The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-09-29
GREEK NET GREEK
HOW THE coNTORTIoNISTS GREAT
SCHEME CAME TO GRIEF.
1t Was a Money Making Game Until Hyde
and Smith Laid Trap to Beat It-Once
That the Spaniard Didn't Unite Himself
Inside of Two Minutes.

In down town cafe, where theatrical
men sometimes gather, half dozen old
timers sat one afternoon last week. They
had talked about everything when one of
them suddenly asked:
Say, boys, did 1 ever tell you about
that game that Jim Hyde and Ike Smith
put up on Spanish contortionist about
10 years ago!'
The others had not heard tho story, so
the speaker resumed:
at was away back in 1884. The theat-
rical season had been very dull. Many
managers were on their uppers, and as for
the ticket Spectators, they couldn't make
living. Hyde and Smith were specula-
tors. Both had families depending upon
them for support, and for months they
racked their brains for some scheme by
which to make money. They finally hit
it, but they had to lay low for some time
afterward, as the man they made a vic
tim of threatened to shoot them ON sight.
I'm 1884 the Arion saloon, on lower
Broadway, was quite resort for sporting
men. One night a why little Spaniard
walked into the saloon and got in CONVEX
sation with a couple Of sporting men.
: Would either of you gentlemen like
to make little money! he asked. Both
/ to increasing their capital and then the lit
| tie Spaniard unfolded his scheme. He
was a professional contortionist, he said,
and, in addition to being able to twist
himself into all sorts of shapes, he was
also - Die to wriggle himself out of any
rope with which he might be tied. His
scheme was to have the two men make
bets on his ability to do it. The men fell
right into the scheme.
The next night the Spaniard went to
the saloon again and announced that he
would bet S25 that no 10 men in the
place could tie him SO securely that he
could not free himself in two minutes.
Jack johnson, gambler, took him up,
and the two sports succeeded in placing
about $500 in bets. The Spaniard let
himself be tied up with rope and was
then placed in big potato bag. The
mouth of the bag was tied securely, and
with watches in hand the crowd watched
the bag. There was one or two Triggles,
and then the Spaniard shouted 20 be let
out. The bag was opened and out stepped
the Spaniard, carrying the rope in his
hand
The scheme proved veritable mint
for the two men and the Spaniard. Ev
cry night they visited a different saloon
and went through the same game.
Jim Hyde and his friend Smith heard
of the Spaniard and devised little scheme
to beat the man at his own game and di-
minish the bank rolls of his hackers. Both
Hyde and Smith were broke, and as it
needed money to put their scheme through
they went to an old physician who was a
sporting man himself and who was known
as DR.. Stitch. Hyde laid the scheme be-
fore him and finally succeeded IN getting
something like 81, 900 from him. Smith
borrowed several hundred dollars from a
friend, and then the TWO went around to
the Arion and waited for the Spaniard
and his friends to show up. For three
nights they waited, and on the fourth
night they We're rewarded. The Spaniard
came sauntering in and made his usual
offer. He repeated it several times before
he got any answer, and then Hyde jumped
up and said:
. Do you mean to tell me that you can
unite yourself in two minutes if / tie you
up?'
Yes replied the little fellow.
Betcher can't said Hyde. 'Betcher
wine for the house that you can't
I'm go you and $50 on the outside
returned the Spaniard.
:" Done, said Hyde, and then the fun
began. Smith began bawling out that ne
didn't believe it could be done, and then |
the Spaniard's hackers offered to bet him /
money that ittould. Hyde bet more and I
more, and finally Smith and Hyde had
about 81, 500 wagered on the result. Those .
who had seen the Spaniard before looked .
in pity on the two men. The Spaniard |
said nothing, but sat quietly in a chair, |
while somebody got rope and somebody (
else procured a big potato bag.
Then he stood up, and Hyde and I
Smith began to tie him. They tied his
hands tightly together behind his back
and then wound the rope securely around
his body. His feet were then tied and
more rope wound around his legs. IL
looked impossible for the man to escape,
but he never once stopped smiling, and his
hackers looked equally confident. When
the tying was through, the crowd edged
up close to the bag to see the man put in.
No, you don't exclaimed Hyde
Everybody must stand at least 10 feet
back. l don't propose to have any accom-
plice get in here.
The Spaniard and his hackers insisted
that the crowd stand back, and when !
everybody was at a respectful distance
Hyde and Smith picked up the Spaniard
and put him into the bag. 1t was noticed
that Hyde let one hand rest over the mans
face and that he kept one hand in the bag
after the Spaniard was in and while Smith
was fooling with the strings. Ii seemed
as though the two men took more time
than was necessary TO tie the -Spaniard up,
but the job was finally done, and then
Hyde and Smith stepped back and waited
A hundred men had their watches out
and a hundred pair of eyes watched the
bag. Only once did the man inside make
q move, and that was when the bag was
first laid down. After that there was a
deadly stiffness everywhere. One minute
passed and not a sign from the man in the
bag. The time heightened into 3 min
utcs, and still no move. Every one in the
room felt decidedly nervous and il was
great relief when the two minutes were
Cp and Hyde stepped up TO the bar and
said:
= I guess we won
Smith followed him. and the money, I
over s.. 600 in all. was handed
over. While the Spaniard's hackers were
81 work opening the bag, Hyde and Smith
. uietly slid cut of the front door and dis
appeared. When the two sports succeeded
IN opening the bag, the reason for the
Spaniard's inactivity became apparent.
! he Spaniard was sleeping peacefully. and
in the bag was a small sponge saturated
with ehlorotorm- 4 physician was sent
for TO take care Of the Spaniard, and il took
him ali hour and % minutes 70 bring the
fellow TO his senses. The Spaniard said
ha srrrsr-faI n Ii-rla when no round that