The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-17
Angel Islands Magician,
Successor of Hermann.

MSFAEITHER the United States army
HENk nor the ranks OF amateurs are
A9AS places TO which the mind would
naturally turn in search of great artist
of necromancy, yet the fact exists that
since the death OF Hermann the greatest
prestidicitator in the United States is an
amateur, in the army and he is Captain
Charles HUMPHREYS of the Third Artillery,
now sta toned at Angel Island.
The captain has been here only about
two weeks, having been ordered hither
from New Orleans. where he was stationed
for a number of years, and where he is
famous in his pastime of legerdemain. He
is short, stout man, about 40 years old,
and he laughingly says that he is the only
fat magician in the world.
Since Hermann died there is left in the
field of black art principally Keller and
Bancroft. Both of these the captain
vastly excels in the number of tricks he
performs, their average high grade of in
tricacy or the marvelously deft manipula-
ton, movement of the hands, which he
com mands, and which enables him TO ac-
complish the tricks with degree of skill
unsurpassed by Hermann himself.
l. IS q llIIl6 curious 10 COHleIIl Dldlc Ill
officer in the severe and dignihed profess
sion of arms hutterinS off into the domain
of the wizards and the testers and coming
there to reign chief among them, but the
captain made his entrance into the field
appropriately and reasonably enough. 1t
was while at lonely military post in
1871 that Captain HUMPHREYS conceived
the idea of endeavoring to give an enter
tainment for the amusement of the peo-
pie at the post TO while away the long
winter evenings. He is natural musi-
clan, though an uneducated one. By ear
sound he can play any instrument ever
made, even the great church organs with
their many stops and requiring the opera
ton of numerous pedals with the feet. II
do not know what moves me to press my
foot here and pull out a stop there" says
the captain, ''but | feel that l want
sound and that l will get it if | do so and
So" 1t is in this inspirstonal way that
he performs all his music, and he can
play any air by hearing it once performed.
But Captain Humphries did not feel
satisfied with the entertainments he gave
with music alone, and he turned to medi-
tate something else he might do to lend
interest to the programme. He hit upon
legerdemain. He got books and studied
it. He became interested discovering that
he had a surprising adapta bility for the
art He pursued his studies so far and
became go enthused over it that he finally
went to New York and placed himself I'M
der the tuition OF NJ. HartZ, then rated as
the greatest living artist in his line. Cap
tain HUMPHREYS was very apt, and Hartz
was proud of his pupil who mingled
strangely genius for sleight Of hand with
the more somber knowledge and practice
of the science and arts of war. However,
| it was from Rartz that the captain learned
much and books from all parts OF the
world have been teaching him new things
ever since.
Being in the army and not dependent
upon magic for his bread, the captain
studied and experimental without ex-
periencng that oppressive feeling of hav
ing 10 turn his knowledge into money.
While pursuing his investigations with
this freedom facilitated his attainment of
excellence, it initiated against affo riding
| him a reputation in the art. He persisted
in continuing in the ranks of an amateur.
! Though he held himself in readiness to
TeSDOUu ~ the CdI1 VI ClldIlISl VI any
other worthy cause, he would not accept
pay for his services. the only amount he
! would receive being such sum that barely
remunerated him for his expense in get
ting up or as would cover the outlay from
| his own pocket in giving the entertain
ment. No doubt If the captain had left
the army years ago, as he stated be was at
| one time tempted to do, and had gone
upon the professional stage, he would
! now be better known to the public as an
! entertainer, but family influences with
| held him from this and he has continued
modest amateur practicing necromancy
! for chality's sake and for the tightening
of heavy hours at the numerous military
posts with which he has been connected.
With disposition of the merriest in the
world-the very soul of good nature,
! Captain Hum phries holds himself in
readiness to give his entertainments when
called upon for the raising OF money for
! eleemosynary or kindred ends, and there is
no doubt that during the coming winter
| San Francisco will save an opportunity of
witnessing some of his performances.
The money he has invested in the expen-
sve paraphernaiia of a magician it is as
| QlfnCult 10 estimate as IL Is 10 enumeraCe
the numbe of tricks that the captain can
| perform. But he has thousands of dollars
in this kind of property. II have not got
all my things here, said the captain to the
writer, "but have great deal more here
| than any prestidigitator in the country
ever carries on the road with him: l can
! give different entertainment every night
| for two weeks, and give no trick twice; I
have enough here to do that, and 1 know
| no man on the road carries that much, for
| that is greater number of shows than he
| gives, and since he is repeating the same
thing all the time, he don't have to take
along so much"
| This equipment is enormously expen-
! sive Most of the tricks are mechanical
| and the devices cost big sums. They are
delicately made; there is small sale Tor
them and they come high. The captain
performs trick called "The Cabalistic
! Star" The star has six points which an
| assistant holds in his hand somewhere
down among the audience. Nine persons
| in the audience each take card from pac
until the nine cards are selected. The
| cards are then returned to the pack with
| the knowledge OF their faces remaining
| solely with their seiectors. The captain
then fires pistol at the star and six of