Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-03-04
SHOCKED BY AN EEL.
A Doubling Scientist is Rudeiy uis'
illusiOned. :.

A few years ago the stand OF Mr.
Rlackford, the widely known fish dealer
in Fulton Market, New York, had spec
al attraction in the shape of an electricoa
eel. and many were the stories OF lts
uncanny powers These were 70 highly
colored that, although crowds of people
went to see the fish, none could be tound
who was ready to put its reputed shock
ing powers to the test. 1t happened,
however, that an electrician, melted by
curiosity, found his way to the tank IN
which the fish swan about unnlolested.
The eel looked so harmless and so quiet
in his movements that the electrical mon
began to think that as means of pro-
ducing an electric shock he was a base
decelYer The more he pondered over
it the more he became convinced that
the innocent looking inmate OF the tank
hld no more electric power than yard
of underwriters wire, and he secretly re-
solved to put his suspicious TO the test at
he first opportunity.
The opportunity soon presented it.
self, relates Electricity. One evening
he was one of party who were return
ing from the theatre to Brooklyn, where
they resided Making a detour to the
Fulton Market, they resaled themselves
with the oysters for which that old land
mark is famous After the refreshments
Here disposed of the electrician offered
TO take bis friends in to see the wonder
full eel. 1t so happened that one OF
those present was also in the electrical
business, so the proposition was second
ed and carried unanimously. After tho
inspection, question arose as to the
voltage Of tho fish, and our hero, who
had long been anxious to tostt it, got
permission from ii MlXEi}ygo 70
which he handed to the wifed dt . bosom,
he rolled up his shirt sleeves aboYe the
elbow and proceeded TO action. Down
went the hand and arm into the water
and the fingers were brought in contact
with the fish The eel remained perfectly
passive and seemed rather to enjoy the
touch Of the fingers than otherwise,
showing not the slightest disposition to
exhibit its reputed powers. The
fshman was told his eel was no good,
and the electrician Joined in the chorus
Of reproach, and said that that
was Just what he had thought all along.
The fishman resented the incredulity of
the visitors, and said: "Well, just grasp
him around the body More convinced
than ever that the whole thing was sol
emn farce, the electrician invaded the
lair of the mystery Of the sea once more
and squeezed its slippery body with Il
considerable spice Of vindictivencss. In
an instant, TO the astonishment OF an
ejaculation which sounded suspiciously
like "HoIy Moses" the arm came up out.
of the depth with the force Of the piston
of u steam engine, the tremendous jerk
with which it was withdrawn bringing up
a delugeo Of water, which drenched every
body around The disilusioned expert
mentalist was the picture of astonish-
ment and modification, a3 tho wild
laughter Of his friends resounded through
the market and the surrounding fisher
men caught on to the joke and Joined
in the hilarity. He afterward remarked
that he took back all his sighting re-
marks. as the fish more than justified his
reputation, and if he ever got such
shock from a 1,000-volt dynamo as he
did from that eel he would go out of the
electrical business.