The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-15
The Maaician's
Fetal Bullet.

~ hIt0t VI al cdkt
tricks Is thai of catching bullets shot
from guns. A series OF strange fatali-
ties has brought such exhibitions INTO
disrepute. however, and they may be
wholly discontinued In performing
the startling act Robert Houdin used
a mechanical pistol, by which the bull
let after the weapon had been loaded
would drop into his hand. Hermann
relied upon a tray which was supplied
with n false bottom. With great dex-
terity he would invariably substitute
composition bullets, which were blown
to toms. for Inc real ones. which dis
appeared through the false bottom of
the tray.
Hcudin employed his illusion most
successfully in his diplomatic mission
to Algeria. in which he was employed
by the French government to under
mine il possible the supremacy which
the marabouts. by their pretended mir
acles, had acquired over the minds of
the superstitious Arabs. This method
Of doing the bullet trick had one bad
failing-the pistol could not be given
for examination. which had a tendency
to arouse suspicion. At any rate. IL al
most proved Robert Houdin's undoing
upon one occasion.
At one of his entertainments an old
Arab admitted that monsieur was
without doubt "A great magician. but
he should prefer to use one of his own
pistols" The conjurer for a moment
was nonplussed. but putting a bold
face on the matter. he said that 1t
might be o the next day. after he
had invoked the powers to assist him.
wishing only to gain time and hoping.
like Micawber. that something would
turn up. That night he employed about
two hours in insuring his invulner-
ability.
Next day the exhibition took place.
The old Arab handed Robert Houdi
his two pistols. The magician had
only stipulated that he should be az
lowed to load them. From a plate full
Of bullets two were selected and plain
ly dropped into the pistols by the ma
gician. The old Arab watched all
these movements. for his honor was
at stake. When the loading was COM
plete. a marabout Immediately seized
one of the pistols and at the given
signal too deliberate aim and fired.
When the smoke cleared away. the
magician was seen smiling with the
marked bullet between his teeth. En-
ragged at his failure to kill the hated
magician. the marabout tried to seize
the other pistol. but Houdin secured IL
first. He assured the marabout that
he could not hurt him and. further
more, would prove that he vas a 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 marabout went up TO II. dipped
his finger i'm the blood and. raising II
TO his mouth, convinced himself of the
reality. The trick was one In this
way: As soon as Robert Houdin was
alone i'm his room that night he toe
from his pistol case a bullet mold.
Then bending up the four edges of
a playing card, he made a sort of
trough in which to melt a piece Of a
taken from one of his candles. When
melted, he mixed with IL a little lamp
black, obtained by holding the blade
of a knife over the light OF a candle.
Then he run this composition in the
bullet mold. Before the liquid got
quite cold he turned the mold over.
aud the portions of wax not yet set
ran out. leaving the hollow ball in the
mold.
The second ball ne made rather more
solid than the other. This he filed
with blood from one OF his fingers,
stopping up the orifice with a small
lump of n Bullets thus prepared
bear IN extraordinary resemblance to
lead, especially If plumoago is used in
place Of ~lampblack.
The marked bullet he retained IN his
hand and dropped the "fakeT bullet
into the pistol in it's stead. This was
smashed into a powder by the ramrod
in pressing IL home. Then. under COW
er of his handkerchief. as he wiped his
face after his violent exertions In load
ing. he slipped the marked bullet into
his mouth, while the other pistol con-
tanned the bullet filed with blood.
which, bursting against the white
washed 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 the piss
toll the performer was seen. smiling.
with the bullet between his teeth.
Hardly had the applause died away
when a tough looking fellow Jumped 10
his feet. He held a pistol in his hand.
On you" he shouted. "if you're
so good at ketchin' bullets. ketch this
m"
There followed a fash and a report
and the magician fell To the stage
stone dead, with a bullet hole in his
forehead.