BITTER PILL FOR SWORD SWALLOWER

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 499, 22 July 1932, Page 5

BITTER PILL FOR SWORD SWALLOWER

FORK TICKLED HIS THROAT NOW HE’S ON HOSPITAL DIET MELBOURNE, July 14.—T0 have been tricked by a mere nine-inch table fork,; ‘after having swallowed genuine swords, billiard balls and I watches and chains for more than 20 years is bitter' pill for Fred Lowe, ; the professional sword swallower, who is now in the Melbourne Hospital after having the fork removed sunrically from his stomach. Fred, who is 43 years of age, and is resident of Dailey Street, North, cote, is sitting uptoday and taking a. j little nourishment of a somewhat j lighter form than swords and forks. For the next fortnight or so he will have to stick to Hie routine hospital menu, and he has promised not to attack the knives and forks, even if Hie everyday food fails to ticklo In's palate. Made Him Cough The trouble yesterday, when the accident, happened (while Fred was : amusing a few fellow theatricals hi i Hie bar parlour of a city hotel, was j caused because the fork with which he was demonstrating really did tickle. Fred explained today that after j having swallowed his watch and chain in a preliminary warm up, he proceeded to the fork with the utmost confidence. Holding it by the tip of the prongs i with his fingers, ho slipped the fork down his threat to the full extent. Then for some unknown reason it. tickled him and Fred coughed . Just a little cough he explained to, day, hut it finished the trick. The fork slipped from bis fingers and was gone. | The Melbourne Hospital author!. I ties tried t, • extract the fork by ' means of tubes which Fred swallow- : ed with the greatest of ease, but the j fork, which was by (his time in a 1 horizontal position in the stomach, j could not he “picked up,” and an | operation was necessary. Fred said today that the thing jwimld never have happened hut for j the fact that he had nol been performing for the last two years, and was right out of practice. Varied Career Yesterday’s accident was the first lie lias over had, although he has been suspended in mid air in straight I jackets and handcuffs, and has per. j formed the sword swallowing feat i more than a thousand times. Had Fred not gone to a circus near ; bis home in Tasmania, when he was jll years of age. ho mav not have ! been in the Melbourne Hospital to. day. Al the circus he saw a sword swallower, and was fascinated with the act. With a few friends he tried out the (rick with a ruler, and while the others failed dismal! v, Fred found he c uld slip the ruler right down Ills throat without any trouble. It was (he beginning of In's career —a varied one of ups and down, acj cording to Fred—a career begun with I-t ruler, and nearly ended wilh a 1 fork!