The sun., 1916-10-29
HUGE PORPOlSES
6EACAED
DEAD FISH BROUGHT
TO LIFE BY MAGIC
Dave Tobias, PrcstidigitatOr Of
Washington Market, Pulls
Few Stunts.
Gee. look at that eel squirm. :"

Gee. look at that eel squirm"
What was apparently a dead eel lying
on the white marble slab OF David
Tobias. Washington Market Ash dealer.
under the manipulations OF his deft fin
gers assumed life, and yesterday morn
ing's 9:l5 crowd OF commuters. unmind-
full Of the hour that they were due at
their places OF business. stood watching
intently. the resurrection of dead fish.
Yet bringing dead Ash to lifelike ap-
pearance. 80 that there is a kick - c;'ery
I'm. propel!ing power In every ta.., - no
lew thing to Dave Tobias. who despite
his sixty-six years Is still "A boy In spirit.
the Peter Pan Of Washington Market.
He has been doing the stunt for forty
ive years.
When the Washington Market men
have their annual ball each year there
Is one pair OF feet familiar with the
latest dances. They belong to David.
Tobias. He introduced the s~yncopated
walk. the foxtrot and the one step TO
the Washington Market Mems Associa-
ton. and the green eyed monster OF
jealousy strutted about when the wives
and swcethearts Of the other Washing
ton Market men besieged Tobias to place
their names upon his dancing card.
But We dlgress. This is a Ash story
about a man eternally young who puts
a card In his West street window just
before he begins his performance stating
that a little nonsense now and then IL
relished by the best OF men And he
might have added women and children
too. for they crowd about his window In
az great numbers as the hurried busi-
ness map who always has time to stop.
Tobias Is a prestidigitator, particu-
lurly def with his fingers. but unlike
the great Hermann he goes about his
work unostcntatiously. Some one wa
gered yesterday that he could not bring
dead fish TO life.
You're on" said Dave. let the
crowd decide"
What crowd?' asked the other man.
oh. they'll be here"
Dave wrapped up some snappers that
had Just been cleaned for a customer,
walked to the front of the white marble
counter, where sea bass. ~blackfsh. blue
fish. Spanish mackerel. snappers. weak
Rsh and ee,s were displayed. and picked
UP n silver weakfish from the pile.
J Deity he stroked 1t. and two men
stopped to watch the unusual proceed
ing.
"See the sparks - cried one mar to
another.
Dave manipulated the muscles OF the
Jaws, touched the anal and dorsal fms.
stroked the tail and suddenly. as II
breathing life into Its gills. the weak
nah began to move. slowly and slug
gishly at first. but finally struggling
hard to find Its natural element.
A ~Lackawanna %ferryboat deposited its
commuters about this time. and they
were just In time to see the struggles
Of the fish and then see Dave stroke 1t
gently and place 1t Jack where It re-
maine quiet after that.
Then the Hermann oS Washington
Market. without giving a glance at his
congregation. which was quite unlike the
methods of the great prestidlgitator. or
Lafayette or Houdin or a host OF others.
picked up a two foe eel. He touched 1t
deftly. as II II was a sleeping pet he de-
sired not to bring to life too suddenly.
raised his hands, letting his fingers touch
the body daintily. and then. strok!ng It
with more vitality and later with even
roughness, h eel quickly took upon
Itself a fury Of hate. %wrlggling and
struggling to get away from its captor.
Its tiny eyes glistened. 1t looped the
loop several times In succession IN Its
desire to escape from the hands that
held II, and the crowd. now blocking the
sidewalk, all craning necks. thought
there was a possibility that 1t might get
away and then think Of the uproar of .
live eel squirming through Washington
Market with the early women shoppers.
But Dave Gained 1t down. Its contor-
tions ceased and finally he put 1t back
with the others.
Next a heavy looking white chin
blackhsh was picked up from a lot OF
others, and Dave stroked its leathery
mouth. Soon Its Jaws began to work.
showing its crunching teeth. Then Its
bulky body began to show signs OF life,
and while the blackfsh never assumed
the quick. darling movements of the eel.
II moved Itself theoretically. striving TO
reach some tiny snappers that looked
promising for a meal.
By this time the Lacka wanna com
muters had forgotten their waiting Of
nee forces. the traffic regulations and
blocked the West street central entrance
to the market. The policeman on post
approached. coming through the market
from the rear.
"COme on. Dave. quit IT," he said.
you will have some one ~telephoning 10
the sergeant to lodge a complaint against
me for permitting the passageway and
the street to be blocked"
IAN right said Dave. Rut the crowd
bent on seeing what a Spanish mackerel
with its long. 1.-THE body and Its slashinp
curled all. could do when warmed into
life. still fingered. but seeing the ores.
tidigitator going back to his counter &c
sell fish. silently, me by one, the per.
Torrance being over. they continued or
their way to begin their " days work