54

ACCIDENT AT THE AMERICAN
EXHIBITION.

At the American Exhibition on Wednesday, during the afternoon performance of the "Wild West" show, a serious accident occurred to one of the principal characters-Buck Taylor, "the King of the Cowboys." The fourth item of the programme [consists?] of an attack by Indians on an emigrant train, and the repulse of the attack by cowboys, the victory being afterwards celebrated by a Virginian reel danced by American girls and cowboys on horseback. It was in the course of the dance, apparently the gnetlest and least hazardous of all the feats of Buffalo Bill's company from the WIld West, that the unfortunate [?] occurred. When the reel was half finished Buck Taylor's ombrero suddenly fell off, and its owner was seen to sway to and fro on his horse for a few seconds; and then to fall heavily to the gorund, turning a complete back sommersault, and afterwards lying still at full length. The spectators, not unnaturally, took this as a rehearsed effect until music and dancing stopped, and Buffalo Bill and others dismounted, and ran up to the injured man. A surgeon from St. George's Hospital happened to be among the spectators, and he at once rendered assistance, and under his direction Buck Taylor was borne from the arena in an improvised litter and at once conveyed to the St. George's Hospital. From the accounts of the other actors in the event, it seems that Taylor, in