that 1 would occupy ten or
fifteen minutes of time. The audience .
kindly received me with hootings and
catcalls. As my first song from II due I
Foscari"1 had convenient recitativc in 7
it ! cody waited at convenient places
for the howlings to cease, and then went .
on smiling until / finished the song.
Many persons in the audience APP
plauded heartily, and l told the director
of the orchestra that "Di Provenza,
from ''La Tlaviata," would be the next .
selection; / finished that also with the
same results. Then Mr.. Bishop re-
turned. He announced the unfortunate
experiment of musical tlansferrence,
first explaining that he did not know
anything of music and did not play the
piano.
"Home, Sweet Home" was the melody
chosen again, as il is nine times out of
ten, and Mr.. Bishop played itas usual
but the audience was not familiar with
the tune, rs English audiences are, and
wanted some Cuban dance music or
some opera melody that they could rec
ognize
Mr.. Bishop got into one of his obstin-
ate fits and sat down ON the sofa, while
the audience raised perfect pandemon-
ium. He always refused to repeat an
The Captain General
called ms into his box, where his wife sat
pale with terror.
He said Mr.. Bishop must comply with
the wishes of the audience. Mr.. Bishop
refused point blank to try the expert
ment again. During the parley some
one in the audience arose and proposed
that as the programme had not been
performed as advertised the entire pro-
ceeds of the house be confiscated by
the authorities and given to the Charity
Hospital ]
Mr. Bishop was Mt last induced by j
me to try again and a man from the au-
lience came forward as the subject, as
none of the committee was musician [
enough TO suit the required conditions. /
The newcomer was requested to retire ]
10 the ante room alone and write the
name of some familiar italian opera.
When lie returned he was asked if he :
had done as requested. He said he had
written the name of a very popular
Spanish opera, the melodies of which !
nearly every one present was acquainted I
with. Mr.. Bishop declined to expert S
nent with him, as the conditions were q
that it was to be an italian opera.
The audience asked what difference t
L could possibly make whether it was 1
italian or Spanish. Mr.. Bishop unfor- '
replied that he was not familiar |
with any Spanish opera. L
The audience seized Immediately up /
IN that and said:-"Ohl You must be i