Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-20
SHOT ON THE STAGE.
An Actor Attempts the William Tell
Act, Misses the Apple, and
HITS HIS ASSISTANTS BRAIN.
Oklahoma Franks First Failure in Five
Years, and Also His Last.
AN EXCITED M'KEESP0RT AUDIENCE

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE pIsPArcH.1
McKEEsPoRT, April 19-A remarkable
affair occurred il the Worlds Theater hero
tonight that will likely result in the death
of one of the participants. Frank Sergeant,
well-known on the stage as "Oklahoma
Frank" shot and probably fatally injured
his assistant, Frank Ferguson.
At o'clock tonight the Worlds Theater
was filled with crowd of eager spectators.
Everything went on smoothly, and the audi
ence was delighted until late in the
last act. In this act "Oklahoma Frank" is
to make the thrilling shot of his life, per-
forating an apple on the head of his assist
ant. This shot, it will be remembered, was
that made by the famous Frank Frayne,
who shot an apple from the head of his
wife. Mrs. Frayne, by the way, was killed
by an accidental miss on the part of her
husband.
At 915 tonight, 'Oklahoma Frank"
dressed to fit his character, strobe upon the
scene with the deadly rifle on his shoulder
and proposed to give an exhibition of his
skill.
The First Shot Missed in Five Years.
He is manager of the troupe which is now
playing here and had selected Ferguson as
the one who was to hold the apple on his
head. Ferguson entered on the left and at
once placed small apple on his barred
head He stood facing the shooter at a
distance of 30 feet. Oklahoma Frank ad-
justed his mirror, and with back turned to
his target, fred the shot which has hit the
apple in the center nightly for five years.
At the report of the rifle, Ferguson, the
target, threw up his hands, staggered a few
steps and fell prone on the stage, blood
gushing from his head. Instantly there fol-
lowed shrieks from ladies in the audience
and several promptly tainted. Th- curtain
was hurried1y rung down and aid was given
the injured man. The ball had struck him
in the center of the forehead, little above
the eyebrows, and he was bleeding pro-
fusely. He was turned over to Dr.. Black
and at this writing is unconscious from loss
of blood, though the doctor says he does not
believe the ball penetrated the brain, and
says his patient will recover.
The Actor Stricken With Grief
For time it was almost impossi BILE to
restore order. The audience was finally
calmed by the announcement from tho stage
that the man was not badly hurt, and quietly
dispersed.
Seargeant, or "Oklahoma Frank" was
seen Immediately after the shooting, and
was greatly agitated. He bitterly recalled
the fatal Frayne shooting, and said it made
no difference whether his victim was alive
or dead. 'Tt is my first accident in five
years." said he, "and 1 will never, never
try that shot again. The mirror was cold
and fog that gathered on it obscured the
sight. It is my last"
The ball has not yet been found, and,
owing to the torn nature of the wound, it is
impossible to say whether it is in Ferguson's
brain or not. Physicians say, however, that
they believe the wound is merely on the
scalp and that the man will be all right in a
few days.