The Famous Howard Brothers.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue VIII, 23 August 1902, Page 486

The Famous Howard Brothers.

The Howard Brothers, who are now on their way to New Zealand by the Paparoa, under engagement to Wirth Bros., appear to be very wonderfi I people indeed. The ‘‘Sportsman,” in speaking of their performance, savs: After 'Witnessing a seance given by these brothers, one is inclined to ask “Can these things be? And wherein lies the marvellous fascination of this exhibition?” you ask. In outline the Howards’ performance is this: One brother sits blindfolded on a chair in the centre of the arena, while the o'ther moves hastily in and out through the audience. No visible system of signs or confederates is possible. Articles, such as watches, coins, hats, hairpins, gloves, or vijiting cards are tendered .by the audience, and, quick as a flash, are described minutely by the blindfolded member seated in the arena. Not a word of communication betwixt the brothers goes on. But this is scarcely so wonderful when one considers how the names- of complete strangers are discovered, much to their possessors’ surprise. A question is written down by an i-dividual r-dritive to the whereabouts of missing relatives. Straightway comes an answer; a street is named—it may be in Melbourne. or in some town in Ulster. Continued under “Our Illustrations."

The fate of stolen or missing articles is described after a similar fashion. The Howards freely undertake to unveil mysteries during their stay here, and from the number of communications solved, the invitation seems to be largely availed of. The brothers have had the honour of performing before Her Most Gracious Majesty the late Queen Victoria and the Royal Family on three occasions, and twice at Balmoral Castle, viz., once with Ginnett’s Circus, on June 1, 1893, again on the Royal yacht at Cowes’ Regatta, Isle of Wight, in August, 1895, and again at Balmoral with Lord George Sanger’s Circus last year. They gave a medical seance before 500 doctors at the Royal Aquarium, London, England, on June 10, 1892, when each one pronounced the Howards to be the greatest mind reading experts they had witnessed, and came to the conclusion that it was a matter of impossibility for any code to be used, as no one brain could stand the test of the different details. TRAM CAR ACCIDENT. On Friday evening last week an accident occurred in Auckland to one of the tram cars which came near having very serious consequences. As one of the cars was descending Wel-lesley-street East the brake failed to grip, and the vehicle, attaining a great speed, got quite beyond the power of the driver or horses to arrest its downward progress. As the car reached the foot of the street, despite all the efforts of the driver, it missed the points and ran into one of the iron poles erected for the electric trams.

So great was the force of the impact that the car was cut into right through the platform and its roof to the front of the body of the car. The driver stepped to the right just before the moment of impact, or he would inevitably have been killed, the pole going right through the position he occupied during the runaway. The conductor stepped to the left of the platform, where he thought himself safe, but. the iron splashboard of the car was forced flown on to his foot, pinning it against the floor. The driver was thrown against the twist-

ed front, and had his legs bruised, but his injuries were in no degree severe, and he was able to resume work to-day. The conductor was less fortunate. When lifted from his position it was found that his right foot, had been severely crushed and that the toes had been mangled. Mr Paul M. Hansen, attorney for the company, Mr W. D. Lysaght, traffic manager, and Mr W. Potter, depot manager, were quickly on the scene, to render what assistance they could, while the police were also promptly on the spot.