The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-11-05
A NICE BIT OF
90. NECROMANCY.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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The 6rst prestidigitator to attract
wide attention in America was Signor
Blitx half century ago. Blitz was
giving exhibitions all over the United
States, and since amusements were
then by no means as common as to-
day all heard Of him II all did not see
him. After having exhibited every
where in the eastern states he decided
to go overland to California. Loading
his contrivances in couple of prairie
schooners," as the plains wagons were
called, he set out from the Missouri
river to cross the Rocky mountains.
One day the little caravan came upon
a man who was crazed with distress.
He had been travelling with his wife
and two children in a single wagon.
For some reason he had left them for
Q few hours and when he returned
found his wagon plundered Of its con-
tents, his stock run OF and his wife
and children missing. He knew they
had been carried away by the redskins.
The next dag Indians were seen at
q distance. Blitz told the man, whose
name was Rodman, to ride out and
tell them great medicine man travel.
ing across the country would like to
give them display Of his powers. OF
course to 60 to the Indians was the
next thing to going to certain death,
but Rodman was in hopes that Blitz
might help him to regain his family
and took the chances. He learned
while among the savages that they
held his wife and children captives,
though the savages Cid not know they
belonged to him. The marvellous will
always interest the superstitious, and
the Indians sent Rodman back to in
vite Blitz to their camp.
Blitz improvised stage with the
necessary appurtenances. and the red
skins squatted before it. An interpreter
stood ready to repeat the sorcerer's
words In their own language. Blitz
took small iron cube with a ring for
handle and lifted 1t with his little
finger. Then he said that he pos.
sessed the power of depriving man of
his strength and invited any savage to
come up on to the stage and submit
himself to this test. The chief himself,
the biggest and strongest Indian pres.
ent. stepped up. evidently confident
that no man could take away what he
was SO proud Of. Blitz asked him to
lift the iron weight. He did so, giving
a grunt. Us much Gs to say: do you
make sport of me? Give me something
heavy to lift" He set the weight
down. Blitz made few passes along
his arm and told him to lift again.
This time the Indian failed to move 1t.
he struggled desperately. all the blood
In his body getting into his face, but to
no purpose. The weight was immov.
able. Then he turned away muttering
and did not stop till he had got behind
the awe stricken Indians.
The weight was connected by wires
with powerful magnet, the current
being turned on or OF by key under
Blitz's foot.
Blitz next took up pistol and invited
the chief to come back and kill him
with 1t. The chief, in hopes Of redeem.
ing himself before his warriors, re.
turned. Blitz offered him a cup with
leaden bullets in 1t and asked him to
take out one and mark 1t so that he
would know 1t again. The redskin did
as he was told. Blitz took the bullet.
put It in the pistol, cooked the weapon,
handed it to the Indian, stood of at
he other end of the stage and told him
to fire. The Indian took a sure aim
and fired. Blitz put up his hand.
caught the bullet in his fingers and
tossed 1t back to the man who had
fired it. The chief, astonished, stood
mute, but when Blitz told him to look
at the mark OH it and he saw that It
was the bullet he had chosen he was
dumfounded.
This IS common trick, the bullet put
in the pistol being Of clay ground up
powder by ramming 1t down. 1t is sub
,tituted for the leaden one by sleight
81 band.
Then Blitz told the chief he could
shoot his blood on to board without
hurting him and fired a wax bullet at
him filed with his own blood. 1t broke
against the board, scattering the blood
BY this time Blitz was a wonderful.
medicine man to the savages and was
ready for the business he had come
FOR. An assistant bandaged his eyes.
and Blitz told the audience that he saw
in one Of the tepees white woman
and two children. He ordered them to
bring forth their prisoners at once or
he would cali down fire from the clouds
to consume them. The chief called a
powwow Of his principal warriors. The
white men saw them arguing and ges.
ticulating. but could not understand
what they said. Some were doubtful Of
Blitz having this powsr, while others
claimed that a medicine man who
could do what he had done could dc
anything. While they were consulting
Blitz discharged electricity, making q
brilliant fash. Away scampered the
Indians to the tepee where Rodman's
wife and children were held prisoners
and brought them to Blitz.
Blitz had told Rodman to keep out Of
the way lest If his family recognized
q - - - a..