The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-01-23
SOLDIER OFFERS TO
FOLLOW PAPA ITl
He SAYS HIS FEET ARE TENDER
BUT HE IS NOT
AFRAID.
Corporal W. r. Murray Promises to
Do All the Tahisian Does. if the
FirewaIker's Managers Do Not
Prevent Him.
Camp Mckinley, Jan. %. 1901

Sir:-The Advertiser in its issue OF
yesterday morning makes ludicrous
and withal an unsuccessful attempt
to clear the managers of Saturday
nights exhibition of fire walking from
:nputations of fraud and deception
Always posing before the public as
a paragon OF Journalistic purity. II
publishes as fact that the Tahitian
Papa tia walked with bare feet on
stones heated to redness without ex-
periencing any discomfort
The Advertiser snows, il il knows
anything that its account of the Ia
hitians performance Is not in &C
cord with what actually occurred and
that it will gain credence only among
the densely ignorant and grossly SUI
perstitions.
Its action in this matter would he
hard to explain on grounds other
than that il has a pecuniary interest
in Papa's fgneous perambulations and
would ike 10 see him give another
largely attended exhibition.
That the old man walked across the
stones in the burning pit no one that
witnessed the affair will deny. 1t
will also be admitted that his feet had
undergone no chemical treatment ne
forehand. Chemicals are not needed
in cases of this kind; and the appli-
cation of such to Papa lta's feet would
have been spertiuous preparatory
exercise, as was conclusively demon,
strated to everybody that remained an
the grounds for ten minutes after the
fire-waIker and his gang of graftefs
made their exit.
The Advertiser says that those who
attempted to initiate the Tahitian
went no further than lie third stone,
and that their performances were cut
short by the shutting of of the cleo
trio lights"
There are at least two hundred peo-
pie in Honolulu who can testify to the
falsity of these statements, and their
testimony would be based on actual
observation. When Papa lta was leav
ing the scene of the exhibition the
lights were shut off but were turned
on again within four minutes, after
which those of the audience remain
ing had the opportunity of seeing the
fake exposed.
With regard TO the advertisers as
sertion that there was no one who
shoeless, walked the stones upon
which the Talitian stepped" | wish
to submit the following: When the
end of the performance was indicated
by the departure of Papa TIA | stepped
over the railing of the Enclosure and
made my way through the crowd to
the edge of the pit. STOPPING down
placed my hand on one of the stones
and found it to be just comfortably
warm. Encouraged by this discovery
| advanced about seven feet toward
the center Of the pit, made another
examination and found that | couli
hold my hand against the surface
stones for several seconds. | then
went back to the edge of the pit re-
moved my s..oes, but not my socks,
and walked across, lengthwise of The
place, but not crossing the center. Ny
feet were not injured during the trip.
| turned about and re-crossed, this
time going directly over the center
without any pain from the heat. |
crossed twice after this. making four
trips in all. and going over the hottest
part three times.
1t should certainly be apparent TO
everyone that any man could have
done the same. and that there is moth
ing miraculous or supernatural about
Papa Ita's fire-walking. Since the
foregoing was written another per-
iormance by the Tahitian has been
With the permission of the man.
ayers of the exhibition. and on con-
iition that | be allowed to wear
pair of government socks, agree to
,ollow the performer, step for step
Is many times as he will walk the
burning pit
Considering the difference in the
condition of our feet. he having gone
all his life while l have
lot. no one will contend that my wear
ng socks would give me an advantage |
'yer him. have no apprehensions
hat l will suffer any injury in doing |
his, and am firmly convinced that il |
will be proven to all that the Adver-
iser is the friend and defender Of |
axes and frauds.
Respectfully yours.
". F. MURRAY.
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