The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-01-31
CRhSPO'S COURAGE.
Venezuelan President Takes the
== Dangerous Role III. a Will
-. '~ lam Tell Act,

Gen. Joaquin Crespo, President of the
Eenezuelun Republic, is noted for his
daring, says the Caracas CORRESPONDENT
Of The New York Herald. He endenred
himself 10 his soldiers in battle by keep
lug in the front rank whenever there
was danger. refusing to heed the Gnu.
tious warming of his friends that his life
was too valuable to his country to risk
unnecessarily. lie believes, it is said,
in predestinatioh, and that he will not
die until his mission OH earth has been
accomplished.
An American variety company went
to Caraeas recently, under the manage
,nent Of Ceballos & Tatali 1t included
spyefal good attUbatic and gymnastic
iridt and Wife, advertised az Coleman
and MeXis. Whose work sooI became the
talk Of the town. The manager, Cebal'
los; who had d long experience with Bar
mimi & BaileX's circus in the United
States; thought that 1t would increase
the prestige Of his show IT. he could have
d private exhibition Of shooting III the
presence Of the President. The thing
was ;irranged: and one. Sunday morning
in d dress Suit. with string Of medals
iii the. lapel of his .coat: Miss Mexis
donned a pretty dress, with skirt reach
ing to her knees, Il pair, of~top boots and
a military cap Mr.. Ceballos, wearing
diamond pin as large as an acorn. .es-
corted them to the yard back of Santa
Inez. the presidential mansion, where
attended to before the President and the
persons who happened to be visiting him
were called out to see the shooting
The exhibition began with fancy shots
at glass balls. The woman. Miss MexiS,
broke balls her husband held in his
hands. She grasped her rifle in all sorts
of positions: she stretched backward. for
ward. up and down, and ut each rack
ball was shattered. Coleman put !,
ball on his hea1l and posed before the tar
get. Then Miss AIexis turned to Gen
Crcspo and told him that she would
deem it the greatest honor Of her life
if he would place the ball on his head
The President was amused by. the propo-
sition. He turned to the manager and
asked:
is it a safe thing to do?''
81 will answer for her with my life.
dramatically replied Ceballos.
every WELL" said Gen. Crcspo. "l'N
try it. just to show what confidence !
have in North American
Mrs. Crespo did not seem to feel the
same confidence in tho woman, as she
retired without seeing any more of the
shooting. The President walked for.
ward to the target. allowed Coleman tc
arrange the little black ball on his head
and then stood still. awaiting results
A[eXis' hand was as sure as was that of
the traditional William Tell Her riff,
was directed toward the ball for a mo.
mcnt: then crack! and shattered particles
of glass fell about tho President. The
rest of the shooting was of the rOnycn
tional order.
II only consented to place the ball o..
my head" said Gen. Crcspo aftcrwar.l
because my confidence in North Amer
leans is unbounded, and I was willing t.
practically demonstrate it,
Ceballos did not get any local advcr
Using out of the incident. which WA.
not mentioned by the Caracas news
pIpprS.