TRICK SHOOTING
We now come to the conjurer's style of shooting, which I would not advise
any one to practise, even for a Charity Bazaar; it will ruin his
reputation as a shot. However, I will describe hereunder some of the
devices in connexion with this trick shooting.
The chief apparatus--under different forms--is a lever some twelve inches
long. This lever is pivoted in its centre; one end has a steel disk about
a foot in diameter, or less, according to the shooter's skill--of a size
he is sure of never missing,--the other end has a steel point at right
angles. The lever is placed vertically at such a height that the steel
spike is just opposite the middle of the ball which is placed on the
assistant's head. The steel disk is some eight inches above the man's
head; the whole of this apparatus is hidden from the audience behind the
"back-cloth" of the scenery. The locality of the disk is indicated to the
shooter by something in the scenery, as a pattern, or a trophy of flags,
etc.
The assistant stands with his back against the back-cloth, and the ball is
on his head so that the steel spike is just clear of the middle of the
ball; the shooter then fires at the trophy of flags, or what not (which is
eight or more inches above the man's head, and therefore a practically
easy and safe shot); the bullet hitting the disk, drives it back; the
other end of the lever with the spike comes forward; the spike goes
through the scenery, breaks the ball, and at once returns out of sight.
The trick is varied by having the lever inside a dummy figure, the
performer shooting into the figure to break small objects on its head or
in its mouth. A bellows is sometimes behind the back-cloth with the nozzle
at the flame of a candle which is blown out when the bellows is hit; and
the shooter is supposed to have snuffed the candle.
The shooting can be done at quite long range from the back of the gallery
to the back of the stage (for instance) by lengthening the lever so as to
minimize risk to the assistant.
Another way in which the candle trick is done, is to have each candle
inside a large concave reflector; the splash from the bullet comes back
from the reflector and puts out the candle.
Shooting at anything moving--swinging balls, etc.--is done with shot; the
shooting in this case must be done with a back-cloth over the butt, as the
splashes on a naked steel plate would betray the use of shot. This makes
very easy what in legitimate shooting requires nice "timing." The
cartridge is either simply filled with special shot even smaller than
"dust" shot and a wad, or if the cartridges are likely to be seen they are
loaded with hollow wooden black-leaded bullets, full of shot, which the
rifling of the barrel breaks, and these are substituted by "palming" for
real bulleted cartridges shown to the audience. Shot is sometimes fired
out of a smooth bore revolver.
Two balls are broken with a revolver in each hand, shot simultaneously.
This is always considered very wonderful, the performer pretending to take
a long time over his aim, etc. One revolver is loaded with shot, the other
with blank ammunition. The one loaded with shot is aimed between the two
balls; the spread of shot breaks both balls.
Knocking ashes off cigar whilst being smoked by assistant: A long hat-pin
is put into the cigar, the point just reaching up to the ashes. On the
shot--a blank cartridge--being fired, the assistant pushes the knob of the
pin with his tongue, and dislodges the ashes.
Objects held in the fingers or resting on the shoulders of assistants are
shot with cork or Devilliers bullets, and the assistant wears hidden steel
epaulets and finger-tips.
Blindfold shooting is done by seeing down the side of the nose on to a
looking-glass fixed at an angle behind the hind sight.
What is called shooting through a wedding-ring and breaking a ball is done
with the lever apparatus; the bullet does not go through the ring, but
above it.
Shooting at the trigger of a loaded rifle fixed in a rest, the shot from
the rifle breaking a ball on the shooter's head, is also another form of
the lever apparatus.
I think that in stage performances there should be a committee of shooting
men appointed by the audience to see that the shooting is genuine and not
trick shooting.