THE DAVENPORTS' EXCELLED.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 901, 15 May 1877, Page 3

THE DAVENPORTS' EXCELLED.

Neither the Davenports nor the Eosc Brothers are of much consequence alongside of Mr Cooke, now and for some time performing at the Egyptian Hall, London. A correspondent thus describes Mr Cooke's feat: — Instead of the old plan of having common rope, Mi- Cooke is seated in a novel kind of chair closely fitting to the figure, and is then imprisoned within a network of whipcord. AVe are pleasantly reminded of the fable of the lion and the mouse, but if Mr Cooke is the lion we are unable to say who is the mouse, unless it be Mr Maskelyne, who nibbles the net and sets the captive free. But this comparison does not entirely answer the purpose, for the marvellous part of the affair is that when Mr Cooke appeared before the audience in little more than a minute after he was incarcerated, the net of whipcord was seen to be untouched, therefore Mr Maskelync's powers must have been far superior to those of the mouse. But a little bird whispers in ojur ear that Mr Cooke has freed himself. If--90, how has he done it ? To be tied with whipcord or not to be tied, that is the question. Anyhow, there was Mr Cooke fastened as securely as possible, if we could judge by appearances, and here is Mr Cooke in a minute and a half a free man. Locks, bolts, and bars have flown asunder at his magic touch— aye, and whipcord also. His hands were tied as tightly as could be, and the cords passed through the back of the box-like chair in which he sat, the said ends being scaled ; and lo ! when he appears again the seals are intact. Visitors have meanwhile passed to the platform and satisfied themselves that no confederate has been employed in the transaction. But still more wonderful events are to come. The hall is placed in darkness for a few seconds ; anil when next a light, is thrown upon this dark subject, Mr Cooke is seen gracefully floating in the air, surrounded by spirit flames, his progress being celebrated by a triumphal march from Herr Sehalkenbach's " Orchestra Militaire," assisted by bells, tambourines, &c. Higher and higher floats Mr Cooke, until he almost touches the roof of the hall, and then is wafted back to the mysterious cabinet. The applause that follows this feat we need hardly say was enthusiastic in the extreme. Well may the spirit mediums envy the powers of gentlemen who so easily surpass with simple ingenuity all that the pretended visitants from other worlds can accomplish."