THE DAVENPORTS FIXED.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 346, 2 June 1877, Page 4

THE DAVENPORTS FIXED.

T*'e Auckland corve jonc!ent o? the Daily Tirflfs gives the :o:"ov.ing recount of the .'."ccssiiul tyh»g of the Davenpovb

Brothers : j Av cr.cuhng scene <■ ecu-red ?::«;£ iv'glit in tie The: ire. when t. a D..venporis were | effectually tied up by the Mayor and Mr. J Hesketb, solicitor. The knot had been , suggested to the Mayor by Mr. Tunny, | Provincial Anclyst, who had seen it tried j before. Tlie Mayor and Mr. Hesketh practised it in the afternoon, and were acting in concert, putting it on both the Brothers. After the tying had proceeded so far that their hands were firmly secured behind their backs (continual remonstrances proceeding from the Brothers during the process), a very excited colloquy was observed to be going on between the Mayor and Ira Davenport, in which the latter was heard accosting the Mayor in violent terms, asserting that the ropes ■were tied so tightly as to injure him. Mr. Hurst stated to the audience that his subject complained of being brutally tied. He was satisfied that such was not the case, and if a medical man was present he would leave the matter to his judgment.—(Loud itproar, and cries of "Dr. Hooper.") Dr. Hooper went on the stage amid much cheering. He carefully examined the ropes, and declared that the tying was not excessive. He could put his finger between the ropes and the flesh. There was no stoppage of the circulation. Ira Davenport, in a loud voice to the Mayor: " I say untie it ;I am t 7 *e best judge of whether the tying is brutal or not, Dr. Hooper."—(Groans, howls, and cat-calls.) William Davenport, who looked very ill, also said that the tying was painful, and stopped tlie circulation. A scene of great confusion here ensued, Ira Davenport doggedly demanding that he should be untied, and Ids Worship declining to unloosen the knots. The audience were in an uproar, shouting that the Davenports should confess themselves beaten, and apologise. Both Brothers positively refused to go on, and persisted in the demand for liberation. William Davenport was at length let loose, and he slackened the ropes on his brother. There was no reason whatever to believe that the tying had been unduly severe, and the spectators, satisfied of this, marked their disapprobation in continual groaning. After this had continued some time, Mr. Swanson, M.H.1!., and Captain Brand went on the stage and began to tie the Brothers with the same knot, when again they positively refused to submit. The Brothers retired from the stage most ungracefully, amid tremendous howls. The excitement was only quelled by the good management of Messrs. Fay and Da vies. Professor Fay offered to take the place of either of the Brothers and allow Mr. Hurst and Mr. Hesketh to tie him, but the audience were so incensed against the Davenports that they would not allow it. The box-office was threatened with demolition, but the affair ended orderly, and with few exceptions the people returned to witness Fay's seance and Davies* performance, which passed over very successfully, and both received a vote of thanks and loud applause. Tlie breaking up of tlie Company in consequence of the event is announced by Fay, Davies and Fay separating from the Davenports and travelling together. William Davenport publishes a medical certificate stating that he is not in a tit condition to continue the performance. It says he has been suffering from a rupture of a blood-vessel in the lungs for two months.