The New York herald., 1879-03-04
SHOT BY VAN NESS. ,

THE PEDESTRIAN AT THE Old FIFTH REGIMENT
AEMoRY WOUNDS HIS TRAINER AND ACTS luxe
A MADMAN.
The latest novelty in pedestriansm is that afforded
by Mr.. Peter Van Ness, who last night shot and
wounded his trainer and perforated with bullet a
hat on hts backers head Mr.. Van Ness
has been engaged in a tramping tournament at
the Fifth Regiment Armory. in Hester street
Last evening number of his friends from Brook
Ign called to witness the progress Of his perform
ance. During the brief spells devoted to rest these
friends found their way to Van Ness room and par
took Of liquid REFRESHMENTS and the pedestrian
Joined them in their carousaL He drank freely
of port wine and became hilarious. Under
the invgorating influence he entertained the
audience which consisted Of about fifty persons by
steps, il he were balancing himself on giddy
trapeze. Between the acts. or rather when the bell
mis he joineG in his friends in the waiting
room and then induiged in fresh potations.
until the effects OF the liquor became became
behaviour. At haf-past eight P. NJ. he retired to his
room. This time It was deemed necessary to eject
the Brooklyn delegation, and thereby. prevent the
companions and being overcome by the potatfons of
wine. Van Ness who is in m exhausted condition.
soon fell into a sound slumber.
ANGRY AT BEING AROUSED
It appears that of his convivia friends bad pre-
Ecnteu
ject could not be ascertaincd When the moment
came for him to be called go upon tho track. his
trainer Joseph B. Gauhn undertook the task of get
ting him out of bed. But Van Ness sound
asleep and it required physical force to awaken
him. He protested against the operation
and became violent and abusive His
trainer however, inexorable and insisted
on his going the track. The latter excitedly pre-
sented revolver at his trainers head snapped the
trigger, but it missed fire. A second time he was
more successful. The ball passed through Gauhns
arm just below the elbow. Then Van Ness dis
charged the pistol at his trainer several timesa in
rapid succession. the reports causing "a momcntary
stampede among the audience. At this critical uncture
Mr. simon Levy, Van Ness hacker. rushed into the
confined apartment where the shooting going
on. and he popped his head inside the door
Unity to his head. Fortunately. Van Ness was dis
armed before he had time to nfict further injury.
He struggled desperately with the twp men, and
acted generally If he bereft of his reason.
At last he forced from the room and CON-
pelled to resume his weary task Once upon the
track he seemed to have recovered his self possesson
but soon relapsed into his former ill-temper. He
saying they had como there to insult him and
q disturbance. The combined influence of the wine
and fatigue had effected his brain and II apparent
that he was not accountable for his acts. Fearing
that he would regain possession OF the revolver tho
majority of the spectators left the building
In the meantime the wounded man. suffering great
pain, remained closely confined to the room where
the shooting took place. lie did not like to appear
before the audience lest his injury should becofoe
known and thereby cause panic among the patrons
of the establishment. He solicitous also that
the police should be kept ignorant Of the occur
renee lest the pedestrian should be arrested and
taken from the track. No arrests were made.