The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-06 00:00:00

LEOTARD A 7 THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

While Blondin was in the full flush of his earlier
triumphs in this country, astonishing thousands
upon thousands by his daring performances upon
the rope, Leotard came over to England, preceded
by rumours of his fame, to rival by his extraordi-
nary flights upon the flying trapeze the achieve-
ments of the great hero of Niagara. Apart from all
considerations as to the differing character of the
performances of the two artistes, Bloc din enjoyed a
great advantage and derived additional prestige from
the mere fact that the Crystal Palace was the field of
his exploits, that he had all the resources of its di-
rectors to give him a wide publicity, and so far he
held exclusive possession of a theatre which all
classes of society could visit without any of those
punctilious objections which are so often urged
against places of public amusement. But this ad-
vantage exists no longer ; the Crystal Palace direc-
tors have concluded an engagement with Leotard
for a series of performances—the first of which took
place on Saturday.
Suspended beneath the central transept were four
trapezes, each, we may say, for the information of
those who may never have seen a flying trapeze,
being composed of two strong cords hanging down
perpendicularly, about 21 feet apart, and joined at
the bottom by a slight but strong wooden bar,
which the hand could easily grasp. These trapezes
hang at a distance of 20 to 30 feet apart, above a
narrow thickly carpeted platform, at either end of
which was an elevated stand, one somewhat higher
than the other, bearing a rather ugly resemblance
to a guillotine. Standing upon the platform, the
upstretched hand of a moderately tall man would.
reach to within about six inches of the trapeze bar,
and hanging suspended from the bar by his hands
his feet would reach to within the same distance
of the platform. At four o'clock Leotard made his
appearance in the usual acrobatic costume, and as-
cended the guillotine-looking stand, on which for a
moment he stood looking with a careful eye along
the row of trapezes before him, and then when the
nearest of these was passed up to him by his assist-
ant, he went off with a mighty swing. Iu the twink-
ling of an eye he had taken a flight of 50 feet, and
in a moment more was back at his starting point,
standing as firmly upon his narrow splinter-bar as
if he and that had been carved from one solid block
of wood or marble. The audience applauded, and
away he went again on the same daring flight, and
again came back upon the same spot as upright as
a dart ; and so on again and again, turning over and
over while in full flight, gyrating and tumbling,
and tumbling and gyrating for some minutes upon
the first trapeze, and then suddenly from that he
sprang to the second—which his assistant had put
in motion—from the second to the third, from the
third to the fourth, and then to the stand at the
further end of the platform, on which he planted
himself, still and statuesque. Then back he came
from trapeze to trapeze, turning himself roand
in his progress from one to another, or throwing
somersaults, as he descended to the platform, yards
away from the trapeze from which he had taken a
backward flight. In this way his performances
continued for about half an hour, apparently to the
lintense gratification of the spectators, who were
enthusiastic in their applausive demonstrations.
Like Blondin, he appears to be complete master
of himself, and by the aid of a strong nerve, a keen
eye, and a quick hand he regulates his movements
with all the certainty of success, taking his grace-
ful flights with the ease of a squirrel.
Some 7,000 or 8,000 people assembled to witness
this performance on Saturday, and there can be
little doubt that Leotard will prove a great attrac-
tion during the term of his new engagement, de-
spite the fact that Londoners have had a long op-
portunity of seeing him at Cremorne, the Alham-
bra, and Highbury.

The directors have for some time past been anxi-
ous to adopt some improved plan for lighting up the
Palace during the winter season, and after investi-
gation by Mr. B.Wood, their superintendent of fine
arts, they have decided upon adopting candelabra,
similar to those used at the Champs d'Elysee on the
occasion of the Empress's fete. These candelabra
were lighted at dusk on Saturday with the most
brilliant and satisfactory results. At present they
have only been erected along one-half of the nave
and in front of the great orchestra ; but the con-
trast between their graceful beauty and their flood
of subdued light and the plain gas flare of the old
cuneiform piping was remarkable.
The popularity of the Crystal Palace has suffered
nothing from the competition of the Great Exhibi-
tion. During the month of September the attend-
ance has been more than double that of the corres-
ponding month in former years, and October pro-
mises to be no exception to the gratifying rule.
To amuse the hundreds of thousands who it is
anticipated will be drawn to the metropolis by
the cheap excursion trains of the leading rail-
way companies this month extra attraction will
be provided. Blondit. wilt astonish and excite by
his feats on the high rope, stretched far above the
heads of the spectators, or amuse and delight with his
graceful and agile performances on the low rope in
the centre transept. The great fountains will be
played at least once a week, while to fill up the
other days Leotard will exhibit his daring trapeze
flights across the great transept. The fine orches-
tral band of the company, and the Handel Festival
organ, will daily afford ample amusement for the
lovers of music. For those excursionists who may
be in town on Friday, Oct. 10, Blondin's benefit
will afford a rare opportunity of seeing him in all
his varied performances.

Two EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENTS.--Two very
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he attended with his usual ability, and in all probability
was the instrument in saving the life of one person, if not
more. it appears that a Mr. Hicks, a cabinetmaker, in a
large way of business, carried on his trade at No. 99, Lon-
don-road, Southwark, and the occupier of the adjoining
house, had placed a heavy chest of goods, intended for ship•
runt to Australia, upon the floor of the next house, when
the weight of the chest and the extra weight of the
men employed on the premises in passing over that
particular portion of the flooring in the ground floor caused
it to give way, and two men, named respectively John
Hicks and Edward Hicks, were precipitated into the base-
ment, a distance of at least five or six feet, and they quickly
became embedded between cases, boxes, and boards. They
were soon extricated, but much shaken and bruised, and
one man was severely cut in the chest. Dr. Donohoo at-
tended to the unfortunate sufferers, but one was so seriously
injured that he was obliged to be removed to his bed. The
accident was caused from the excessive weight placed on the
floor. Dr. Donohoo was called upon to attend the daughter
of Mr. Parry, the artist and song-writer, of Jurston-street,
Westminster-road,was pitched out of a cart whilst proceeding
along the road, and falling upon an oyster-shell lying upon
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sewed up by Dr. Donohoo, but the sufferer remains in a
state of great suffering, but unless erysipelas should super-
vene there is no immdiate danger to be apprehended,
THE RANGER OF GREENWICH PARIi.--It is ru-
moured (says the United Service Gazette) that the Ranger-
ship of Greenwich Park, vacant by the death of Earl Can-
ning, is to be conferred on his Royal Highness the Duke
of Cambridge. The ranger's house is being fitted up for
the residence of his Royal Highness Prince-Arthur.
COAL TRADE OF SUNDERLAND.-- -Prom the Wear
trade returns for August, it appears that 1,140 veesels
cleared during the month, their registered tonnage amount-
ing to 184,873. The total of coals
reached 125,000 tons, against 91,137 tons in
shipped amounted to
280,256. The export of coals foreign during the month
September,
1861, and 85,564 tons in September, 1860.—Newcastle
Chronicle,
THE GLASGOW MURDER,--RESPITE OF Tla
CONVICT.—GLAsGow, Saturday. Mrs. M'Lachlan has
been respited by the Secretary of State till the Ist Nov.,
but the respite is only granted to allow time for further in-
vestigation. Should the truth of the statement as to her
share in the transaction be not then confirmed, no hope can
be held out of a commutation of the sentence.
SOUTH MIDDLESEX RIFLES,—The prize shooting of the
No. 5, or Kensington Company of this corps, took place on
Saturday afternoon, at the range of the Queen's (Westroia-
ster) Volunteers, at 'Wormwood Scrubbs. Lieut. Silk su-
perintended the arrangements, and the Hythe position was
adopted at all ranges. The first prize, a London arrne.ur_!,
rifle, presented by Captain Langley, shot for by first class
men and marksmen, at ranges of 500, 600, and 700 Yara_
five shots each, hits and points added, was won by Private
Staekpoole, with 40 marks. The second prize, a Kerr
presented by Mr. Erle, was won by Private Harrall, who,
at ranges of 200, 500, and 600 yards, made .
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the day's proceedings, which were of a satisfactory ellar
acter. 3tca7oenkr acPl °cl leed: