The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1873-10-01
Combat in Mla-Air.

-
Little did the tens Of thousands Of
men women and children who thronged
the public square of Agram, Croatia on
the 18th of August, anticipate that they
ware about to witness a spectacle such
ma has perhaps, never been seen before
-amortal struggle In mid-Rir. The oc-
oasion of the gathering was o pertor-
on the tight.rope. The acrobats
Andreas Kolter and Francis Pergow-
itch, we're to appear on the rope, which
had been stretched from q window IN the
fifth story Of the courthouse to an oppo-
site house, a distance Of 25O feet. The
ncrobnts were to meet midway, and
then 10 pass each other. When the
clock struck ~, the RoFobats emerged
nom their respective windows dressed
In tights, and without balance poles.
Kolter walked rather cautiously, while
Perpoyftch came 10 meet him from the
opposite direction, with q nervous, quick
step. At last they met, and the sus.
peSna of the crowd underneath changed
the next moment TO a feeling Of indiscris
bablo horror. Pergowitoh suddenly ut
tered an angry exclamation, and dealt
Kolter d terrible blow on the head.
Rolter staggered and fell, but IN 50 do
ing succeeded In clutehing the rope
with one hand, while with the other he
crashed the left leg Of his assailant.
Pergowitoh now fell likewise, bntpassed
his Fight arm around the rope, so that
he hung upon II In comparative security.
And now began q life~andsdeath strug.
ole. Kolter, with his right hand, tried
10 drag Pergowitch from the rope. while
pereowitch kicked KolteF with bis
ripht foot, end with his left hand enA
dPayored 20 loosen his antagonists hold.
No one was able 10 interfere, and the re-
Eult. IL was easy to foresae, must be the
death Of one or both the acrobats. Many
IN tainted, while strong men wept
like children. What added to the gen
oral deapair was the appearance Of kol-
tar,a Young wife at the open window,
From which her husband o few moments
before had set out upon his fatal walk.
Her plteous screams were heard above
the din below, anh her appeals to Per-
0owitoh 10 spare her husbands life
would have moved the heart Of an Ap.
aoha. Tho struggle in mid-aif lasted
perhaps d minute, when koltes sudden
IL uttered q last cry and lost his hold.
lie fell ID the ground, striking y VIC.
len,ly and ezpifing instantly. While
the people gathered round the corpse Of
Moor R0lser, his murderer on the tight
fope managed 10 get on his feet again.
With d aiab0licbl expression on bis face
he uasarad a yell Of triumph.
Tbs Project of Police ordered Per-
powltch to surrender. In case be should
net ~ x within I've minutes be would
be shot down Ike a dog. Finally be
raieea himself % Bis feet and ran quick>
ly 20 she courthouse window, where he
suFreaderrd, begging that be might be
protected from violence. There was
great danger OF his being executed by
IN people, who loudly olamcred that
the murderer be- given up 70 them; oat
tsa m,lltary 81 d bayonet charge cleared
In puhllo square. P~ergowiteh being
askaa what caused him to perpetrate
thiR crime. sald that there had been q
grnare between him and kolter ever
since the latter hadmarried young RIOS
M GaraanoE, Il Polish girl Of rare beau
Hotter, II ! &c of Jealousy, haa
told# him 10 knee one o. The other oi
lham must die on this account. Andre
a Kolter wa che youngest member q
ma distinguished family ef aorobats OF
lhaf name