£50 TO £1.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1239, 4 January 1883, Page 2

£50 TO £1.

The Great Rope-tying Trick. At the conclusion of the entertainment last evening Mr Kellar stated that in consequence of remarks he had heard he would be willing to give £5O to any charity if any person could tie him up in less time than it would take him to release himself, stipulating merely that if he succeeded the person who undertook to bind him should forfeit £1 for some charitable institution. In consequence of this an old man-o'-war’s-man named George Rowley, wall known in the Bay, after the Hall had been cleared, met Mr Kellar in the Masonic Hotel, and accepted the offer. Mr Kellar was perfectly willing to stand to the challenge thrown out, and a number of persons returned to the Hall. Rowley complained that the rope used in the seances was not long enough, and Mr Kellar personally procured another one. The lashing was certainly done in a manner which proved that the operator was no novice, but as the time expended was fully 10 minutes the odds were in favor of Mr Kellar. The knots were cf a most complicated nature, but tended to show that the science and experience of the gentleman who submitted himself to be bound was more than enough for the skill of the ex-seaman. Mr Kellar was secured by a knotted rope round the throat, by both his wrists, and to an ordinary chair in such a manner that those who were most sanguine as to the great illusionist being able to free himself commenced to have doubts. The chair with its occupant was placed in the cabinet, and five seconds after two hands freed from their fetters were shown through the loop holes, and then the trouble commenced. It was noticed by those on the stage that the lashing must have been well done for the sounds as if a severe struggle were heard, but ex. actly one minute and thirty-five seconds from the starting time Mr Kellar appeared with the rope in his hand. The one pound note was handed over, and Mr Kellar immediately placed it in the hands of Mr J. 8. Cohen for the benefit of the Hospital, and as will be seen by a local elewhere, the Secretary of that institution has acknowledged its receipt.