The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-06

have been concealed in il. Lacking some
such means OF safety, Durand, it Is
claimed, could not possibly escaped
death by Sheer aSphyxiation- If he die
use such means and viii reveals the
secret, it is likely that hanging exhibit
tons viii soon become the fashion
But Durand promised TO perform a
still more extraordinary feat than this
one. Before he put the rope around his
neck the first day he announced 70 the
audience that he proposed, after hang
ing himself, to bury himself alive and to
remain 300 days under ground. Though
envious rivals say he is Boosting, others
claim that he viii certainly carry out
his purpose, and that there is little rea-
son why ne should not be successful.
In India the practice of burying ones
self alive is no new thing. Many a fakir
in that country has slept for days under
ground and without any visible harm;
others have buried themselves up TO the
neck and have remained whole years in
that position, while others have held
their arms over their heads for ten years
at the end Of which they could Meth
er use them nor lower them. One emf
nent faAir remained standing in one DO
slt2cn for twelve years, and during the
next twelve years he held his hands
| clasped above his head Not satisfied
with these feats, he finally attempted to
Walk between five fires, four Of which
were IN honor Of the cardinal points OF
me zodiac and one Of the sun. The re-
suit was That he was burned at the end
Of half an houd.
Durand VIII have TO observe The fol,
lowing rules if he desires 20 bury him
| self: -----i
His nostrfls and his ears must he Ming
sed with wax, the object being to leave
no opening but the mouth. His tongue
VIII then nave to be turned backward
| 30 InaL me entrance TO the Iarnyx will
De Closed, after which he will be placed
IN a Anen sack, which should be closed
and properly sealed. The next stem
would be 70 place the sack in a wnoden
CONN, which would then be DIaced IN
vault the entrance TO which should
also be sealed.
When his 800 days of sa1bterranaan
sIumber have expired and the coffin is
opened Durand will look exactly Iflxa q
dead man. HIS heart viii apnarentIv
De still and there will be no SION of
breathing. He will indeed be wholly
coId and stiff except at the ton of the
mead, which will be somewhat warm
but after little manipulation life n
Is thought, should come back to him
fHst MS tongue should be placed in its
i a, Hi@I position, then he should be
thoroughly rubbed, and finally he
er.
If he has not made a grievous mistake
ne should be as brisk as a bee in a. few
minutes.
The thirteen days during which Du-
rand was to hang have lust expired and |
there has naturally been a. rush tn in
teIView the man with the apparently in |
1FanglbIe neck. But he has little 70 |
say. AS TO his sensations while aIoft. /
ne maintains that they were at no time |
PAINFUL and that he never really suf-
Iered except during the time that thev
were putting the new rope around his
neck IN a word, he gives one the i'm
preston that ne enjoys life far more
When he is hanging than when his feet
are on mother earth.
knew that l could accomplish the
1eat' he said to a person who inter
viewed him a few minutes after the ,o,,a
mad been removed from his neck. " for 7
pr2cuoed 1t for eight days in NV room
before came here. OF course I am GLAD
that have won my wager. Just now
feel somewhat tired but l suffered hard
" at all during the eight days, except
1urlng the first five days from cramps
N the stomach, and also somewhat from
thirst and heat The music, too. cans
go me good deal Of annoyance I slept
lhlrty-seven hours altogether and very
l felt just as easy as though
were in bed, and my dreams were pleas
ant as a rule. although now and then
rhey took the form of night mares. /
intend now to take a little rest at Mar
5elHes where my wife and children are
waiting for me- ,
Few people believe, however that he !
S sincere IN saying that he did not suf-
.er much during his ordeal The claim
hat, though he may have been oractic-
iIIy senseless while in the air, his fire.
luently convulsed face, his protruding ,
onSue, his strained eyes and the CORPSE
IKE r1Sidity of his body certainly did
lot give one the impression that he was ,
heartily enjoying himself. In view. TOO, !
II the fact that during these thirteen {
lays ne neither ate nor drank, nor was ,
conscious of any of the nee
.ssities of ordinary life, seems clear to ,
most people that this is a special case of 4
and not a miracle of hu- ,
nan Will
In other words, what DuranG has done :
5 simply 10 give proof of Hindoo ascot :
cisTn, the depths of which seem to defy =
u the known laws of nature. !