The Mineral argus., 1884-04-03
CIRCUS RIDERS.
Accidents to AcrobatS and vaulters Con
corning old-Time Salaries.

corning old-Time Salaries.
Philadelphia Press.
Formerly children were regularly
apprenticed to learn riding just as they
were to learn ~shoemaking or any other
trade" said Richard Hemming, the old
circus manager, "but o in many of
our States there are laws prohibiting
the employment of minors under fifteen
years of age in hazardous performances,
and these have had the effect of doing
away to a very great extent with the
thorough and systematic course of train
ing which children designed for riders
were formerly obliged to ommence
when about five years old,
and which must be COM
menced at that early age and steadily
pursued i'll order to attain the highest
degree of artistic perfection. Nearly
all the great riders we now have began
their career before the enactment of
these laws, and, consequently, served a
thorough apprenticeship to their pro-
fession, but when they shall have passed
away who will fill their places? There
will certainly be no American riders
who can do so satisfactorily, and our
public will have to look for its eques-
trian talent across the water, where So
called societies for the prevention of
cruelty to children are not so efficient
in securing the passage and enforce
ment of unjust and injudicious laws.
"Have there been many fatal accidents
among circus performers?"
every few considering the many haz-
ardous feats performed. Within later
years l can recall only three or four.
William Kincade, an acrobat, broke his
neck in the summer of 1881 while doing
a double somersault over q number of
elephants with the Forepaugh show.
Johnny Aymar, one of the best of all
tumblers' broke his neck in the Island
of Jersey some years ago, while trying
to throw a triple somersault, which Is
meant revolving in the air three times
before alighting. Every performer who
has attempted this feat has been killed
by it sooner or later, and it is a-mooted
question whether it ever has been or
ever can be successfully accomplished.
'Little Miss Davene was killed by
alighting on her neck and spine after
being thrown from a catupult with the
Barnum-London show in 1861. What
are called the leaps'-that is, throwing
somersaults over elephants and horses
have been productive of a greater
number of serious accidents than any
other feat attempted in the ring. The
most frequent and annoying accidents
which occur to riders are INJURIOUS to
the knee joint. There is no part6f the
body more easily displaced OF harder to
put in order again, and alighting on the
horse after going through a hoop OF
over a banner, or iumpingto the ground
to avoid a fall, is very apt to throw the
joint out of place. Katie Stokes, a
very talented young bareback rider who
gave promise of attaining the very
highest eminence in her profession, sus-
tanned an injury of this kind in the sum-
mer of 1882, and it is doubtful if she
will ever ride again. My wife, Mrs.
Richard Hemming, who before our mar
rage was Miss Whitby, well-known as
an accomplished pad and manege rider,
has been obliged to retire from the pro.
tession permanently in consequence Of
a similar accident.
must not forget to tell you OF 6
great remedy we circus people have fol
sprains. 1t is a mixture of NORWOOD
vinegar and salt. Take ten cents worth
of NORWOOD, cover it well with vine
gar, put in q handful of salt and let the
mixture come to the boil; battle the
affected part with it as hot as you
can bear it and it will effect a cure
more quickly than anything else l hav,
ever e tried"
DO circus performers often live to
good old age?"
Very often, and Think that in point
OF longevity they far excel the member
OF any profession. In England and OF
the contenent of Europe especially
they usually live to be very old. Il
European countries, too, it is remark
able how many families there are who's