The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-09-06
Fall of Hanlan at Pixies Opera House.


The opera-house vas the scene last night, OF an
accident of thrilling horror such as it is the
misfortune of few assemblages TO look upon, and such
as none who saw it last night, will ever forget.
The opera-house, has been the case since the
engagement of these celebrated brothers began, was
full, hardly vacant seat appearing in the spacious
auditorium. The first part of thes programme, con
sisting of comic songs, dances, &c, passed off as
usual when the pechee pereuse (the dangerous lad
der) which concluded that part, was reached. The
apparatus for the consisted of ladder with three
rounds, suspended from the middle OF the proscenIun
arch at a heighth of forty-seTcn feet. This vas
fastened in horizontal position by four ropes to pre-
vent any oscillation whatever. Thomas Hanlon, VINO
is the eldest of the brothers, promptly on the
stage when this feat rung on, and Immediately
assembled to the top of the ladder by of per-
pendicuar rope Once there, he went through series
of perilous gynnastc exercses-swingng by his hands
from end to end OF the ladder hanging by his feet to
its rounds and performing other characteristic teatS
that never fail to insure in audience feeling of
admiration mingled with instructive and lively appre
tensions. The conclusion of this act is of the most
sensational character Suddenly recovering himself
from position in which his head is hanging down
ward, the gymnast stands upright the end of the
ladder gives powerful spring toward the proscenium
boxes, and seizes vertical rope that hangs suspended
distance Of eighteen twenty feet from the point
of departure.
Hanlon having accomplished his other feats, with
the utmost earlessness and apparently without mo-
ments calculation appeared moment gathering him
self for the terrific spring, and the next moment was
which was held by two of his brothers.
He reached the rope grasped for it. missed It and
fell with confused fash in the air. striking the stage
with fearful momentum, and rolling over, unconscious
and bleeding, into the parquette The audience on
whose lips expectant sigh of relief had hoVered,
rose to their feet with murmur of horror subdued
but universal Some ladies cried out and some parties
in their CONSERVATION, turned to leave the theatre
The wings of the stage Immediately became peopled by
the members Of the company and the auditors nearest
the unconscious gymnast lifted his form to the stage
across which it borne out of sight, mass OF
bloody finerY-a strange contrast to the lightooted
athlete who few minutes before had scaled his way
to his dizzy perch with all the aud indifference Of
squirrel.
In a few moments one of the company appeared on
the stage called for a surgeon in the audience, and
stated that the injuries we're not serous-a statement
made with view of queting the alarm of the audience
who appeared undecided whether to remain or not
The performance, after very short delay, was re-
sumed and while the counterfeit negroes went through
their-considering the occason-inefectual hummer
les pale group was gathered around the senseless
artist behind the scenes.
The danseuse with her skirts gathered tightly in her
hand looked with cooress face, and an occasional
murmur of terror, and coptrabands hovered around
on confused errands of mercy. The PROSTATE man lay
on a cot breathing heavily, fearful cash over his left
eye another the chin, and slight one on the thigh
His shirt saturated with blood, and his tights dap
pied here and there with moist, repulsiye waters
DR.. Miller who was in the audience examined the
wounds, and presently Joined by Drs Mussey and
Blackman, who found broken bones serious con-
tusions of the limbs body. The cash over the eye
was about inches in length and exposed the skull
The cut the jaw not severe.
The patient recovered consciousness in about fifteen
minutes and seemed concerned about the middle
finger of his right hand, which he repeatedly manipu-
lated than for his other injuries. His wounds were
carefully dressed and he removed to his hotel in
carriage Two hours after the accident, he had re-.
covered almost entirely from the shock and expressed
desire to be permitted to reappear during the week
1t has been seven years since Thomas Haulon fell
before. The accident occurred in St Petersburg and
vas perhaps less serious than that Of last evening
His training has evidently included the art of falling
with comparative safety for few could repeat the
accident without fatal result. Gin. Commercial.