Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-06-16
Talbot's steady Nerve,

Jack Talbot, the minstrel comedian was
a wonderful shot with pistol. In talking
upon this subject he said:
''Well. / shot occasionally in public, but
it was not until, / think, 1862, that gave
an exhibition ON a theatrical stage. Tha,
was in San Francisco. By the way, there 4
good story in connection with the affair.
Johnny De Angels, one Of the company,
agreed to let me shoot an apple from his
head, after | had demonstrated practically
that there was no danger in il. A few days
before the exhibition his nerve forsook him,
and he resortsd 10 neat little stratagem to
test the accuracy of my aim. We were to
have a rehearsal that morning, and when
got on the stage was surprised to see De
Angels propping up skeleton against my
practice-target 'What are you doing with
that thingl' / asked. Il want you TO
shoot an apple off its head, he answered,
lust to see where the ball will hit if you
miss the mark fired few shots. split
ting the apple each time, and that reassured
HIM. Before the show was gwen we heard
that the city officials would object to the
shooting on the ground OF its danger, and
came and DE Angels, who had previously
taken an affectionate farewell of his wife.
stood like statue, waiting for the first shot.
used large-bore Colts revolver. | fired
and Clipped of the upper part Of the apple.
Shoot little closer, said Johnny, who
wanted to show his nerve. This time /
sent the bullet through the centre. Closer,
again said Johnny, who was growing more
courageous The third shot dug out the
bottom of the apple and raised lock of his
hair. That will do said he; that's low
enough
'.Billy Birch had benefit in Frisco IN
1864, and volunteered for him. That time
a woman held the app.e. During that year
John X. Hackett, who was then living in
CALIFORNIA, had WIDE reputation as a
crack shot Some friends arranged match
between us, but for some reason or other
il dld not come off. Dan Bryant, who was
bosom friend of mine, had great faith in
my shooting. When he was leaving Cali
fornia, in 1869, big party of us went
down to the steamship TO see him off.
There was no Pacific railroad in those days.
Dan got up on the hurricane deck, and
shouted to me: Got your pistol, Jack 2
Yes said |. Dan held bottle of wine
on the palm of his hand and said: Let's
see YOU uncork this | blazed away ard
knocked the cork out without breaking the
bottle. Dan drank my health as the ship
carried him out of the Golden Gate. | gave
several exhibitions after that, generally as
sisted by De Angels, who often held up
twenty-five cent piece for me to shoot from
his fingers, at a distance of about forty five
feet. NV best feat was igniting a match
with bullet without breaking the match. =
you never knew George WinshipY"
''Never met him."
'.Well, George and were travelling wit n
Wilson's circus a few years ago, performing
this shooting act, he doing the standing.
While in Oakland the act was placed well
down on the bill, and when we came into
the ring the candles in the chandeliers-it
was before oil and gas were introduced as
circus illuminaries-ha burned so low that
they shed very dim light. There was not
an apple to be had, and had to substitute
a lime for it. / fired and the bullet hit the
lime faily, but the conclusion raised lump
on Georges head. He died about three
years dller VI pahdl sls, anu ne aiNdl .
blamed that shot as the origin of it, but |
never could believe it had anything to do
with it,
Frank Frayne, who is now an expert
has often stood for me, and so
has my wife, but have never injured
a hair Of their heads. DIR. Carver, whom
regard as the most wonderful shot in the
world, performs many feats with the rifle
which have often accomplished with the
pistol, both mounted and on foot. In Gold
Hill, New, / shot a match at IS yards
against Henry rifle, using Colts re-
volver. The target was medium sized sar-
dine box put six balls through it, against
my opponents five. have performed
with Woods, Campbell's Moore & Bar
guess's in London, Carncross & Dixey's
and other well known minstrel troups, so
that my time has been well taken up; but
a few days practice with the pistol and I'll
guarantee to show you in private some
points in pistol-shooting that you never
Of"