THE DAVENPORTS AND CAPT. BARRY.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 416, 22 March 1877, Page 3

THE DAVENPORTS AND CAPT. BARRY.

The performance of the Davenport Brothers at. the Fjinress's Theatrelasteveningwnsvaried by Oapt. .V. <f. Barry carrying out the terms of his £SO wager, and endeavoring 1o tie ;he two brothers bo tb.au they could not release themselves. Tim theatre was crowded with people and Mr. IT. Driver was circled (o superintend the proceedings, Dr. L'aicbelor watching tire tying process oa behalf of the Messrs Davenport, to see that no pain was indicted. Capt. .Barry appeared on the singe with a long coil of rope, and, going to work like an artist, spent three-quarters oFan hour in fixhg the two brothers at their respective end, of the cabinet. The audience watched Lli'j proceedings with great interest, save in the case of a few idiots who tried to get Capt. Barry hurried, and who should have walked out if they thought he was too long. After •one brother was tied unci deposited in the cabinet Professor Fay was seen to be continually buzzing round him, with his back to the audience so tliat no one, could eee what he was doing, and this caused great dissatisfaction and loud outcries from the spectator.?. Jr. was evioent from fbep>rlicularly anxious way in which tins Professor watched Capt. Barry's handling of the rope that he had. discovered the Messrs Davenport had no fool lo deal with. At length all was ready, and C. pt. Barry having st.ited to the audience that be had received all soils of fair play, and J hat if the brothers got out in five weeks they must._do it through some external assistance that- werknow nor.n ins of, the doors were 3but and insLanteneously there was a. faint ringing of a bell inside the cabinet. The capt. started as if he could not believe his cars, and almost immediately tbe centre door flew open. The Davenports however were found to be still in sialit quo, and Capt. Barry quite re-assured, exclaimed " Kinging bells is not getting loose, and I defy them to get untied." The doors were again fastened, and the tyer prowled round and round the cabinet, endeavouring to bear what was going on inside. At the expiry of 7min. 20sec. a hand was shown at the opening, which caused a shout of applause from the audience, and Capt. Barry looked uneasy. At Bmin. 40sec. two hands were shown, and Captain Barry quickened his pace nu he fidget! Ed up and down the stage. Still however, the brothers were not free, and at ten minutes their tyer said : " Ladies end Gentlemen : If they don't come out in five minutes I shall throw up the sponge." This was supposed to mean that he would claim the wager, but as no time was specified in which the brothers were to untie themselves, this could not be done. At llmin. 45 sec. an arm was shown up to the elbow, and 12min. 35sec. four hands were at the orifice. The audience became impatient at 16min. 30sec., and began to call "Time, time." At 18min. a cracking noise could be heard in9ide tho cabinet as though a rope was striking the sides, and at 20min. lOseo. the centre door flew open; the t*ro

others were opened by Professor Pay, and the Messfa Davenport were £een sitting entirely free with the ropes coiled up at their feet. The audience applauded frantically, and Capt Barry, looking very disconsolate, informed them that as tho brothers had escaped from his bonds lie believed that no tran sout'i of the lino could secure them. "We learned from Mr, B. Davies,' the ventriloquist, who was seated among the audience, that during ten years' travelling the Davenports have never been tied in such n manner that it took more than 4mm. to free themselves, whereas they had now taken over 20min.— 'Star.' At a subsequent; performance, in the midst. of great enthusiasm, Mr. Davies, at the request of the Davenport Brothers, returned Captain Barry his cheque, on the ground that, as the bet was a foregone conclusion, it was not fair.