CATCHING A CANNON BALL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume X, Issue 571, 21 August 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

CATCHING A CANNON BALL.

Recently, at Leeds, John Holtum, a gymnast, Mr. Bruce, the stipendiary -magistrate," rj «rith' unlawfully wounding Elijah Fentoiv a porter, in the Princess Concert Hall, iu that town. Holtum had, during'the week, been giving performances showing extraordinary strength in the handling of heav claba, cannon balls, etc., aud on Friday night he offered a priz-j of £SO to any person who co.uld catch a ball fired from a cannon as ho (Holtum) had done on several consecutive nights. The challenge had been accepted by three men, and a cannon having been placed ia position on the stage a suitable cartridge and a ball weighing seven pounds were rammed home. When Holtum called upon thoße who had accepted his challenge, Elijah Fenton presented himself, stripped off his coat and waistcoat, aud, standing about six yard? away ' from the cannon's mouth, declared that he "was ready, and placed his hands in a position leady to secure the projectile. Aii attendant fired the cannon, when, to - the horror of all the ball struck Fenton in-the forehead and knocked him down. He managed to crawl off the stage, and at first it was thought he w.is not much hurt. Shortly afterward, however, the case assumed a much more serious appearance, and Fenton was removed the Leeds General Infirmary, where it was found that he had received a compound fracture of the skull, and that his recovery was almost hopeless. The stipendiary magistrate remanded Holtum until Tuesday. Mr. Hobson, the proprietor of the Princess Concert that the performance in question should not be repeated on his. premises, but stated that Holtum had been performing on the Continent in this way for five or six years, and neyer had an accident of this kind before.—' London Times.'