The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-30

given for examination, which bad a tend
ency to arouse suspicion. At any rate, it
almost proved Robert Houdins undoing
upon one occasion.
At one Of his entertainments an old
Arab admitted that monsieur was with
out doubt a great magician, but be should
prefer to use one Of his own pistols. The
conjurer for q moment was nonplused,
but, putting a bold face on the matter,
he said that it might be done the next day,
after he had invoked the powers to assist
him, wishing only to gain time and hop
ing, like Micawber, that something would
turn up. That night he employed about
two hours in insuring his invulnsrability.
Next day the exhibition took place. The
old Arab handed Robert Houdin his tive
pistols. The magician had only stipulated
that he should be allowed to load them.
From a plate full of bullets two were Sc
lected and plainly dropped into the pistols
by the maatcian. The old Arab watched
all these movements, for his honor was at
stake. When the loading was completed,
a marabout Immediately seized one of the
pistols and at tho given signal took delib-
crate aim and Cred.
When the smoke cleared away, the ma
gician was seen smiling with the rtarked
bullet between his teeth. Enrageu at his
failure to kill the hated magician, the
marabout tried to seize the other pistol,
but Houdin secured it first. He assured
the marabout that he could not hurt him
and, Furthermore, would prove that he
was O more dangerous shot. Firing at a
newly whitewashed wall, there appeared a
large patch of blood exactly at the spot
where he had aimed.
The m%arabout went up to it, dipped his
finger in the blood and, raising it to his
mouth, convinced himself Of the reality.
The trick was done in his a As soon
as Robert Houdin was alone in his room
that night be took from his pistol case q
bullet mold. Then, bending up the four
edges OF a playing card, he made a sort of
trough in which to melt q piece of wax
taken from one of his candles. When
melted, he mixed with it a little lamp
black, obtained by holding the blade Of a
knife over the light of a candle. Then he
run thi composition in the bullet mold.
Before the liquid got quite cold he turned
the mold over, y the portions Of wax
not yet set ran out, leaving the hollow
ball in the mold.
The second ball he made rather more
solid than the other. This he filled with
blood from one of his fingers, stopping up
the orif1ce with a small lump of wax.
Bullets thus prepared bear an extraordi-
nary resemblance to lead, especially if
plumbago is used in place of lampblaok.
The marked bullet he retained in his
rand and dropped the s'faked" bullet into
The pistol in its stead. This was smashed
into a powder by tho ramrod in pressing
it home. Then, under cover OF his hand
kerchief as be wiped his face after his VIC
lent exertions In loading, he slipped the
marked bullet into his mouth, while the
other pistol contained the bullet filed
with blood, which. bursting against the
whitewashed wall, left its imprint, though
the wax had flown to atoms.
In the old days Of Deadwood, S. D., an
Indifferent magician attempted to do the
bullet catching trick, and one of the dead
shots of the city did the shooting At the
discharge of tho pistol the performer was
seen, smiling, wish the bullet between his
teeth. Hardly had the applause diet away
when a tough looking fellow jumped to
his feet. He held a pistol in his hand.
"D-n your he shouted. IF you're
so good at ketchin bullets, ketch this uni"
There followed a fash md a report, and
the magician fell to the stage stone dead,
with q bullet hole in his forehead.