Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-06-14
HERMANN NAGERS HIS LIFE.
The Famous Magacian Stakes 1t Aga n3l
a Thousand DOllsrS.
Outcome Of a Trick Played by the
Wizard, the Victim being a No
ted Marksman-The Shooters to
Use Their Own Rifles.

ted MarkSman-Ine SnOOJerS u
Use Their Own Rifles.
New York, June 13.-Within the next
few days Edgar Gibbs Murphy, the ex-
pert marksman, will try, on a wager OF
81 600 to shoot Hermann, the noted ma
gician. Mr. Murphy will be assisted
by two or three Of his friends, who will
be armed with their own rifles, which
they will load with their o~n cartridg-
es. Hermann, on his part, he's agreed
to stand ten PAGES in front of the muz-
zles of the weapons and catch the bull
cts. which the rifemen have previously
marked for Identification. All that is
lacking now is an agreement as TO the
time and place of the trial. the money
having been posted by eacn of the men.
This strange wager is the outcome OF
visit which Mr.. Murphy and some
friends paid TO Hermann's home at
Whitestone. l.. l., several days ago.
After a pleasant day spent in examin-
ing the spacious grounds Hermann,
with due Difference TO the present anna
teur champion, asked Mr.. Murphy's
opinion of his pigeon grounds. After
some persuasion Murphy said that the
grounds were too easy.
1.-THE boundary is too long said
Murphy, "and as for these SQUAD you
have in the coop, one could kill an hun
dren straight with popgln.'
Hermanns face fell as he listened to
Murphy's advice on blue rocks and
where to obtain them, and suggested a
change in the boundary before the next
visit. Suddenly the wizards face lit
up. Edgar" he said, III bet you
nice little lunch that you can't come
back now and kill twenty-five Of those
birds-those slow, little squab.'
IF you've a gun to fit me I'll take
that" replied Murphy.
In short time the gun was found
and Murphy was hard at it. Bird after
Bird fell to the ground. As they drop
ped they were retrieved by one OF the
beautiful retrieyers, the neck wrung by
Mr.. Hermann's boy, Bumpski, and toss
ed into a basket yard from Mr.. MUIR
phys feet. The twenty-fifth was greet
ed with a burst of applause from the
guests. and Murphy turned condoling-
w to shake hands with Herman. But
the latter's eyebrows were raised, and
with a look of inquiry, he asked:
What now?'
Murphy moved over, and giving the
basket a kick, said: There are your
twenty-five straight"
"Oh! then, if there are twenty-five
dead birds in that basket, l lose?" ask
ed the wizard.
"Why, no" Murphy said, q did not
count. Three or four birds may be out
on the grass, but l killed them all I'm
not sure Bumpsh threw them all in
But do you remember" asked Her.
mann, what the bet was? You were
to kill the birds"
"Why, certainly" said Murphy, with
his foot still on the basket, and the
birds are in here, shot, and with their
necks wrung by Bumpski.P
"In that case you win, Edgar"
AS he spoke Hermann stepped for
ward and threw open the basket. With
a whir and a whirl % very lively pig
cons flew out, leaving an empty basket,
to be gazen into by a dozen wlde-eyed,
open-mouthed witnesses.
Murphy turned to the referee, Muir
ray Keeler, of Louisville, with 4 ye-y
puzzled look, and said:
well, Murray, what do you think Of
that?"
Keller shook his head slowly, heaved
deep sigh and answered: "Im sorry,
but YOU lose The bet was that you
would kill the birds, and l fail TO SEQ
that you have"
Coming into the city the party went
to Delmonico's for lunch. They were
Joined by Delmonico and Murphy imme-
diately went back to the subject OF the
trick and finished by addressing HIM
self to Mr.. Hermann: 'At last ! ac-
knowledge that was a great trick, but
where you stand at ten PAGES and let
some militiamen shoot at you, you may
fool the public, but I'm sorry-that did
not fool me"
what! Do you mean to tell me YOU
don't believe was shot at?" said Her
mann. "Well, let me tell you, 1 will
prove it. will let you select your own
friends, shoot at me, and III catch the
bullets just the same"
you don't suppose / DelleVe tnat, 90
your" queried Murphy. YWhy you arc
foolish. If | or any of my friends use
you for target there will be funeral
in the Hermann family, and you Will
be in the first carriage"
Hermann did not smile, but said: L
repeat. will allow you to select two or
three of your friends, use your own RI
nes. furnish your own cartridges, and
I'll stand at ten PAGES from you and leu
YOU all fire at me at once. / will bet
\you 81 600, and put it in Mr.. Delmoni-
co.'s hands now, that catch all the bull
let's"
Murphy thought for a moment and
then made the bet. Mr.. Delmonico re-
ceived the stakes, and It only remains