The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-04-19
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oNi0' w. H. oooIH CAKoLiNA Apk&l 1878
NUMBER 1s.
A sTARTLINa TRAGEDY.

NhA06Ux.
afRoyIDsSoE, Il. t., April 5.-A terrible
tragedy occurred this evening at the Opera
y House, in Pawtucket. in this State, during
oae Of those senntidhd aud reckless exhi-
bitors y craftsmanship, originally intro.
dqoe9 on the stage by Frank Frayne and
t,t9 Miss CI9es Butler. In this in.
p tbcs iiot1es of the rife was o woman.
and the ipstaakl killed. an pther woman who
esas hoidia Apple aim at on her, head.
0h MShda sdst q saristg ampany, hssline
from thS Mozart Gardsa, In the cslS Of
Bsoek!yp, n y, echmen a an engsge.
.nsSt At the. :. I! fss a ses eloaso, their
I(1essI6 - - S.Sssis.,..
RT666a E6s| S'a q began by
dfihs at q target and q Jsfions objects,
olOsing that part df psf ffsruhance by
shooting at an apple p "a on the. head of
smother member of .tha bonpany known as
Nile, volante, who ais appeared as trap.
exc performer. ~ NJ $50
SHOOTING wfTn a YEpLEorED AIM.
In order to intensity che sensational char
acter of this act, Miss Franklin, instead of
tdking direct aim at the apple on Mile Vo-
lante's head, faced in an opposite direction
aud obtained her range by means of a small
mirror placed at the wing. This mirror has
to be arranged at such an angle that its
face will bring the face of the person sup
porting the apple directly in the centre of
the glass. The holder of the rife places
the weapon over her right shoulder, keeping
the triGrAr gnard pressed o}oso eaa \.
to her shoulder, and then takes aim through
the sights at the reflected image before her.
The trick has been repeatedly accomplished
with success, but it requires great GOODNESS
and stcadincss to strike the reflected apple
with precision, and has always been deemed
foolhardy and dangerous experiment.
A STARTLING TRAGEDY
This evening the variety entertainment
passed off as usual until the rife shooting
act, when the audience was Mortified by Sec
ing the unfortunate trapczc performer shot
dead. Miss Franklin displayed consider
able skill in hitting her target and other OBJ
jects while firing directly at them, and she
seemed confident and assured when the final
feat was to be attempted. Mile. Volante
stepped alcrtly to her station, smiling at tho
andianea as she did so.- Placing the apple.
an ordinary sized one, on the top of her
head, where it rested in her luxuriant hair,
she stood motionlcss as n statue. Miss
Franklain also took her station near the
footlights in front Of the mirror, and delib-
eratcly aimed over her shoulder through the
glass at her ill>fatcd friend. The audience
sat in silence, curiously watching the per-
formers and suspeeting some deceitful trick,
when suddenly the trigger was pulled and
af hn n ShrIn ol
through the hall and the unfortunate Vol
ante fell forward on the stage.
A HoRRIFIED AUDIENCE.
Everything was now in confusion, both
before and behind the footlights, the audi
encc being in state Of terror at the denouc-
mcm of what had promised to be only a
pleasant bit of sensation. At first it was
only supposed that Mile. Volantc had been
wounded, but it was not many minutes be-
fore the news spread that the woman had
been instatly 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. Sho
seemed to be half crazcd with horror at the
occurrence, only realizing the rccklcssncss
Of her act when it was too late. Mile. Vo-
lantc, who SO suddenly closed her career in
this shocking manner, has only been on tho
variety stage four or five weeks, and no one
at Pawtuckct or here seems to know her
history The tragedy has naturally caused
great excitement in the Town of Pawtuckct
This accident will. Of course. put stop to
all such exhibitions, no matter who may at
tempt them.