STARTLING APPEARANCE OF W' F. WALLETT, THE QUEEN'S JESTER, AT THE BRADFORD DISPENSARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 681, 29 July 1870, Page 3

STARTLING APPEARANCE OF W' F. WALLETT, THE QUEEN'S JESTER, AT THE BRADFORD DISPENSARY.

♦_ ■ {From the Public Life of W. F. Walleti). During my stay at Gainsborough Mart, j observed a very clever young pan, a posturer, advertised as "the Chinese Nondescript," whose real name was William Cole. Hia performance was so attractive that I resolved to acquire the practice. I did so to great perfection while belonging to Mr Wild's company, which added much to my popularity and my pocket. In fact I became so celebrated in this line, that at Bingley, Keighley, and Skipton, I sometimes had four or five surgeons on the stage to witness my art. It was considered marvellous at the time, though common enough now. This new acquirement introduced me to another branch of the show trade, namely, playing the man-monkey. An interruption occurred on my first appearance in this character in "Jack Robinson and his Monkey." This was at Bradford. The leader of the band, either inebriated or inattentive, played the wrong piece of music at a very tragical moment. I was about to die when he played a lively air. So I stepped down to the footlights, and looking him in the face, asked aloud, "Do you think any monkey in' the world could die to such music as that ? " My second appearance as monkey had an unfortunate conclusion. Just at the conclusion of the drama, the property-man, Jem Farrar, was charging a horse-pistol, when it exploded in his mouth, shattering his jaws frightfully. I saw him fall, and instantly rushed to his assistance. Seeing bis state I took him on my back, and, though a heavy man, carried him to the dispensary, in Darleystreet. It was then past eleven o'clock, and the place was closed. I rang, at the door, which was opened by a woman, with a. candle in her hand. Her fright may be; imagined when she saw the apparition of a manmonkey with his tail trailing on the ground, and a half-dead man on his back, with the blood streaming down. One glance sufficed. She fell senseless to the ground, and the. candle was extinguished. I strode over her in the dark with my heavy load.- Knowing the building well, I ascended the grand staircase, and perceiving a light issuing beneath a door, with one knock I brought out the house surgeon. As he opened the door, and a blaze of gaslight from inside revealed the horrible figures, he too nearly fainted away. A few words convinced him that I was of earthly mould, and he promptly summoned several surgeons. Surrounding the bed of poor Farrar, they had but one opinion, that

his case was hopeless^- One of them remarked, .'«, W e. can doT. nothine f bt JhUuC Farrar shook his fist at him, being unable to speak." *A" fine old stfrgeon, Dr Machirk, seeing this action, said, "Come, boys, the man has pluck enough to live through anything. Off coatsV boys, and let us -do? the best we can to save him.". They did so. EEis life was preserved, -and I believe he survives to this day. i •-•'•■ ■ '■ ■