Katterfelto
One of the Most Interesting Characters in the History of Magic.
Magician, Quack Doctor Pseudo-Philosopher.
By HARRY HOUDINI.
The more one learns of the practical inventions credited to the early conjurors, the more the wonder grows that they, in common with the actors of the time, were considered vagabonds and little better than thieves.
A somewhat better standing was finally accorded to the actors; first by the uplift given to the theatre by Shakespeare, and later through the influence of Nell Gwyn at the court of Charles II, but the conjurors were obliged to work out their own salvation.
Shakespeare was fully aware of the bad reputation of the show people, but nowhere in his writings does he mention actors except to praise, while his opinion of conjurors can be gathered from the following from the last act of the Comedy of Errors.
. . . . . .one Pinch ; a hungry, lean faced villian,
A mere anatomy, a mountebank,
A thread-bare juggler, and a fortune teller;
A needy, hollow-eyed, sharp looking wretch,
A living dead man; this pernicious slave,
Forsooth, took on him as a conjuror ;
And gazing in mine eyes, feeling my pulse,
And with no face, as 'twere out-facing me,
Cries out, I was posses'd :
And Katterfelto was a shining example of this social ostracism.
I first heard of Katterfelto through my dear old London friend, Henry Evanion, who had in his collection a number of interesting items referring to him, as well as the illustration from the European Magazine, a reproduction of which appears in this article. The more I delved into the history of this remarkable man, the more fascinated I became, and I feel certain that a brief story of his career will prove interesting to the present generation.
He was for a time one of the best known men in London. The scientific portion of his entertainment must have been, in the main, accurate and instructive; he was said to have been decidedly helpful during the influenza epidemic in London, in 1782, and he made and sold sulphur matches twenty years prior to tbe recorded invention of the lucifer match, yet, with all these things to his credit, he never succeeded in esca.ping the odium of the conjuror, as is shown by the fact that shortly before his death he was committed by the mayor of Shrewsbury to the House of Correction in that City as a vagabond and imposter.
As I became more familiar with this quaint character, the more his personality impressed me. He seems to have heen one of those lovable vagabonds so dear to the heart of writers of romantic fiction, and, although bombastic in the extreme, a quack and a veritable charlatan, yet he was a man of much inventive genius, of more than ordinary education and of exceptional attainments along various lines.
KATTERFELTO
From the Houdini Collection
All that is positively known of Katterfelto dates from the year 1782, when he opened in London with an original and attractive entertainment embodying such a combination of science and humbug that it was difficult to determine where the one left off and the other began; and which, to quote the European Magazine of June, 1783, "repeatedly provoked risibility in all degrees, from the Archbishop of Canterbury to Dr. Johnson himself."
The following from Jones's Biographical Dictionary, 1822, is the only account of Katterfelto that I have ever seen in any recognized directory.
"Dr. Katterfelto, an eccentric sort of quack philosopher, who for several years gulled the good people of England with the exhibition of experiments in electricity, etc., which he called 'Wonderful Wonders,' insinuating that his practices were magical, and performed under the supernatural agency of a black Cat, his constant companion on those occasions. He is supposed to have been a Prussian by birth, and died at Bedale in Yorkshire, Nov. 25th, 1799."
He is described as a man near fifty years of age, about five feet ten tall, rather thin and not particularly careful of his personal appearance. He wore in his performances a long black cloak and a square velvet cap. His apparatus seems to have received more attention than his person, however, as it was said to be of the best and always in excellent order. He conducted each experiment with ease and certainty, never seeming to have a failure.
He claimed to be the son of a Colonel Katterfelto, of the Death's Head Hussars, belonging to the King of Prussia, and also claimed to have held a commission in that regiment at one time himself. In newspaper notices he is variously called Mr., Col., and Dr. Katterfelto.
His entertainment quickly secured wide publicity through a series of unusual advertisements and reading notices, which were sufficiently unique to attract the attention of no less a personage than the poet Cowper, who, in a dissertation on advertising in The Task, says:
"The rest appears a wilderness of strange
But gay confusion ; roses for the cheeks,
And lilies for the brows of faded age,
Teeth for the toothless, ringlets for the bald,
Heaven, earth and ocean plundered of their sweets,
Nectareous essences, Olympian dews,
Sermons, and city feasts, and fav'rite airs,
Etherial journies, submarine exploits,
And Katterfelto, with his hair on end
At his own wonders, wondering for his bread.
The style of Katterfelto advertising is exemplified in the following from the London Morning Post and Daily Advertiser.
Katterfelto advertisement in the London Morning Post and Daily Advertiser
From the Houdini Collection
Probably the most clever feature of these entertainments was the introduction of a wonderful Black Cat, and, while he did not positively proclaim its supposed supernatural endowments, he always treated it in public with a sort of reverence, and seemed to invoke its aid in the performance of his wonders. This naturally caused much comment, and they came to be spoken of jokingly by the press—but quite seriously by the ignorant—as the Black Devils, and Katterfelto, taking advantage of this, made the following denial, by which it will, be seen that he increased, rather than diminished, their Stygian reputation.
"MAY THE BLACK CAT HAVE NINE TIMES NINE LIVES!
“KATTERFELTO is sorry to find that the writers in the newspapers, have several times, and particularly within the last fortnight, asserted that he and his BLACK CAT were DEVILS. On the contrary, Katterfelto professes himself to be nothing more than a Moral and Divine Philosopher, a Teacher in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy; and that neither he nor his BLACK CAT bear any resemblance to Devils, as they are represented in the print-shops; and assures the Nobility and the Public, that the idea of him and his Black Cat being Devils arises merely from the astonishing performances of Katterfelto and his said Cat, which, both in the day's and at the night's exhibition, are such as to induce all the spectators to believe them both Devils indeed!—the Black Cat appearing at one instant with a tail, and the next without any, and which has occasioned many thousands of pounds to be lost in wagers on this incomprehensible subject.
Another caption reads: "For the Benefit of Mr. Katterfelto's Black Cat." In this notice he says: "In the evening he will deliver a lecture solely for the benefit and emolument of the famous BLACK CAT which has of late so much excited the attention of the public," etc. Still another is headed, "Rare News!!!" and continues: "Dr. Katterfelto is extremely happy to acquaint the public of an event which cannot but give universal pleasure; last Saturday his celebrated Black Cat, which has nine times more excellent qualities than any nine cats among those nine lived animals, was safely delivered of NINE kittens; seven of which are black and two white. So that he will be able to accommodate several of those Kings and Princes who have expressed 'a desire of having one of the breed of his wonderful black cat, which of all surprising animals is the most surprising, as those who have seen it can testify. And Dr. Katterfelto expects that the birth of those wonderful kittens will be mentioned in all foreign newspapers and gazettes, and that ambassadors will be sent from all the philosophers in the world to congratulate him upon so happy an occasion; therefore, Dr. Katterfelto acquaints the public, that he will remain in his kingdom for some time longer." Then follows the usual flamboyant advertisement.
In addition to his regular advertisements he made use of clever reading notices, which, although palably unbelievable, could not fail to keep him in the public eye. Here is one taken from an article in the European Magazine of June 1783, which is characteristic.
"A letter from Berlin says, the reason that the King of Prussia has taken such great notice of the Bishop of Osnaburg, since his arrival at Potsdam, more than he has done to any other prince, is, Capt. Katterfelto, belonging to the Death's Head Hussars, having informed the King that his brother was the greatest philosopher in England, and was taken great notice of at the British Court, having discovered many useful sciences in their navy, which induced His Majesty to show the greatest respect for His Royal Highness; His Majesty has also presented Capt. Katterfelto to His Royal Highness, to give him an opportunity of conversing with the Prince about his brother now in London, and taken so much notice of by His Britannic Majesty. The King of Prussia is very proud that his army is looked upon to he the finest in Europe in the field, and Capt. Katterfelto's brother, who is a native of His Prussian Majesty's dominions, is the greatest philosopher in the world."
In another "letter front Berlin," Capt. Katterfelto is said to have obtained leave for his brother, "who travels in the character of a philosopher," to travel a few years longer, as there is not any likelihood of a war in His Prussian Majesty's dominions, but he must not visit France or Spain, and must return to his regiment by command of His Prussian Majesty or his General. The captain also "received power" to send his brother the fifth part of the fortune of 300,000 ducats left to him by his uncle, General Katterfelto," etc.
Still another reads: "The Queen of France is highly pleased, as is also the King and the whole Court, that Dr. Katterfelto has sent one of his celebrated black cat's kittens as a present to her majesty, by His Royal Highness the Duke of Chartres; and both the King and Queen of France have agreed to send that celebrated philosopher a handsome present, which is now making by a capital artist at Paris, and is said to be worth 8,000 livras . . . The Queen of France is much surprised that the kitten has no tail, but if the Doctor's famous black cat kittens again, she expects that he will send her one that has got a tail, in order to propagate the breed of this wonderful cat in France."
It is said that during the influenza epidemic in London, in 1782. Katterfelto was quite active as a physician and added to his nostrums the fascinations of Hocus-pocus, and that, with the services of his extraordinary black cat, he was enabled to astonish and to a great extent relieve the terror of the panic-stricken lower classes. Of course this provoked the hostility of the regular practitioners, and he was bitterly attacked, but he got back at them in his own way in the following statement.
"TREASONABLE CORRESPONDENCE
against the health of His Majesty's liege subjects.
"Whereas, besides the many important Dr. Katterfelto has received, entreating his attendance in foreign Courts, he had last week divers epistles from Ireland, Scotland, the inland and remote parts of this kingdom, the Isles of Wight and Man. etc., etc.. which he conceives to come from certain apothecaries, surgeons, and from others of the faculty, concerned in the destruction of the human race, as all those letters express a desire, that he will set at liberty the dangerous insects now in his possession, and which occasioned the influenza last spring, which influenza the said letter writers seem desirous of having repeated, preferring their own emolument to the health of His Majesty's liege subjects, and for which purpose they offered Dr. Katterfelto large sums of money in order to comply with their wishes.
But Dr. Katterfelto. as a moral and devine philosopher, considering the many honors and advantages he has received from the Royal Family, nobility, and people of every distinction in this kingdom, will not be guilty of such ingratitude as to lay up so many thousands of the good people of these realms for any reward or upon any consideration whatever. And he takes this public method of answering all the said letters accordingly, having reserved those noxious insects for the express purpose of exhibiting them, amongst his other curious objects, by his solar miscrocope, and which are to be seen at the greatest advantage this and every day this and next week, from eight in the morning till five in the afternoon; or when the sun does not shine he will show his curious occult secrets, which have surprised the King and the whole Royal Family.
The evening lecture at eight o'clock, will be continued as usual, and enriched by the presence and extraordinary performances of the black cat, by which Katterfelto doubts not of getting at least £30,000 in the course of the present year, especially if she should have kittens, as he will not dispose of any under at least 500 guineas, as several of the first nobility in different parts of Europe have already requested to have some of that most wonderful breed."
Besides the verse of Cowper, several bits of rhyme singing the praises of Katterfelto, appeared in the press of the day; one is credited to a certain Dr. Hamily, and the others are anonymous; none are particularly good, and the style of all is identical, so it seems quite evident that all were written by the same hand, whether by Katterfelto himself or a press-agent is now problematical.
It is known that it was his intention to write an autobiography, entitled. "Memoirs of the Greatest Philosopher that Ever Existed or Ever Will Exist," but this work either never saw the light or has evaded my research for material.
During the height of his popularity a burlesque of his performance was produced at the Haymarket, under the title; "None are so blind as those who won't see," in which he was caricatured as Dr. Caterpillar, and even this he turned to his own advantage in his advertisements.
In 1783, Katterfelto advertised all his "Philosophical and Mathematical" apparatus for sale at £2,500, claiming that it was worth £4,000, and "would be very valuable to a school like Harrow or Winchester, as many young gentlemen would reap very great advantages from them."
In the same advertisement he says that he makes and sells Phosphorus matches.
Despite his offer to sell his apparatus he continued in London for many months after, whether long enough to wear out his welcome does not appear, but his London popularity was evidently of little advantage to him in the smaller cities of England, and after the close of his London engagement misfortune seemed to follow him most persistently till the day of his death.
"WHO WAS KATTERFELTO?"
In 1831, a correspondent to the London Mirror asked the question: "Who was Katterfelto?" and an answer which appeared in the following issue is here reproduced, so that the reader may obtain a first hand word-picture of this medical mystifier.
"In reply to the question of your correspondent—'Who was Katterfelto?" I amm enabled to offer the few brief particulars which follow. With regard to his birth, parentage, and education, I am, however, not qualified to convey any information. I know not "to whom he was related, or by whom forgot." I became acquainted with him about the year 1790 or 1791, when he visited the City of Durham, accompanied by his wife and daughter. He then appeared to be about sixty years of age. His travelling equipage consisted of an old rumbling coach, a pair of sorry hacks, and two black servants. They wore green liveries with red collars, but the colours were sadly faded by long use.
"Having taken suitable apartments, the black servants were sent round the town, blowing trumpets and delivering bills, announcing their master's astonishing performances, which in the day time consisted in displaying the wonders of the microscope, etc., and in the evening in exhibiting electrical experiments, in the course of which he introduced his two celebrated black cats, generally denominated the Doctor's Devils—for, be it understood, that our hero went under the dignified style and title of Doctor Katterfelto. Tricks of legerdemain concluded, the evening's entertainments.
"The first night of the Doctor's performance was extremely wet, and the writer of this, who was then quite a boy, composed his whole audience. The Doctor's spouse invited me behind the curtains to the fire, on one side of which sat the great conjuror himself, his person being enveloped in an old green, greasy roquelaire, and his head decorated with a black velvet cap. On the other side of the fire-place sat Mrs. Katterfelto and daughter, in a corresponding style of dress—that is to say, equally ancient and uncleanly. The family appeared, indeed, to be in distressed circumstances. The Doctor told me the following odd anecdote:—Some time before he had sent up from a town in Yorkshire a fire-balloon, for the amusement of the country people, and at which they were not a little astonished; but in a few days afterwards the Doctor was himself more astonished on being arrested for having set fire to a hay rick! The balloon, it appeared, had in its descent fallen upon a rick, which it consumed, and the owner, having ascertained by whom the combustible material had been dispatched, arrested the doctor for the damage. As the Doctor was unable to pay the amount, he was obliged to go to prison, thus proving that it is sometimes easier to raise the devil than to "raise the wind." Having been admitted behind the scenes, I had an opportunity of seeing the conjuror's apparatus, but the performance was postponed to another evening.
"On the next night of the Doctor's appearance he had a tolerably respectable auditory, and the following incidents may amuse your readers, as they occasioned much laughter at the moment. Among the company was the Rev. Mr. P., a minor canon. The conjuror, in the course of his tricks, desired a card to be drawn from the pack, by one of the company, which was done, the card examined and returned into the pack, in the presence of the audience: but on the company being requested to take the card again from the pack, it could not be found. The Doctor said it must have been taken out by some one present, and civilly begged the reverend gentleman to search his pockets. Indignant at such an insinuation, the inflamed divine for some time refused to comply, but at length being persuaded, he drew forth the identical card, much to his own surprise and the amusement of the spectators. A similar trick was also played with some money, which unaccountably found its way into the reverend gentleman's pocket, a circumsfance which put him out of all patience; and he proceeded most sternly to lecture the astounded Doctor for having practised his levity on a gentleman of his cloth, upon which, and threatening the poor conjuror with vengeance, he strode out of the room. Katterfelto declared that, although he was a conjuror, he did not know the gentleman was a divine.
Katterfelto left Durham soon afterwards, and I have heard died at Bristol.
Pentonville
DUNELM."
It is the general impression to-day that the fact that disease germs are transported by house-flies. Jersey mosquitoes, the carniverous cootie and like insects, is a twentieth century discovery, but Katterfelto's announcements of his solar microscope show that the fact must have been known to him, as he often spoke of showing "these insects which caused the late influenza, as large as birds."'
Much remains to be said in commendation of this remarkable man and very little in censure. What his earlier life had been and where he obtained the scientific knowledge which he undoubtedly possessed. I have been unable to discover.
His eccentricities may have been inborn, but I am inclined to the opinion that they were assumed for business purposes, like those of Lafayette, the magician, who lost his life in the Edinboro fire.
Lafayette was a modest, charming fellow in private life, and many a good laugh we have had together at his obvious eccentricities in public.
I recall one cold night, in London, when I saw two giant negroes standing in front of the Green Room Club as motionless as statues. There they wailed, standing a la Napoleon, until Lafayette came out, and then with great reverence they escorted him to his motor car as if he were a king.
Katterfelto was a natural product of his day and generation, and such of his life as I have been able to trace was helpful to his fellow man, so, surely none among us will begrudge the poor, old, forgotten conjuror-lecturer a niche in the Magician's Hall of Fame.
Originally pubished in the M-U-M in Vol. 8, No. 69 in New York, December 1918.
