The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-07-31
AN ACROnAT TRAGEDY.

Shortly the performer who was
to meet such horrible death ap-
peared on the top of one of the
houses, dressed in his fancy attire,
and looked for n moment ut the
assembled thousands, and then
began to make preparations to
facilitate, rs it proved, his own
destruction. lie had the appear
ance of a slightly-built man, and
did not show q great amount of
bodily strength; in fact, as the
sequal disclosed, not sufficient to
carry him through the arduous
feat which he attempted. The
rope having been secured, he seiz-
ed his balance-pole and started,
but only walked few steps when
he hastily retreated and gave fur
ther directions to Il couple of men
who held the end of the guy-ropes
nearest the house. His order hav-
ing been obeyed, he again started
of, and with apparent ease walk
ed to the center of the rope. Here
two iron rings, about a couple of
feet apart, hung three feet, or
whereabouts, from the rope. The
rings were just over the middle of
the road, which was thickly cover
ed with gravel, and as hard as
rock. When the performer had
reached these rings, he halted,
stopped down, and fastened his
balance-pole to the rope. He then
proceeded to let himself down to
the rings, where he once or twice
performed an easy feat. He then let
himself down to the full extent of
his arms, and pausing a moment,
raised himself slightly, put his
feet through between his arms, and
went backward as far as he could,
waiting an instant, and thcn bring
ing himself back again to his orig
inal position. This is a feat re-
curing immense strength of arm,
and should never be performed at
dangerous distance from the
ground, as the slightest failure of
muscle, or bend too far back,
would be instant death. This feat
the young man performed success
fully twice, but the third time it
was apparent he was making an
immense tax on his strength, and
those present who understood a
little about gymnastics felt anx-
ious, as they knew he had yet a
difficult move to make, which was
to regain the rope. He did not let
himself back so far this last time,
for the thought apparently seemed
to have possessed him that his
strength was failing. He hastily
brought himself back to the origi.
nal position, but scarcely had he
done so than he let go one ring
with his right hand. Whether
this was done accidentally or
in tentionally can only be con
jectured; but we presume it was
done on purpose, as his object
probably was to catch one ring
with both hands, and draw him.
self up to the rope hand over hand
Ii such was the case he miscalcn.
lated his strength, for he had bare
ly let 90 one hand and swung part
ly round, when the other began tC
relax. What thoughts passes
through that poor mans mind il
those few seconds are u sealed
book. He must have known thai
his strength was failing him. ant
fall was inevitable, yet not crN
nor sound escaped him, but b,
turned his eyes and gave one ago
nized look at the ground beneath
him, which will never be effaceI
from the memory of those wh'
saw it. Suddenly his hold CAV,
way, when, amid the half-audibl
cry of amazement which involun
tarily escaped the lips ofthe par
allied multitude, he fell to tn
earth with a thud like the drop o
heavy stone, and in an instant
what was a human body in tn
full enjoyment of life in which wa
encased a human soul had return
ed to the God that gave it. Dealt
was instantaneous. He lay for
few seconds motionless, and tn
blood began to trickle from hi
/. mouth and nose, then he quivere
from head to foot with n conyu
r sive movement, and the bloc
e rushed from his nostrils and mout
n in torrents.-POrt Hope (Oat,
I Times.
: Those lannon's Nissopri robbs,