SELECTIONS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VII, Issue 316, 1 December 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

SELECTIONS.

Catching Cannon Balls,

A very singular exhibition was given lately at the Jardinc Mabile. There has been performing hero at the Folios Bergoros a man named Holtum, an American, who has a cannon fired at him and catches tho ball in his hands. Tho prodigious feat was witnessed nightly, and although the actors present avowed that there was no trick, Pierre Vernon, of the Munch Ilhistrc, would not believe it. He said that the cannon ball must be thrown to Holtum from the stage. The latter made a bet of 5,000 francs that ho would perform tho feat under conditions which left no room to doubt, and when tho bet was taken, Vernon designated Babilo as the place for the trial. All the journalists of Paris were invited, and they found Holtum there before his cannon. It was Examined with minute care, and the heavy ball was passed from hand to hand. Having carefully aimed and lashed his cannon, it was charged, and Holtum took his placs against a plank target some twenty yafis away. This was to show that the ball was solid, and the force of the powder great enougl to send it through the plank. Holtum got the aim of his gun, and then placed his land in a certain position against the plank, giving the command to fire. Tho ball just glazed his hair and broke through the plank rolling some 20 yards further on. Tho sune ball was picked up by the journalists, who again charged the cannon and sent home the ball, and this time Holtum caught the bill in his hands as neatly as he does nightly on the stage. He won his bet, and no ore Seemed disposed to accept his offer of SOOOfrancs to any one who would perforin the same astounding feat. The physical force required must be enormous, but Holtum stowed his strength by tossing up cannon ballsas if they wore so many oranges. The only pscautions taken are very simple. He wears \ery thick leather gloves, and covers his beast with many thicknesses of thin paper to firm a sort of cuirass.