The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-07-15
Thrilling Account Of TrapeEe Perform
auce in PHILADELPHIA.

A scene of considerable excitement oc-
Cured at the American Theatre, on Wal
nut street, above Eighth, on Saturday
evening, during the flying trapeze per-
formance Of two artists, announced on
the bills as Lila and Zoe One of their
feats consists in Lila, full grown young
woman, swinging herself by means OF
two ropes suspended from the ceiling,
from platform erected in front of the
gallery, entirely across the auditorium,
until she touches, with her feet, a trapeze
that hangs at considerable altitude over
the orchestra. Securing herself on this
trapeze with her feet, her body swings
down ward, and she remains in that posi-
ton, while Zoe, o child of II years Of
age, mounts the platform in the gallery,
and, selling tho iror rings attached to
the ropes mentioned throws herself off,
and darts towards Lila; and when near
ing her, the child throws sommersault
in mid air, and her only chance from be-
ing crushed to death, by falling from the
dizzy height among the audience in the
parquette, is being caught by Lillai who
hangs with her head Downward 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 successfully performed, it is
true, but Lila barely caught the child as
she revolved in the air. AS the latter
was descending, however, to the stage,
the man whose duty it was to catch her
from the hands of Lila, failed to do so,
and the poor child fell to the platform
placed over the orchestra, distance oi
several feet, and struck her head, and 9th
erwise injured herself.
The child was picked up, when she i'm.
mediately placed her hands to her head
and it was apparent that she was serious
ly 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
exhibition was tco much for the audience
to stand, and there was unanimous cry
of "No, MOI" "Shame, shame p Take
her back, take her back p In the mean
time the child mounted the platform and
then stood ready TO repeat The feat, but
the audience rose en- masse, to their great
credit, and prevented the ropes from be-
ing handed to her. Unable to combat
such display of public indignation and
disapproval the child was ordered to re-
tire, which she did amid the most tumul
tuous applause Now, whether shc could
have performed the feat again in her then
condition, will be seen from the follow.
ing:
ger advanced and stated that she desired
to perform another feat, and that she was
not injured, and the consent of the audi
ence was asked. There was a general
cry of "No, no." and considerable hiss
ing; but, taking advantage of few cries
of "Go on" from the boys in the gallery
the child again appeared, and mounting
the platform, took hold of the rings and
swung herself off for the purpose o.
catching the hanging trapeze, with hel
feet. and then making sommersault
while descending into an out-stretchec
net. AS the audience felt would be the
case, the child essayed the feat, but failed
to catch the trapeze, owing to her ner
vous state, which was natural, under the
circumstances, but she was saved fror
injury by her commendable presence o.
mind in not letting 60 of the ropes: The
consequence was that she swung back
wards and forwards amid scene of much
excitement, and was relieved from hei
perilous position by the audience, who
caught her and carried her to the stage
Philadelphia Enquirer, 18th.
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