Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-10-07
ooMBAT IN MID.AIR.


DEADLY sTRuadLE ON A TIoHT ROPE -oSE
cO1rBATANT HURLED TO THE GROUND AND
INSTANTLY KrLLED-sAvAoE TRIUMPH OF
THE VICTOR.
Little did the tens Of thousand Ofmen, women
and children who thHonged the public square Of
Agram, Croatia; on the 18th Of August antici-
pate that they were about 10 witness a spectacle |
such % has perhaps, never been seen before-a
mortal struggle in mid-air. The occasion |
Ofthe gathering was performance on the tight
rope.
The acrobats. Andreas Kolter and Francis
PergoWitch, were 10 appear on the rope which
had been stretched from a window in the filth
story Of the courthouse to a window in an op-
possite house, q distance Of two hundred aud tif-
y feet. The acrobats were TO meet midway,and
then to pass each other. When the clock struck
twelve the acRObats emerged from their Tespec-
tive windows, dressed in tights and without
balance poles. Kolter walked rather cautious
ly, while PergoWitch came to meet him from the
opposite direction with a nervous, quick step.
Al last they met, and the suspense Of the crowd
underneath changed the next momeRt 10 a feel
ing Of indescribable horror. Pergowitch sud
donly uttered an angry exclamation, and dealt
KOlter terrible blow on the head Kolter
staggered and fell, but in SO doing, succeeded in
clutching the rope with one hand, while, with
the other he grasPed the left leg ofthe assailani
PeEgowilch now fell likewise, but passed hisright
arm around the rope, so that he hung upon 1t IN
comparative security. And now began lille
and death struggle. Kolter with his right hand
tried TO draw Pergowitch from the rope, while
Fergowitch kicked Kolter with his right foot,
and with his left hand endeavored TO loosen his
autagonist's hold. No one was able to interfere
and the result, it was foresee, must be the death
Of one or both ofthe acrobats. Many women
tainted, while strong men wept like children.
What addedtO the general despair was th'
appearance Of KolteTs young wife at the oper
window from which her husband few mo
ments before had set out upon his fatal walk
Her piteons screams were heard above the dir
below, and her appeals to PergoWitch TO SPAR
her husbands life would Lave moved the hear
Of an Apache. The struggle in mid air laste'
perhaps a minute, when KOlter suddenly uIteTe'
last cry and lost his hold. He fell down L
the ground, striking it violently and expiring
INSTANTLY, While the people gathered roun
the corpse Of poor Kolter, his murderer on III
tight rope managed to get on his feet agar
With diab0lical expression on his face
uttered q yell Of triumph.
The Prefect Of the Police ordered PsTgowitc
70 surrender. In case heshould not do 40 in hv
minutes he would be shot down like dog. +
nally he raised himself to his feet and ran qucl
y to the courthouse window, where he surren'
cred, begging that he should be protected frOl
violence. There was great danger of his beir
executed by the people, who loudly clamort
that the murderer be given up to them; but Il
military, by bayonst charge, cleared the pu
lie square. FerRoWi.cI being asked what h;
clused him 10 perpetrate the crime, said the
had been grudge between him and Kolter c
er since the latter had married young Rosi
SeTganOf, young Polish girl Of rare beaui
kolter, in a fit jealousy, had told him that
knew one Of them would have 10 die on this
count Andreas Kolter was the Youngest mel
Der Of the distinguished family of acrobats
that name.