The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-03-25
DEATH LEAP IN A THEATRE.
4 TERRIBLE SOMERSET FRg,J A
PLYING TRAPEZE.
The Miss that Trn nsf xed the Specta tors
in the Thirty.FOurth Street Theatre
Shocking End of Jhm mes Sylvester.
from the New YORK Sln.1


from the New YortS1n.1
James Sylvester, one OF the Sylvester
brothers. gymnasts. perforning in the
Thirty Fourth Street The&p, was killed
about 10 o'clock last evening. His final act
on the trapeze WAS to swing With his might,
and when be calculated that he had force
enough he turned somehet from the ira
pee and canght a rope Suspended from the
ceiling in the back part of the auditorium.
Under this rope was stretched a netting 10
shield the performer from injlry in the event
OF missing the rope, and 70 protect the
audience over whom he taxes the flying
leap.
loung Sylvester came ont as usual last
night and executed his vaneus feats, until
the last grand leap: then be swung himself
until he thought that he had gath
cred sufficient force and let hi n
self 20. But he miscalc ulated and swung
too far. With tremendous velocity he
shot by the rope and stink against the
boxes with an appalling tLud. Thence he
fell in heap to the floor, striking on his
head The force of the fan vas so great as
to break the heavy iron char upon which
he struck.
Ladies' in the boxes tainted. and the spec
tators were transtixed. All was confusion.
Two physicians were in the theatre, and at
tendants from behind the scenes hurried to
the assistance of the injured man.
Sylvester was gently lifted and borne into
a room. There the physicians found him to
be alive, but without the least conscious
ness. A terrible cash in the back of his
head marked where he had struck. The
skull was beaten in, and large clots of blood
and pieces of brains oozed ont Upon the
slightest pressure.
The play was hurried on, but the house
soon thinned ont, leaving the theatre empty.
Sylvester fingered but short time HIS
breath became shorter al dshorter, and soon
he died. He was nineteen wears of age.
Warden Brennan, " nova With Sylvester
when he died, with the ambulance surgeon,
laid ont the body and carefully washed
every trace of the accident from his face
The body was then lard ina shell and taken
to the Morgne.
There SvIvester's mothef who had been
hastily summoned, saw the corpse of her
son. She kissed the cold lips and threw
herself upon the body, md in endearing
words entreated her boy to speak to her
Then realizing her loss, her grief found vent
in loud lamentations.
The mother said that her son had been a
printer, but that his splendid physique led
him to become an askekte. His partner,
with when he was accustomed to act under
the title of Sylvester Brahers was not his
brother. He is in Londoa, and was expect
ed to arrive soon in this 0untry
Several days ago, his mother added. her
son had dream Of falling from hoase-
top. He had believed it 50 be PRESENT.
men,, and VAS much troubled by it. snow
the dream IS realized. My poor darling
He was always good 10 me AID never utter
ed an nnkiud word N bis l.fe Oh, God
What have l done to be TINS stricken p"
cried the heart broken mother, as she de-
tached !, bracelet from her sons wrist. and
kissing him again was led away by her
friends.
THE BODY
was in blue and desh-colored tights, with
gold fringe. 4 pleasant smile wYeat he'd the
lips. att there WAS. no Indication of suffer
ing. The surgeon of Bellevue Hospital
said that the verrebral column Lad been
dislecated, and tnas there was al>o frac-
tule of the skull at the Ease of che brain.
He gave the opinion that sylvester was
utterly unconscious from tie instant of the
fall.
Mr.. J. Y standish, Of Bellevue Hospital
Medical College was ii the theatre when
sylvester fell.
He saFs that she nat that is usually spread
to protect the rerfprmefof dangerous stats
was Ell sicely Insufficient
This poor protection wen was rolled up
and removed before Sglyester's final act,
aud there was no.hinS Il break his raH
Mr.. Frank Clark, the sage manager, as
st-d in bearing Sylvester to the green
room atttE he fell.
He said that he was urcnsciou1s, and did