"SALT BUSH BILL."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 274, 16 May 1912, Page 4

"SALT BUSH BILL."

SKILL WITH STOCKWHIP AND BOOMERANG, AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. When King George, as Prince ol Wales, made a tour of the world in 1901, he saw Mr. W. Mills give an exhibition of his skill with stock-whip and boomerang in Melbourne. Mr. Mills, who spent his early days in the backwoods of Queensland, is known in Australia as "Salt Bush Bill," and luia come to England, as a member of a "Wild Australia" show which hag been organised under the auspices of the Australian Governments' to tour the country, and was 'the guest of the King at Buckingham Palace. He gave an exhibition of his wonderful skill with the stock-whip and the boomerang. The audience numbered about 150, comprising the King and Queen, Queen Alexandra, Princess Mary, the Prince of Wales, Princess Victoria, officials of the household, members oi Their Majesty*' suites, and the Royal servants.

Mr. Mills was accompanied by Mr. C. Bostoek, the governor-director of "Wild Australia"; Mr. Willie Trussell, th» manager; and a young lady who assists Mr. Mills in his exhibitions.

The whip-cracking demonstration took place in the spacious ballroom, and th« Royal party were greatly interested in the various wonderful feats performed. To give effect to the event "Salt Bush' Bill" appeared before Their Majesties in typical Australian dress, including jackboots and breeches, scarlet shirt and knotted muffler. His first acts were & number of fancy cuts and flashes with* the ordinary "cutting-out" stockyard whip, after which he performed the' difficult feat of cutting a quill from hia own hand, putting out a lighted match held in his left hand, and trimming tha ash off a cigarette held in his lipg. The last act was waTmly applauded by, the Royal party, and as the esh flew' before the slash of the whip Queen Alexandra gave a sigh of relief on finding that the performer had received no injury.

I Yet another moment of anxiety was felt by several members of the Royal party when "Salt Bush Bill," blindfolded, cut a lighted match from tin ; young lady's hand and a cigarette from [her mouth. "Marvellous!" was the exclamation of Queen Mary. 1 Then the performer showed his ambidexterity. The girl was placed several feet away from him, and he, using two whips, lassooed her by the neck quit* securely, but as gently as though the lash had' been carefully wound round the neck by hand at close quarters. Firsl the tbong wielded by the right hand sho< out past the assistant, and, curling back, encircled her neck manv times, and then the left-hand whip was used in an exactly similar manner. The imprisoned girl was then drawn towards the performer to show how complete was the hold of the double winding of the lash. "Bill" subsequently repaired to the grounds, and in the presence of several members of the party gave exhibitions of boomeTang-throwing. He was asked* if he could bring back his boomerang with certainty from a long and powerful throw, and his response was a demonstration which was generally agreed to be almost practical, having regard to the apparent (though, doubtless, not actual) peril of the Palace windows. The performer was afterwards entertained in the steward's room, and on leaving took away with him valuable and interesting mementoes of the visit.