BURYING A MAN ALIVE!

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11949, 20 May 1933, Page 9

BURYING A MAN ALIVE!

FAMOUS MAGICIAN’S SECRET

HOW TO EXIST FOR HOURS WITHOUT BREA THIN G.

Few people realise that the modern magician frequently makes use of little-known scientific principles (writes Howard Thurston). Some of the tricks and illusions presented © n the stage are the result of years of experiment and research. When I was in India I studied the methods of the fakirs who allow themselves to be buried alive. These men assort that they can live for long periods without breathing: arid they are often ready to prove their statements.

Three important factors are found iu voluntary interments: trance, hypnotism and air conservation, aud there are many eases in which fakirs have lived apparently without breathing for days. We know that some persons who have been declared dead have -revived, and this indicates that suspended animation is a reality. Hypnotism may produce a state that- resembles trance,' and iu iny investigations I sought to determine the possibility of sustaining life, without breath, or with aminimum of breathing.

My work was successful. I discovered that I could keep a man alive for a considerable time in a. closed com part-meat which contained very little air

MY GLASS “COFFIN.” Jt was estimated that- in my tank -a normal man would consume all the oxygen in less than ten minutes; yet I kept a Hindu in the tank for nearly one hour, and tlie limit of endurance had not then been reached. When the M2 submarine disaster occurred and several men Mere round to be alive, I realised that my experiments had a potential value. Experts had estimated the length or tim e that ibe air supply would bold out. By 'comparing tbe. dimensions o? the submarine compartment with tbe tank used i', my experiments; I d.scovered that tho estimates were far too short : that life could be sustain--ed for a much longer period. In India, living burials are performed out-of-doors. A fakir is plac-

ed in a coffin, which is lowered into a grave. Earth is poured in and the grave is closed. After a stated perkd of time, the coffin is dug up and the fakir removed alive. To reproduce this exhibition on tne stage, I invented a special tank. AH its sides are made of glass. It is no laraev than a coffin, and it is airtight when closed. This tank is lowered into a larger tank —also of glass partly filled with water.

IS IT HYPNOTISM? The tank containing the man is lowered to the bottom of the larger tank by means of cables and pulleys, and is' completely submerged. Theinterior of the tank, with its living occupant, is in full view oi the spectators. > : -■ This is done every evening, and die entombed Hindu. Chundra Bey, is on view during a long period oi my performance. The air supply has been regarded as insufficient to last f°'more than ten minutes; yet forty miuutes is the shortest period that have ever allowed for this exhibition. The vital principle m this form or suspended animation is air conservation. Wo know that in running a person consumes much more air than when walking. Normally, he uses a certain quantity of air; but if he relaxes and breathes sparingly, with modified .regularity, the air consumption will be cut to a remarkable de-

gree. . • That is of primary importance in •the living to relax. to breathe lightly, and to make unneees pare movement. Every action consumes vital oxygen. Absolute qowt i s essential. Place He average man in a position of this sort, and he would become restless m a very tew minutes. He would find it impossible •to' restrain his actions, and would have to be released immediately. In order to assure these factors, hypnotism may be used. Cbuuera Bov is susceptible to hypnotism. Under . its• influence he can.maintain ftlifeless position. Frequently he m ptaped in a condition m whioli .h* breathing is -imperceptible, and t’ l such circumstances lie . could vemai entombed for hours. • * ./ AVhen men are isolated iu an ; l uti>'ht space or imprisoned, in a _ b ll ; 1 - marine, they givo little thought to the vital' importance •of air conservation. ! Their fr-'St thought IS to-es-cape or signal lor help. - If they teaize that they must wait, their desire is to relievo the tension' by idle ne-' Tien- • : '"' ,

THE-FAKIRS ART. All these elf oris-consume oxygen If panic arises, there will he vapi efforts to escape, which'will lead-b> unfortunate consequences, ' shortening, the time that pn.ro air will remain, • It is possible, through training and practice, to extend this important time limit. Hypnotism May be valuable,. but’, it is not essential'. ' For example,' let us. suppose that a man is confined iu a compartment and that the air should .last' him ; thm£- ; . . T. '* : ; J

hours if lie acts normally. Methodical air conservation should at least double the time.

When men are being rescued from a mine or a submarine, the question of hours, or even of minutes, may. mean life or death, blit ]i"puoii?in would he impractical in snch an emergency. , r Very few people respond properly, and it is necessary to rnoose the proper subject. -1 he Hindu, fakir learned his art through constant practice, and he does not attempt a prolonged test until he has mastered it. But the average man can simulate the hypnotic condition through his ow u will-power and practice in relaxation.

A SURPRISE TO SCIENTISTS?

Visitors to India have looked upon the living burial either as a trick or as a supernatural phenomenon, some have even accepted the Hindu tuoory that- the hotly lies dead while the spirit .roams, attached to the hody au invisible curd, so that it may return at the appointed hour. Knowing that Indian magic is produced by natural means. T investigated and learned the princ-iple-

ft js not castomsTv for a- magician

i 0 go into details concerning the principles which he utilises in his potfonuance, and never before have f

made’it known that anyone can remain in the airtight tank, threu-rh Ids will-power, for a- longer period than experts have estimated. I know that this revelation will

come a s a- surprise to many scientific men. and I hope that they will follow the iiivcstigat-KTii I nave conducted. I feel sure my experiments and conclusions will prove 01 benefit to humanity, and for that reason alone 1 am making them public. T oiu confident, that knowledge ,of this principle will some day save human beings from what teems; certain Jeiixb.