The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-09-20 00:00:00

VICTOR EMMANUEL'S SPORTING
EXCURSION.

The following details are given concerning the LA shooting
excursion of the King of Italy in the Valley of Acids, where
he had gone In search of wild goats :
"lUs Majesty had the satisfaction ef killing 52 of
these magnificent Alpine animals, which are now be-
coming scarce in Piedmont and Sardinia. Tbe hunter,
leave their huts and have to make a four or five hours,
journey on horses before they arrive at their posts,
where they conceal themselves with their carbines
The hiding. places are generally clefts in rooks near •
glacier or deep precipks. Sometimee they have to
remain half a day in the most uncomfortable posi-
tions, exposed to a burning inn or to penetrating
fogs, which by turns scorch or freeze the summits
of the rocks 3,000 or 4,000 metres above the level
of the sea. Nearly 100 beaters from a distance
of several miles round send the game forward towards
the sportsmen by uttering cries and throwing stones
The pursuit of this proud inhabitant of the mountsina
Ii full of vicissitudes and stirring incidents. The goats
look fearlessly at the keepers, and the enormous blocks
which are hurled after them fail to make them swerve
from the path they imagine safest. On the contrary,
the chamois is a timid animal, taking alarm at the
plightset noise, and then bounding away with extra'
ordinary speed. The King also goes out each year
against them, but later in the sewn."

SCENE IN A CONCERT-HALL.
An accident of an alarming nature occurred on Mon-
day evening at the Birmingham Concert-Hall, Coles.
hill-street. Amongst the company engaged there are
the Brothers Wainwretti, performers on the slack wits,
whose entertainments are of a somewhat sensational
chatacter. About nine o'clock the brothers appeared
upon the stage, and the elder—who by the way, has lost
his right hand—ascended to • wire stretched across the
stage at a height of about eight feet. Hare he ac-
complished a number of clever feats, and descended in
safety. His brother, • mach younger man, then, took
his place upon • slack wire, stretched from the pro-
scenium to the gallery at the upper end of the halL
He traversed the hall from end to end several times,
and then went through a performance with the hoop.
As a finale he stood on the centre of the wire, on OM
foot, and swung himself violently to and fro. The
audience were applauding him loudly when all at
once • sharp map was heard, and in a moment the
wire flew Into the air, and the performer fell to the
floor, a distance of about 181 t. The greatest con-
fusion prevailed for a few seconds, a number of
women in the hall screaming loudly. Wainwretti well
taken up from the floor, and carried Into an
ante-room, where • medical man was quickly in atten-
dance. It was then ascertained that he had hurt one
of his shoulders, although not seriously, and that he
was considerably shaken. Mr. E. Martin, the eters
manager, announced to the audience the result of the
medical /examination, and shortly afterwards, Wain-
wretti himself walked acme the stage amidst great
applause. Subsequently it was ascertained that the
wire had not broken, but that an iron loop, screwed
into the floor of the gallery, to which one end of the
wire was attached, had tom out of the wood, and that
the accident had been thus caused. The performances
at the hall were continued, as Boon as the excitement
had been allayed.