Smith had not even the courage of a
blacksmith for standing fire, and yielded
a stake of L50, as was stated, without
a contest, to M. Chabert, on the latter
coming out of his oven with his own two
steaks perfectly cooked. On this occasion
Chabert took 20 grains of phosphorus,
swallowed oil heated to nearly 100 degrees above
boiling water, took molten lead out of a
ladle with his fingers and cooled it on his
tongue; and, besides performing other
remarkable feats, remained five minutes in
the oven at a temperature of between 300
and 400 degrees by the thermometer. There was
about 150 persons present, many of them
medical men; and being convinced that
these things were fairly done, without
trickery, much astonishment was expressed.

The following detailed account of the latter
challenge appeared in the Chronicle, London,
September, 1829.


THE FIRE KING AND HIS
CHALLENGER.--An advertisement appeared
lately in one of the papers, in which a
Mr. J. Smith after insinuating that M.
Chabert practised some juggle when he
appeared to enter an oven heated to five