The Shasta courier., 1862-10-25
Frightfal Aeeldeltt to the Female n,onain.

The London Advertiser gives the partiru-
lars oi frightful accident to g the Female
Blondin." The accident happened in the
latter part of August:
At Highbury Barn. shortly after ten
O'Clock, "The Female Blondia', ascended
| one Of the stages connected with the 70. e,
| which is about 100 feet in hight. and by the
sid # blue iii e., and at ired in suit of armor,
proceeded on her perilous voyage in mid air.
She reached the eastern stage in safety and
again returned, performing the feat of wheel
ing the barrow a third time. She crossed
the rope covered with sack, and then COM
menced her final tour to the starting apoint
| IN the midst of fireworks discharged from
each end of the balancing pole she carried in
| her hands. She arrived within about twen-
ty feet OF the western stage, when the Cath
crime wheels at each eud of the pole had
reached their greatest velocity, and at which
| moment reports were !eard and stars of va
rious hues were emitted At this instant it
| 1t was plainly observable that there was a
| fearful oscillation of the pole as we'll rs of
the unfortunate performer. A general cry
was raised that she was falling, the pole fell
from her grasp. and the performer toppled
over. For moment she appeared to cling to
the rope either by her legs or hands, but,
whether from fright or otherwise, in another
moment she was seen descending head FORE
most into the uaidst of the lofty ssees be-
meath her. The scene of horror and conster-
nation, coupled with the screams of the fe-
males present at this moment, may be well
imagined and hundreds rushed to the spot
where the poor creature lay at the foot of the
tree completely doubled up. and apparently
lifeless. Cries for medical aid were raised in
every direction, and it fortunately happened
that here were number of surgeons, who,.
as parochial officers of St. Pancras, had been
attending the dinner given at Highbury Barn
at the close Of the days proceedings. namely,
Drs, Hitler, Claremont, Sutherin, and Saul.
Two of these gentlemen, Mr.. Claremont and
Mr.. Saul, were Immediately on the spot, and
the unfortunate woman was carried in an in
seasible and apparently lifeless condition to
an appa tment adjoining the theater. where
upon examination by the medical men, she
was found still alive, but Ler countenance.
pulse and respiration, were at once a. predi-
cation of very serious injury being sustained.
In the meantime, the greatest excitement
as to the fate of the unfortunate but intrepid
women prevailed. So much so, that although
Leotard's performance lad commenced in
the great hall, hundreds still remained in
the gardans, making earnest enquiries Of ev-
cry one who came out of the building into
which she had been conveyed. A second
catastrophe was also apprehended. with re-
gard to Leotard himself. He had gone
through portion of his performance, when
some one indiscreetly informed him of what
had happened. In an instant he became liv-
idly pale, and became so unnerved, that the
next bound he made he missed his grasp Of
the handles of the centre trapeze, but came
bounding on theRadded platform on his feet,
amidst the applause of the audiance
1t is stated that the proprietors had fore
boding that it was dangerous to ascend the
rope, in consequence of its wet and slippery
condition but without success endeavored to
prevail upon the Female Blondin to relin-
quish her performance that evening.
Yesterday morning at eight o'clock Mr..
Claremont, Mr.. Saul, and Mr. King, met in
consultation at Highbnry Barn. and it wa'
di CO. cred that her chief injury is fracture Of
the neck of the 6 femur' thigh bone) but
there are others. She was sensible. and. at
her own request. has since been removed to
St. Bartholomew Hospital. where she now
remains an inmate Tie unfortunate woman
was to have performed last night at Wolve:
hampton. There was but one feeling pre-
valent, which was that the sooner these dan
gerous sensation exhibitions ere put stopto
the better.