The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-09
German Mumor-FKow Couple OF
Actors "GOt Eyen'' with Practical
Joker-A heatrical Audience


Startled.
From the Chicago Tribune Of Tuesday.
A somewhat startling but extremely hui
morous incident transpired at the German
House CTheatre), corner of north Wells and
Indiana streets, on last Sunday evening.
The play was a rollicking comedy, lre8lE
translated as "The Sunday Hunters" full
of strange adventures and comlcal eXpe-.
rienccs. Among the characters Is one oil
an extremely verdant nature, who Is the
butt of his companions, and whom they
lead into all manner of scrapes. The com
pany OF actors that appear before the foot
lights at this place Of amusement numbers
among its members couple oil WaSs, VINO
are always on the alert for practlcal JOKE.
In connection with "The Sunday Hunt
ers.".a capital one seemed to present Itself.
The party who was to assume the character
of the scapegoat is something of practical
Joker himself, aud had several weeks before
nlayed q most successful trick upon cou-
nle of his fellow-actors. The parties at
whose eXpense the joke had been perpe-
trated now determined upon revenge. The
scapegoat is wonderfully experienced in the
matter of " shooting-lrons, ana the report
of the first shot, which he is obliged to IRE
himself, is supposed to exert an astonishing
effect upon his nerves. me Jokers defer.
mined that in this instance the astonlshment
should be real, and to thatend filled Yer
dant's blunderbuSs with powder, wadS, &c.,
nearly to the muzzlc.
| On Sunday evening large audience was
in attendance, and the play was received
with unbounded satisfaction. Toward the
close, between 10 and II o'clock, the
" green 'un" introduces himself with his
blunderbuss. He played his part with great
ability, again and again convulSing the au-
dience with laughter. Finally he sees an
! ha Of ~.
boring tree. 1t is an opportunity that must
not be neglected. He brings his towlins
piece to his shoulder, rests it on stout
| limb, takes aim, and fires. The effect Of the
shot was something wonderful. 1t created
such excitement, both inside and outside OF
| the walls of that theatre, us has seldom
been witnessed in the North Division.
The unfortunate victim of the joke was
rendered nearly insensible by the concus-
sion, and the reaction, or 'kick,' of the
gun sent him to the floor as if he had been
struck by q sledge-hammer. The audience
were completely terrified. Within The house
the report was perfectly deatening, and
many seemed to think that the house had
fallen about their heads. Several ladies
were so seriously affected that they had to
be carried out of the house. The joke had
clearly been overdone.
The report of the blunderbuss had as re-
markable an effect on those upon the out
side rs upon those within. 1t was heard
with great distinctness as far south as the
river and as far north as Chicago avenue,
and all the police officers stationed within
this precinct made haste to repair to the
scene of the supposed murder. In less
than five minutes full dozen breathless
stars had collected about the theatre.
Among them was Sergeant Hathaway, who
instantly took charge Of the force, and de-
termined to do or die in bringing the infa-
nous murderer to justice.
He stationed some at one entrance,
others at another, and when every egress
was thoroughly guarded he took the main
force in hand and ordered IN advance up
the broad stairway. Quickly they charged,
heroically they broke down every impcdi-
ment in their way, and finally stood amongst
the astonished audience. Many of the lat
ter cried "The house is arrested" while
the police in accents of terrible earnestness
demanded that the murderer be given into
their custody. As for the victim, they pro-
missed to see 10 it that he got decent burial.
1t was some time before all mistakes could
be rectiied, when the play proceeded
| smoothly to its conclusion.