MAGIC ON THE THAMES.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8417, 10 December 1920, Page 1 (Supplement)

MAGIC ON THE THAMES.

(“The Times,” August 21.) For an hour yesterday afternoon the stretch of the Thames between Blackfriars Bridge and Waterloo Bridge became an adjunct of St. Gorge's Hall, and hundreds of Londoners were provided with visible I proof that the powers of magic are not limited within four walls of the j building in Langham place. The occasion was really a duel of wits between the Sea Scouts and Mr. Maskelyne and his assistants, and it must be admitted that oil this occasion the Scouts had the worse of the argument. The duel between the parties really began during the recent Jamboree at Olympia. On that occasion the Sea Scouts challenged Mr. Val Walj ker, who makes a hobby of escaping from anything that is barred and j bolted, to find a way out of a safe of their building. He did so, and was I promptly challenged to a far more j strenuous test. “Come to our trainI ing ship, the Northampton," said the ‘ Sea Scouts. “ and release yourself ; from a prison of which you shall know nothing before you step on board,” and again the challenge was accepted. Accordingly, Captain Malzard and Mr. Nevil Maskelyne held a reception in the Northampton yesterday afternoon, and Mr. Walker was shown the forbidding task that awaited him. The Sea Scouts had prepared a steel water tank capable of holdj ing about 60 gallons of water, with a lid firmly secured by two bolts. In I the upper half of the walls airholes | had been driven, and Mr. Walker . was informed that after he had been securely imprisoned by the captain of the Northampton he would be low- ! ered into the waters of the Thames, : the interior of the tank would be in- | evitably flooded, and he could then ’ make his escape the best way he [ could. 0 Mr. Walker promised to do ; his best, and to the great delight of j all the small boys who could find an I inch of room on the Embankment the j preparations began. Mr. Walker estimated that he could release himI self from his steel prison in 20 sec- | onds, and time after time the tank was lowered into the river for that , period, to make certain that all the Sea Scouts knew which ropes to pull at the critical moment. When he was satisfied on this point, he stepped into the tank, the ■ captain of the Northampton screwed ; home the bolts, and made assurance doubly sure with a spanner. The tank was swung out on a davit and ; unceremoniously dropped into the Thames. Certain it is that Mr Walj ker was inside the tank when it was : put into the water; equally certain | it is that within 10 seconds he had ■ niade his escape and within a minute I the tank was being hauled on board i again with the bolts still securely in | position. The Sea Scouts marvelled ! greatly; Mr. Maskelyne and his friends smiled grimly, and Ihe spectators on shore and on the Northampton cheered lustily. At the moment, . therefore, Mr. Walker is “two up,” and we tremble to think what ingenious device the Sea Scouts will preI pare for him if there is ever a third encounter.