A GRUESOME SPECTACLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11650, 11 May 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

A GRUESOME SPECTACLE.

o\f. of the great attractions in street fairs this winter in a populous neighbourhood of Paris has been the wonderful rat-eating man, advertised as an unique phenomenon. He was described as a ferocious savage, and looked it, having a complexion the exact hue of soot, while he went through an alarming performance of hideous contortions and grimaces, accompanied by jabbering and shrill shrieks, in front of the booth, whereinto at intervals he retired to discuss a meal of rats. It was announced by the showman that the animals, before being eaten, were not cooked in any way. The savage positively swallowed them alive. Attracted by the evident popularity of the spectacle among frequenters of fairs, the police inquired into the matter. First they attended the performance among the spectators. Thus they ascertained that the showman did not, at all events, delude the public. The savage undoubtedly did swallow live rats. Moreover, he- accomplished another remarkable feat by tossing oil a glass of kerosene to wash down each animal. The drinking performance was ascertained to be fully as genuine as the meal of live rats. Further inquiry by the police after this revealed one of the most extraordinary eases of criminal abuse of human infirmity ever recorded. It was found that the so-called savage was actually a lunatic, who escaped from an asylum some months ago. The stale of the unfortunate man's mind explained the strangeness of his behaviour. The madman has been rescued from the travelling caravan, which made a good thin;.: out of the gruesome arid melancholy exhibition of his inlinnity, and the unscrupulous showman will be proceeded against.