The national Republican., 1869-06-19
Cruel IAmusemcnts-s In n Phil
adeIpia Theatre.

A scene of considerable excitement occur
red at the American Theatre, on Walnut
street, above Eighth, on Saturday evening,
during the flying trapeze performances Of
two artists announced on the bills as Lila
and Zoe. Ono Of their feats consists In
Lila, full-grown young woman, swinging
herself by means OF two ropes suspended
from the ceiling, from a platform erected In
front of the gallery, entirely across the au-
ditorium, until she touches with her feet a
trapeze that hangs at considerable altitude
over the orchesta. Securing herself on this
trapeEe with her feet, her body swings
downwards, and she remains In that POSI-
tlon while Zoe, q child OF eleven years Of
age, mounts the platform In the gallery, and
seiZing the iron rings attached TO the ropes,
mentioned, throws herself of, and darts
toward Lila, and when nearing her the child
throws a summersault In mid-air, and her
only chance from being crushed to death by
falling from the dizzy height among the
audience in the parquette, is being caught
by Lila, who hangs with her head down
ward from the trapeze. Certain death would
be the result Of the slightest mistake made
by either Of the performers.
On Saturday evening the feat was success.
fully performed, 1t is true, but Lila barely
caught the child as she reyolyed In the air.
As the latter was descending, however, to
the stage, the man whose duty II was to
catch her from the hands OF Lila failed to
do so, and the poor child fell 10 the platform
placed over the orchestra, a distance Of sew
eral feet, and struck her head and otherwise
injured himself. The child was picked up,
when she Immediately placed her hands to
her head, and II was apparent that she was
seriously hurt. Notwithstanding this she
was most inhumanly ordered to remount the
platform In the gallery and repeat the feat.
The child obeyed, but such conduct on the
part OF those having charge Of the exhibit
ton was too much for the audience to stand,
and there was n unanimous cry of "No
no "Shame shame " "Take her back! "
''Take her back :" &c. In the meantime
the child mounted the platform and then
stood ready to repeat the feat, but the au'
dience rose en DldSst, 10 their great credit,
and prevented the ropes from being handed
| TO her. Unable to combat such display oi
public indignation and dlsapproval, the child
was ordered to retire, which she did amid
the most tumultous applause. Now whether
she could have performed the feat in her
tEen condition will be seen from the follow
Ing ..,,.., -. ,n.,,.
advanced and stated that she had desired to
perform another feat, and that she was not
| injured, and the consent Of the audience
| was asked. There was q general cry oil
mo, no. and considerable Kissing; but, tax
ing advantage Of few cries OF go on,
from the boys In the gallery, the child again
appeared, and mounting the platform, tool
hold ofthe rings and swung herself off fol
the purpose Of catching the hanging trapezt
with her feet and then making a sommer'
sault while descending into an outstretched
net. As the audience felt would be the case
the child cssayed the feat, but failed tC
catch the trapeze, owing to her nervous
state, which was natural under the circum
stances, but she was saved from injury by
her commendable presence Of mind in moi
letting go Of the ropes. The consequence
was that she swung backward and forwart
amid scene Of much excitement, and wal
relieved from her perllous position by tn,
audience, who caught her and carried her L
the stage. The entire scene was disgrace
full one, and was nothing but wanton sport
ing with human life, and had 1t not beer
for the conduct Of the audience the chilt
would probably have been killed in attempt
| ing to repeat the nrst Philddslphi,
! HaguIiEF.