Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-10-07

! the shape and size OF an ordinary pis-
tol bullet. The hole where the not
wax escaped was sealed up and the
whole bullet thus created was blacken-
ed with lamp black, so that 1t resembied
q regular leadeu bullet. Then the per-
! former took another whole wax bullet
with little thicker shell than the first
one and filed it with bullock's blood,
which was sealed in and the bullet dis
colered. On the night Of performance,
which was at the close OF dinner, he
took the two leaden outlets handed him
bv the chief, examined the pistols, saw
that they were empty, and In thelr
presence out in the two charges OF
powder; then he caused the bullets TO
be marked and returned to him. lie
dexterously palmed the leaden bullets
and substituted those made OF wax, the
one that was TO be fired at him was
dropped into the barrel OF the pistol ana
the wad over it was rammed down
sufficiently hard TO reduce the wax to
powder, which was harmless the length
of the long DINING room table. lie
then took the Que containing the blood
and fred It at tho white wall, he having
been caaeful not to break 10 by ram
ming IL too hard. The effect on the
Arabs was indiscrbable, and there is no
doubt that Houdin's trip TO the north
OF Africa resulted as he intended, for
the benefit OF the French government.
A FALSE BARREL.
Another way of performing the shoot
ing trick is by having the pistol or gun
made so that the tube that connects
with the powder pin, if it be flint lock,
or with the cap if 1t be percussion
lock instead Of running into the 5reech
Of the barrel proper, runs down Into
, the tube that contains the ramrod.
Then the committee is called upon TO
mark the bullet, load the piece and fire
at the performer.
Now, the false barrel or ramrod tube
has been previously loaded with
strong charge of powder and wad only,
the ramrod is laid aside, the piece
speaks as loudly as though the charge
were fred from the regular barrel,
while no part of the barrel proper Is
charged with the powder and the lead
en- bullet remains undisturbed, the one
marked by the committee, having been
palmed by the performer, Is presented,
and the thing is done.
Still another way Of performing the
tricks is by having the r&mrod with
clamp inside hole cut at the end, so
that when the bullet is dropped in the
barrel of the piece and rammed down
the ramrod clutched il firmly, and the
harder the charge is rammed the more
! firmly the bullet is fixed in the end OF
| the ramrod, and both are laid aside
together, leaving nothing but the blank
charge to fire at the performer.
WITH BREECH LEADERS.
OF course these explanations are Civ
en- of the manner In which the trick is
performed with the old-iashiOned muz'
zle loading weapons, and the only ex-
plapation l can give Of the way In
which IL is done with breech loading
guns and metallic cartridges furnished
by the United State government is to
take the regular Springfield rifle, the
regulation ammunition, tell the soldiers
10 aim straight and FIRE together, and
do the trick the same as IL was done at
the Metropolisan Opera House before
over 5000 people.
Consistency is z jewel, and l would
not be consistent did not retire behind
the curtain OF mystery when II comes
to al explanation OF the manner In
which the thing can possibly De done
with breech loading weapons.
The successful magician OF to-day
necessarily surrounds himself ana MS
performances with as thick veil OF
mystery as did the Msgi OF the Persians
early in the history Of the hu man race,
bat ne need not be hypOcritical enough
TO claim the supernatural or 20 boast OF
the assistance OF anything beyond his
own dexterity provided he carries out
faithfully his promise to the public aud
give entertainment that does not utter
fere with religious or political senti-
ments Of the people he is attempting to
entertain. The Magi OF old claimed TO
nave the assistance Of good or evil
spirits, and some Of them bOasted OF be-
lag able to leave this world OF man
and take long or short journeys in
! spirit land, and 10 come back possess
! ing many truths valuable to themselves,
without expa aiming how or why, as their
audience was content 10 accept these
bold statements. ! never claim nor deny
aid from any source, but the reader
Z must al NIT CtIktiu ouOGub VI II huh
ness in my statements by the repeated
use of the word trick.
EXPENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS.
The path of a magician is not always
strewn with roses, as occasionally
thorn comes up among tbs rose leaves
that is long enough and strong enough
TO go clear through the sole Of his san
/ dal and direct the laugh he intended
| against Others toward himself. / re-
member once but 3 few years ago en-
PERTAINING some friends in Cincinnati
with some ordinary palming and chang
ing performances. / took silver dol
| lar, caused il 20 disappear, and in the
paim,of my hand where il bad previous
| IL n<sted was a twenty dollar gold piece.
| whI eh was passed around and examined
w 3 evident satisfaction by the party.
"A Young man came up and asked me
III could transform a silver hall dollar
| n a Ten dollar gold piece. 49,
OF course / assured him
so. took hit half