Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-12


FEATs oP STRENGTH, LEGERDEMAIN AND
MAGIC. - The troupe performing at the
Gaieties Theatre, Metropolitan Hall. have
certainly redeemed all the pledges the man.
ayers made at the commencement of the en-
gagement. Nothing they have promised has
failed in performance. The most wonderful
performance of all, and that which tests hu
man credulity in human shape, is the hercu-
lean feat Of Mons. Henderson. An immense
boulder or slab of granite, weighing $50
pounds, picked up from the ruins Of the old
"Congress Hail." Franklin street, was used
as test of the modern Hercules. The
strength Of ten negroes was required to carry
the rock into the hall from the ruins oppo.
site. This piece of granite, three feet long
by ten inches in thickness, Mons. Hender-
son supported upon his breast, he, mean
while, supporting himself like block, breast
upwards, upon his hands and knee joints.
A common cotton cloth protected his breast
from injury, and the weight of tremendous
sledge. hammer was laid upon the rock will
all the strength of several athletic men,
without creating a crack in the rock, OF
causing the modern Sampson to finch in tn,
least, except when he ducked his head oil
closed his eyes to avoid the flying particles,
as the sledge fell fast and heavy. During
the progress of the performance, which on!
occupied several minutes, the audience,
looking upon Mons. Henderson as the noun
tain of Atlas, bearing the universe upon his
breast instead OF his shoulders, became yo-
ciferous in their demands that the rock
should be removed, and one excitable indi-
vidual sought to enforce his demand by
drawing pistol. Thrice was the perform
ance repeated, and the second time the
strongest man in the AUDIENCE soldier
from Sherman's army, we believe-was sum-
moned to break the rock with the sledge.
The blows we're sufficient to have knocked
down a drove of bullocks, hut the rock did
not give neither did Mons. Henderson,
Eight or ten awkward negroes removed
the rock finally, greatly to the relief of the
audience, who drew long breath, and such
a storm of applause as greeted the cham
pion was never heard before. 1t swelled
and rose again, fell and swelled, until the
performer had to appear and excuse himself
from a repetition Of the feat on the ground
that the iron sledge hammers used upon his
infantie breast and the rock, were unequal
to the work of breaking or cracking the
rock. In conclusion, he pledged the audi
ence that if any number OF gentlemen would
step forth and promise to hold the rock, he
would crack and break it. None volun-
teered. Mons. Henderson thereupon re-
tired amid the most thunderous applause,
but as his feat was not of that class that can
be performed ad libitltm, he did not appear
again. In personal appearance, Mons. Hen
derson is not over-muscular, though the
sinews stand out upon his arms, breast and
lower extremities like small pillows on a
small sea, chasing each other.
The next performance in point of interest
was tragical-or might have been. That was
Don Howard in his wonderful and amazing
"ClOud SWING" upon which he throws him.
self from the proscenium to the rear gallery,
ascending to the lofty ceiling and descending
to the audience, hanging by his heel, knee,
arms, and other joints. A thrilling and start
ling incident occurred during this exhibi.
ton, which for a moment transfixed the
audience with horror. Don Howard, in his
| utter confidence of himself, and his power,
suffered soft velvet moose to encircle his
| neck, and therellpon dropped from the slack
rope upon the "airy nothing" below. For q
moment he struggled like dying criminal,
threw mp his hands in death agony. The
audience, (good souls who do not compre'
bend all that gymnasts do, rose en- naSae, and
cries and cheers filled the hall. This brought
Don Howard to his senses, and he descended
before the audience had timo to realize thai
it was all In the play, and put down in the
bills. We have not room to speak Of all o.
Don Howard's performances on the "string,
but they are wonderful, and worth seeing
once in lifetime.
The feats Of Nick Grist, the magician, whe
throws up and makes dallianee with q mai
dozen Turkish knives at time, keeps nal
a dozen bottles and balls in the air at The
same moment, without voluntary suicide
| the tricks of the trained dog, Lille Dale, whit