Phœnixiana; or, Sketches and burlesques

1. I will fit a dollar to the end of a twig two inches long, and
while a second person will hold the other end in his mouth, so
as to bring the coin within an inch and a half of his face, I engage
to strike the dollar, three times out of five, at the distance
of ten paces, or thirty feet. I will add in explanation, that
there are several persons willing and ready to hold the twig or
stick described above, when required.

2. I will hit a dollar, tossed in the air, or any other object of
the same size, three times out of five on a wheel and fire.

3. At the word, I will split three balls out of five, on a knife
blade, placed at the distance of thirty feet.

4. I will hit three birds out of five, sprung from the trap,
standing thirty feet from the trap when shooting.

5. I will break, at the word, five common clay pipe stems out
of seven, at the distance of thirty feet.

6. I engage to prove, by fair trial, that no pistol-shot can be
produced who will shoot an apple off a man's head, at the distance
of thirty feet, oftener than I can. Moreover I will produce
two persons willing and ready to hold the apple on their heads
for me, when required to do so.

7. I will wager, lastly, that no person in the United States
can be produced who will hit a quarter of a dollar at the distance
of thirty feet, oftener than I can, on a wheel and fire.

I am willing to bet $5,000 on any of the above propositions,
one fourth of that amount forfeit. So soon as any bet will be
closed, the money shall be deposited in the Bank of the State of
Missouri, until paid over by the judges, or withdrawn, less forfeit.
I will give the best and most satisfactory references that my share
will be forthcoming when any of my propositions are taken up.
Any one desiring to take up any of my propositions must address
me by letter, through the St. Louis Post Office, as the advertisements
or notices of newspapers might not meet my eye.
Propositions will be received until the first of September next.

Edmund W. Paul,

140 Sixth Street, between Franklin Avenue and
Morgan Street, St. Louis, Missouri.

I am unable to see any thing very extraordinary in the
above propositions, by Mr. Edmund W. Paul. Any person,
acquainted with the merest rudiments of the pistol, could
certainly execute any or all of the proposed feats without the
slightest difficulty.

“Owing” to my entertaining these opinions, “without
solicitation from friends, and unbiassed by unworthy motives,”
I am induced to make the following propositions:—

1. I will suspend two dollars by a ring from a second
person's nose, so as to bring the coins within three fourths
of an inch from his face, and with a double barrelled shotgun,

at a distance of thirty feet, will blow dollars, nose and
man at least thirty feet further, four times out of five. I
will add, in explanation, that, San Diego containing a rather
intelligent community, I can find, at present, no one here
willing or ready to have his nose blown in this manner;
but I have no manner of doubt I could obtain such a
person from St. Louis, by Adams &. Co.'s Express, in due
season.

2. I will hit a dollar, or any thing else that has been
tossed in the air (of the same size), on a wheel, on a pole or
axletree, or on the ground, every time out of five.

3. At the word, I will place five balls on the blade of
a penknife, and split them all!

4. I will hit three men out of five, sprung from obscure
parentage, and stand within ten feet of a steel-trap (properly
set) while shooting!

5. I will break at the word, a whole box of common clay
pipes, with a single brick, at a distance of thirty feet.

6. I engage to prove by a fair trial, that no pistol-shot
(or other person) can be produced, who will throw more
apples at a man's head than I can. Moreover, I can produce
in this town more than sixty persons willing and ready to
hold an apple on their heads for me, provided they are allowed
to eat the apple subsequently.

7. I will wager, lastly, that no person in the United
States can be produced, who, with a double barrelled shotgun,
while throwing a back-handed summerset, can hit

oftener, a dollar and a half, on the perimeter of a revolving
wheel, in rapid motion, than I can.

Any one desiring to take up any of my propositions, will
address me through the columns of The Pioneer Magazine.
Propositions will be received on the first of April next.

JOHN PHŒNIX.

1384 Seventeenth Street, Vallecitos.
“Se compra oro aqui, up stairs.”

P. S. Satisfactory references given and required. A
bet from a steady, industrious person, who will be apt to pay
if he loses, will meet with prompt attention. J. P.

University of Virginia Library

PISTOL SHOOTING—A COUNTER CHALLENGE.

PISTOL SHOOTING—A COUNTER
CHALLENGE.