Startling Tragedy

[Providenco (R. I.) Cor. New Yrk Herald.J A terrible tragedy occurred tliis eveniug at tho opera house, in Pawtuckct, in tbis State, during ono of those sensational Bnd roekless exhibitions in marksmanslrip, originally introduced on tho stage by Frank Frayiie and his wife, Miss Clara Butler, in this instance tho holder of tho rifle was a woman, and she instantly killed another womim who was holding the apple airned at on hor head. On Monday lnet a variety company, hailing (rom the Mozart Garden, in the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., oommenced an engagement at the Pawtucket Opera House, their performance being of an ordinary character, except the fcats in rifle-shooting by Mrs. Jennie Powler, whose stage name is Miss Jennio Franklin. She usually began by firiug at a target and at various objects, closing that part of her performanoe by ehooting at an apple placed on the head of another member of the company, known as Mlle. Volante, who also appeared as a trapeze performer. In order to intensify the sensational charaotor of this act, Miss Franklin, instead of taking direct aim at the apple on Mlle. Volante's head, faced in an site direction and obtained her range by means of a small mirror placed at the wing. This mirror has to be arranged at such an anglo that its face will bring the face of the person supportiug the apple directly in the center of the glass. The holder of tho rifle places tht) wenpon over her rigLt shoulder, and then tnkes aim throngh the sights at the refleoted image before her. The triok hbs been repeatedly accompliehed with success, but it requires great coolness and steadiness to strike the reflooted apple with precisión, and has always been deemed a foolhardy and dangerone experiment. This evening the variety entertainment passed off as usnal until the rifleshooting act, wñen Ihe andienco was horrifled by seeing tho nnfortunate trapeze performer shot dead. Miss Franklin displayed considerable ekill in hitting her target and other objects while flring directly at them, and sho seemed confident and assured when the final ; feat was to bo attempted. M'lle lante stepped olertly to hor station, smiling at tlie auciienco as süe did so. Placing the applo (an ordinary-sized ono) on the top of hor head, where it rested in her luxuriant hair, sbe stood motionless as a statue. Miss Franklin nlso took her station near the footlights, iii front of the mirror, and deliberately aimed over her shoulder throngh the glaes at her ill-fated friend. The audienoo sat in silence, curiously watching tlio performance and suspecting some dcceitful triek, when suddenly the trigger was pulled, and at the same instant a shriek resounded througn the hall as the uufortunato Volante feil forward on the stage. Everything was now in confusión, both beforo and behiud the footlights, the audience being in a state of terror at the denouement of what had proinised to be only a pJeasant bit of sensation. At first it was only suppoeod that Mlle. Volante had been wouuded, but it was not many minutes before the news spread that the woman had been instantly killed, the fatal Imllet having entered her forehead and pierced the brain. Miss Franklin was immediately placed under arrest by the local pólice. She seemed to be lialf crnzed with horror at the occurrence, only realizing the reckleseness of her act when it was too líit. The tragedy Las naturally caused great excitcment in tíie town of Pivtucket. Tliis accident will, of course, put a stop to all sucli exhibitions, no matter who may íittempt thcm. The members of the conipany, -with a largo number of the audience, seem to ascribe the cause of the accident to Mits Volanto moving after theappJe Jiadbeeu placed upön herhead. She was of a very jovial nature, and langhed repeatedly during the performance of this part, and the management had cautioned her to keep still, and pny striot attention during tliat act. Sha voluntarily aasumed the part for a few nights, during Mr. Franklin's absence, he having gono to Brooklrn for his child. Wlien Miss Volante feil her head dropped near the footlighta, and her hair got scorched somewhat, but some of the audience removed her from the flamea. It seerns from the statemtnt of 1 lióse present that on its oceurrence for an instant eveiy one seemed dnmbfounded. When tho audience rose to their ieet and hastened forward some of the men in the audience fainted at the ghastly sight. The distance across the stage was scarcely twenty feet, and one may judge of the forco wiüi which the bullet must liavo entered her brain from a rifle at that short range.