Engraving depicting John Holtum stopping a cannon ball in flight. Holtum purchased the gun from a Birmingham arms manufacture in 1872 and toured with his trick for many years. His chest was thickly padded; and he wore leather gloves; and the worst injury he sustained was the loss of one finger on his left hand. The cannon ball was ejected by a spring just before a small charge was set off giving the perception that it was a real cannon ball used. Dated 19th century 01/02/1895