Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-10-14
A FighI and Rfarder in Mid.Air

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 that they
we're about to witness a spectacle such
as has perhaps never been seen before
mortal struggle in mid-air. The occa-
| sion of the catering was a performance
on the tight.rope. The acrobats, An.
dreas Kolter and Francis Pergowitch,
were to appear on the rope, which had
| been stretched from a window in the
| fifth story Of the court house to a win
dow in an opposite house, a distance of
$50 feet. The acrobats were to meet
midway, and then to pass each other.
When the clock struck twelve the
acrobats emerged from their respective
windows, dressed in tights, ard with
out balance poles. kolter walked
rather cautiously, while Pergowitch
came to meet him from the opposite d.
recton with a nervous, quick step. At
last they met, and the suspense of the
crowd underneath changed the next mo-
ment to feeling of indescribable hor
ror. Pergowitch suddenly uttered an
exclamation, and dealt Xolter terrible
blow on the head. Kolter staggered and
fell, but in so doing succeeded in clutch
ing the rope with one hand, while with
the other he graspcd the lett leg of his
assaiant. Persow;tch now fell likewise,
but passed his right arm around the rope,
so that he hung upon it in comparative
security. And now began life aud
death struggle. Kolter, with his right
hand, tried to drag Pergowtch from
the rope, while Pergowitch kicked
Kolter with his right foot, and with
his right hand endeavored to loosen
his antagonists hold No one was
able TO interfere, and the result it
was easy to fOresee must be the death
of one or both of the acrobats. Many
women tainted, while strong men wspt
IKE children. What added to the gen
eral despair was the appearance Of kol-
ter's young wife at the open window,
from which her husband few minutes
before had set out upon his fatal walk.
Her piteous screams we're heard above
the din below, and her appeals to Per
rowitch to spare her husbands life
would have moved the heart Of an
kJaehr. The struggle in mid air lasted
perhaps minute, Ghan kolter suddenly
uttered last cry aud lost his hold. He
fell to the ground striking it violently
aud expiring instantly. While the peo-
Sc gathered round the corpse of poor
Koltcr, bis murderer eR thp light tope |
managed to got on biz feet again. With |
a diabolical expression on his face be |
uttered a yell Of triumph.
The preiect cf police ordered Pergo-
witch to surrender Ia case be should
aot do SO within five minutes be would
be shGi ao%n liso 2 dog Finally he !
raised himself TO bic i0et aud Fan quiek-
ly TO the courthouse window, where be /
surrendered, begging that be might be
protected from violence. There was /
rreat danger Of bis being executed by /
Inc seop,s, Thc loudly clamored thatiha !
muraerbr be given " 10 lheni but the |
military BY a bayonet charge cleared the /
pablo square. FeTgoViteh being asked /
shat csised hil 70 perpetrate this crime, /
said that there had had been a grudge /
between him aud Kolter ever since the /
latter had married young ROsita SerEan- I
oil, Polish girl of rare beauty. kol- I
ter, ia a it Of Jealousy, had told him he /
knew enc or the other must die on this ]
account. Andreas Kolier WasiheTaaRg- /
EST member OF the distinguished family /
Of acrobais Of ihai name.
"Lamer sighed Mrs. Pariingion. /
Here ! have been suderiu' the biga- /
nies Of death ser ihFee norial weeks. /
First, ] vas seized with a bleeding phre- /
--1r.r,- in tha barrrshrrr nf the hrair ]