AUSTRALIAN ITEMS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 3, 28 January 1909, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS

■> "ROBBERY UNDER ARMS." BOY ACCIDENTALLY KILLED. At about 5.30 on Tuesday last; William James Parker, a boy of 15, living in North Botany, Sydney, was accidentally shot dead whilst playing with three companions and a gun. Deceased was the son of Mr James Parker, or Bay street, Botany. He and three other young men, Conrad Faust, James Paul McKenna, a half brother of Parker's, and Claud McKean, went together to a house iu Coward street, North Botaay, in which Faust was staying. Several of the boy had seen a performance of "Robbery Under Arms " at the North Botany Hall the night before, and apparently it liad excited their minds. " We'll have a play of our own," one of them 6aid. There waa an old gun in the room (Faust's bedroom), and this McKenna is 'said to have loaded and handed to Faust According to the story told they were sky-larking, and almost as soon as Faust took the gun he accidentally pulled the trigger, and the charge exploded, shooting Parker ia the right shoulder. The bullet passed through and came out at his back. Parker was brought into Sydney to the hospital, but he died on the way.

A COMEDIAN INJURED. A remarkable accident occurred at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, on Holiday, as the result of which Mr loin Payne, the well-known, comedian, appearing in "Cinderella," received somewhat severe injuries. The mishap was due to Mr Payne's efforts to improve upon a fent he does when making his entrance in the pantonine inside a hoop, it was Mr Payne's desire to roll down a steep incline on to the stage,' and off at the other side, and the trial to ascertain how this might be done was arranged to take place. ..Having been fixed to the inside of the hoop by an ankle and wrist, the hoop was let go at the top of a, rocky pathway which lead 3 from a bridge to the level of the stage. At great speed the hoop dashed down the incline, but so tremendous was the impetus that before it could be stopped, or the comme-<lia-.i get clear of the hoop, it dashed -■-with a loud crash into the footlights, and so great was the momentum that \t leapt into the stalls. The explosion of the electric bulbs in the " floats " was followed by groans of pain, and it was found that the performer had become unconscious. He was removed to. his dressing-room, where he revived, 'and was subsequently taken to his homo. Though badly bruised and shaken, Mr Payne was able to appear in the evening, Trot his part had to be curtailed somewhat; particularly portions of the acrobatic turns.

A PERILOUS EXPERIENCE The Dutch liner Lemaire landed Captain Herbert Evenson, master of the ketch yictor, and three of the crew. ; picked up at Claremont Islands, at Cooktown, on Monday last. The Victor Jeft on January 6 for Port Stewart in company with the cutter Mystery, arriving on January 12 after a'bad passage. She landed seven . passengers, but as .there was insufficient water to enable her to get into the river, she proceeded to No. 1 Claremont Island, some nine miles distant, and anchored. During the night it commenced to blow heavily. As the barometer was still falling, three anchors were put down. The storm increased, and the Victor dragged her anchors, which were finally carried 4-way, and the vessel was blown out to sea. The master and crew escaped in a uin goy. and made the island, which was .reached with great difficulty. The Victor was blown back to the island as the result 1 of the wind changing. Captain Evanson and crew were without water Ifbr two days when they were rescued by the Lemaire.