1505 (Vol. 3)

SERIOUS ADDICENT AT ASTLEY’S THEATRE.—On Wednesday evening, between eight and nine o’clock, and accident, which will very likely terminate with loss of life, occurred to one of the supernumeraries at Astley’s, named George Palmer, residing at Charlotte-street, Blackfriars-road; and what is the more t be regretted is that he was entirely the cause of it himself, through his own folly and foolhardiness. It appears from what can be learned of the affair that he was entrusted with a loaded gun to fire off in some part of the performance, and whilst behind the scenes he had, on former occasions, amused the other supernumeraries by applying the muzzle of the gun to his mouth, and, placing the nipple near the gas-light, extinguished the gas by suddenly blowing the finer parts of the loose charge through the tough-hole. This was considered quite a feat in its way, and on the night in question he proceeded to do it again. He was urgently requested to desist, and cautioned as to the dangerous nature of the “trick.” He, however, would not be interfered with by those around him, and on applying the tough-hole to the gaslight he unfortunately inhaled his breath, which drew the flame down to the priming, and the charge instantly exploded, with the muzzle of the piece in his mouth, injuring and mutilating him in a frightful manner; in fact, he was violently forced several yards across the place where he was standing, and fell bleeding and insensible on the floor of the room. Assistance being at hand, he was immediately conveyed to the Westminster Hospital, and attended by Mr. Flaxon, the house-surgeon, who found, upon examination, that the roof of the mouth had been completely blown away and the whole face horribly lacerated, some of the powder having forced away a portion of the muscles and integuments at the back of the neck. He was alive late last evening, and had returned to consciousness, but there is not the slightest hope of his recovery. The affair created considerable alarm among the corps dramatique at the theatre, as it happened during the performance.