Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-04-14
EXPERIENCE WITH A FAkiR.'
Weird Adventure When Traveller Tried
To Photograph Maaioian's Trick.

To Photograph Masieian's Trick.
Yes" said Jack Barrett, Il did see
some of the fakirs. Had a good, close
view Of one especially"
Gould he do the rope trick?" ask
ed, sneeringly.
We'll, rather" Jack replied. I'm
fact, I don't mind telling you that be-
fore going out there I was as skeptical
Of India's far-famed magicians as you
were. So when I landed in Bombay
amid the sickish, sweet smell Of the
jungle, and the vile smell OF the streets,
a magician was the last person 1 ex-
pected to meet, even though was in
the land of magic.
1T was in Benares, while on my way
to the Monkey Temple. that saw my
first magician. I was edging my way
through a crowd at street corner,
when I came upon an odd figure squat
ted by the curb. In looking at him, at
first 1 saw nothing but his eyes. They
were large and black and they glitter
ed as a diamond glitters under the
electric light. BY degrees I saw the
lean, sharp nosed face, and the dirty
gray beard which met a cloth of the
same color wrapped about his middle.
A short cloak. which had once match
ed his faded red turban in color, hung
in ragged folds from his shoulders; for
leg covering-like his countrymen of
the nursery rhyme-'he made his skin
do To add to my curiosity, saw a
coil of rusty-looking rope lying among
a small CARLOAD of junk, which he was
watching with jealous care while an
assistant was beating a pair Of GYM
balls and haranguing the crowd. An
other assistant, a boy about 10 years
old, squatted solemnly beside his chief.
81 say, AIRY, 'e's going to do the
rope trick said a voice at my elbow.
confirming my suspicious.
Turning, I saw a young soldier in
the regulation khaki and pith helmet
crowding to the side Of the speaker,
who also served the king.
Il had lost all interest in temples by
this time, and monkeys, sacred or
profane, held for me no charm.
1.-The crowd having become swell
tering mob, which added something to
the already pungent air, he OF the
cymbals and Coney Island voice rested
from his labors and produced from
somewhere a white cloth like table
cover, which he and the boy proceeded
to spread on the ground. With creak-
Ing joints the old fakir arose and took
his stand on the cloth half way be-
tween the center and the edge, reached
out his hand to the older assistant,
whose other hand clasped that Of the
boy, and, like the spoke of a Wheel
they circled slowly around the cloth
singing a sad, despairing chant. Fast
er and faster turned the wheel, and
although I knew the old fakir was
turning with the rest, It seemed that
his burning eyes stared always into
mine. I grew dizzy and felt that /, too
was turning with the trio.
Suddenly the turning and singing
stopped; the two assistants drew back
and I noticed the cloth slowly rising
In the center. With few more incan-
tations for good luck, the magician
jerked the cloth away, revealing tree
about six inches high, rooted In the
pavement. Before my eyes the tree
grew as high as mans head, shooting
forth leaves and blossoms. The bios
SONS grew into little green things
which ripened into large, yellow man
goes. The two assistants came for
ward. One of them picked the fruit and
distributed it to the audience, while
the other collected such small change
as the crowd cared to part with.
las reached into my pocket to add
my bit to the collection, my hand came
in contact with my camera. I was fill
ed with a great Joy. I would take
snapshot of the next act. You can't
hypnotic a camera. I shifted it eau
tiously in front of me and had 1t ready
Just as, with a whirl, the old fakir
threw the end Of the coiled rope into
the air. 1t was not hard throw, but
the rope shot up as If tied to balloon
until the upper end was lost to sight
and the lower end hung about two
feet above the ground. Click went the
camera, and I pulled 1t under my coat
Just as the old fakir whirled around,
throwing a wicked glance from me to
the two Tommies and back again to
me.
"A wave Of his hand brought the
boy to him, who, grasping the rope,
climbed up hand over hand, until he
looked like a bird in the sky and finally
disappeared altogether. Again the ca
mera clicked and was safely under my
coat, when the malevolent scrutiny
travelled from me to the two soldiers,
and back to lnger on me with blaZ-
ing hate.
THE older assistant was motioned for.
He came, climbed and disappeared;
but this time the blazing eyes glared
full into mine, and the camera stayed
under my coat.
After a long period during which
those baleful eyes seemed to pierce me
through and through, their owner
again turned to the rope, and with
much shouting and gesticulating, Or
dered his helpers to come down. There
was a pause; then the rope was lashed
back and forth at a furious rate, and
something fell with a crash at its foot.
The old fakir started back with horror,
then sprang forward, and turning over
the shapeless mass, showed us the
crushed and mangled form Of the boy.
He knelt by the bleeding corpse, wall
ing and pulling his beard, knocking
his head to the ground and throwing
dirt in his hair. Suddenly he sprang
to his feet, shook his fist in the air,
and cursed. He would have revenge,
Running to the pile of paraphernalia,
he picked out a short curved sword,
felt it's edge, and with much cursing
he stuck it I'm his belt and started 10