The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-10-06
COMBAT IN MID.AIR.
DEADLY STRUGGLE ON A TIGHT
ROPE-ONE COMBATANT HURL.
ED 70 THE GROUND AND IN
SANITY KILLED.

Little did the tens of thousands of men,
women and children who thronged the
public square of Agram, Crotia, on the
10th of August, anticipate tina, they were
about TO witness a spectacle such MS has
perhaps, never been seen beiore---a NOR
tai struggling in mid-ar. The occasion
OF the gathering was q perfor nance on
tho tght-rope. The acrobats, Andre, 3
kolter and Francis Pergowitch, were TO
appear on the rope, which had been
stretched from window in the fifth
story of the courthouse to window in
an opposite house, IA distance of $50 feet.
The hcrobates we're to meet midway, and
then to pass each other. When the clock
struck IL the acrobats emerged from their
respective windows, dressed In tights and
without balance poles. Koltcr walked
rather cautiously, while Pergowitch came
to meet him from the opposite direotion,
with nervous, quick step. At last they
met, and tho suspense OF tho crowd I'M
derneAth changed tho next moment TO q
feeling of indiscribable horror. Pergo-
witch suddenly uttered an angry cxcla-
nation and dealt X otter q terrible blow
on the head. Kolter staggered and
fell, but in go doing succeeded In clutch.
ing the rope with one hand, while with
the other he grasped the left leg of his as
ssilant. Pergowitch nov fell likewise, but
passed his right arm around the rope, 30
that he hung upon it in comparative Sc
curi,y. And now began liie-and-dcnth
struggle Kolter, with his right hand,
tried to drag Pergowitch from the rope,
while rergowitch kicked Kolter with bis
right foot, and with bis left hand endeav-
orcd to loose his antagonists hold. No
one was able to interfere, and the
result, it was easy to forsee, must be
the death of one or beth the acrobats.
Many women tainted, while strong men
wept like children. What added to the
general despair was the appearance of
koltCrs young wife at tho open window,
from which her husband few moments
before had set out upon his fatal walk.
Her pteous screams were heard above the
| din below, and her appeals to Pergowitch
| 10 spare her husbands life would have
| moved the heart Of an Apache. The
struggle in mid-air lasted perhaps a
minute, when Kolter suddenly uttered a
last cry and lost his hold. lie fell to the
ground, striking it violently and expiring
instantly. While the people gathered
round the corpse of poor Kolter, his muir.
derer on the tight-rope managed to got on
| his feet again. With disboical expires.
sion on his face he uttered yell of tri.
| umph.
The Perfect Of Police ordered Pergo-
witch to surrender. In case he should not
| do so in five minutes he would be shot
| down like dog. Finally he raised him
self to his feet and ran quickly to the
| courthouse window, where he surrcn-
dered, begging that he might be protected
from violence. There was great danger
Of his being executed by the people, who
loudly clamored that the murderer lie given
up to them but tho military by n bay
onet charge cleared the publc-square.
Pergowtch being asked what caused him
to perpetrate this crime, said there had
| been a grudge between him and Kolter
| ever since tina latter had married Rosita
Sergarotf, Polish girl of great beauty
Kolter, in fit of jealousy, had told hin
that he knew one or the other must die OF
this account. Andress Kolter was tht
youngest member of the distinguished
family of acrobate of that name.