A COWARDLY DEED.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2004, 6 February 1890, Page 3

A COWARDLY DEED.

A “ Samson versus Sandow ” struggle of a blood-thirsty character has been witnessed at Cilchy, outside Paris. The intrepid Lagneau—-a muscular mountebank performing at Clichy Pair—attracted a great crowd to his booth by offering five louis to anybody who could make him bite the dust in a wrestling match, “ Now then,” said .Lagneau amid the revei*' berating rataplans of bis “ boss” drummer, “ come ou, somebody, and take up the glove.” “ I accept the challenge,” said a- herculean butcher’s assistant emerging from the crowd, and entered the booth into which the people pressed with eagerness in order to be present at the athletic encounter

'■of giaiits; • -Afters few. mpments ;Lagrieku threw his man—who* was * nb ; match for the scientific skill of the mountebank —and the victor was duly ;aceluimed. The, butcher, however, jailer picking up , his, casquette and presuming his blouse, weut sulkily away do a corner,'and watching his opportunity he pounced stealthily on Lagneau in an unwary moment, and ’lifting him up in his arms dashed hi in jwith terrific violence to the ground. Lagneau uttered a cry .of pain, and •remained writhing where he fell, with Jhia spine broken., , Some* qf th.e spectators rushed, forward to - seize the .'atrocious butcher’s deputy, whom they* jdragged off to the police station, while others .carried the unlucky mountebank on a stretcher to. the nearest, hospital. , , •