The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-04-18
i STARTLING TRAGEDY.

- u l,.ss l-e ts-
A Woman Shot Deat, by Another Ono on
tho stago-Reclless Use OF FfrearIpb--
Terrible Ending to q Variety Perform
anca at Pawtuckst, Rhode IsIa2d. ~
PRovIDENcB, R. l., April 5.
A terrible tragedy occurred this even.
ing at the Opera House, in Pswtucket,
IN this State, during one of those sensa.
tional and reckless exhibitions in inaYls.
manship, originally introduced ON tho
stage by Egank Frayne and his wife, Miss
Glare Basle-. Inthis instance the holder
OF tae rife was woman, and she In.
stentiy killed another woman who was
holding the apple aimed at on her head.
On Monday last o variety company, hail
ing from the Mozart Garden, in the city
Of Brooklyn, N. Y, commenced an en-
gagement at the Pawtuoket Opera House,
their performance being of all ordinary
character, except the feats in rifle ehoot.
Ing by Mrs. Jennie Fowler, whose stage
iiane is Miss Jennie Franklin.n SIZE
usually began by firing alta target and at
various objecte, closing that part of her
performance by shooting at an apple
placed on the head of another member of
the company, known as Mile. Volafite,
who also appeared as a trapeze per-
former. - .s .,ans a,;rl1x.
/ SHOOTING WITH A REFLECTED AIN.
In order to intensity, the sensational
character Of this act, Miss franklin, in
stead OF taking direct aim at the apple
on Mile. Volante's head, faced In an on.
rosite direction and obtained her range
by means ofa small mirror placed at the
wing. This mirror has TO be arranged at
such a:: angle .hs: :t.ss ::t.ss face will bring tho
face OF the person supporting the apple
directly in the centre Of the glass. The
holder of the rife places the weapon over
her right shoulder, keeping the trigger
guard. pressed close and steady to her
shoulder, and then takes aim through
the sights ut the reflected image before
her. The. trick has been repeatedly &C.
compliehed with success, but it requires
great GOODNESS and steadiness To strike
the reflected apple with precision, and
has always been deemed foolhard, and
dangerous experiment. tf: io2,
.d aoi NA,sTARTLING TRAaF3y., gueia.
~ This eyecin9 the varie.5 entertainment
passed off as usun. r1tii the rife, shooting
act, when the audience was Mortified BY
seeing tho unfortunate trapeke performer
shot dead. MiEs Franklin Displayed con:
siderable skill in hitting her target and
other objects while firing directly ut
them, and she seemed confident and as.
sured when tho final feat was to be at.
tempted. Mile. Volante stepped aiertly
to her station, smiling at the audience as
she did SO. Placing the apple, m ordi-
nary sized one, on top of her head, where
it rested in her luxuriant hair, she stood
smotionless as a statue. Miss Franklin
also took her station near. the footlights
in front of the mirror, and deliberately
aimed over her shoulder through the
glaEs at her ill-fated friend. The audi
ence sat in silence curiously watching the
performers and suspecting some deceitfal
trick. when fsuddenly the trigger was
pulled and at the came instant shrek
resounded through the hall and the un-
fortunate Volante fell forward on the
ST. re-. i'faa4 iuHa.2 - iti.,ess
i5,:i g "A HoRRIFIED AUDIENCE. s
Everything was now In confusion, both
before and behind the footlights, the su-
dionce being in state OF terror, at the
dcnouep,ent, of what had promised 70 he
'only pleasant bit Of sensation. AT first
it was only suPPo5ed that Nl:s. Volante
had been wounded, but it was, not many
minutes before the news spread that the
woman had been instantly killed.. the
fatal bullet having entered her forehead
and pierced the brain. Miss Franklin
was Immediately placed under arrest by
the local police, and is now locked up to
await the action of the coroner. She
seemed to be half crazed with horror at
the occurrence, only realizing the reck-
lessness of her act when it was too late.
Mile. 'Volante, who so suddenly closed
her career in this shocking manner, has
only been on the variety stage four or five
weeks, aud no one at Pawtucket or here
seems tn know her histnry. The tragedy
has naturally caused great excitement in
the town Of Pawtucket. This accident
will, of course, put o stop to all such ex-
hiibhiitiofis, no matter VINO may attempt