Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-10-27
THIRTEEN OF THEM.
Cragg, the Athlete, and his Thir'
teen Athletic Chiidren.-They
Take TO Acrobatics as Nat
urnlly AS n Duck Takes
TO water.

"What, thirteen childrenl' exclaimed
n DEMOCRAT reporter, in establishment,
repeating statement made to HIM by
Fred Il. Wright, manager OF Haverly's
Minstrels.
eyes, sir. The senior Cragg is the
father of thirteen children and he has not
reached his fortieth birthday. He can
run hundred yards with the best OF
them, is an expert with the foils and
makes some pretensions with the gloves.
He is the best swimmer we have in the
company, and can make the second-best
standing Jump; in fact, he is thorough
athlete"
Many who witnessed the Craggs' re-
markable performances Mt Walkers Opera
House last night will scarcely credit the
statement that the Oldest appearing man
of the five is the father of not only the
other four but of nine other children, some
of whom travel with the company, and
the others are in England. His oldest
offspring is the 22-year-old boy Edward,
one of the acrobats with the company, and
his Youngest is little Arthur, not quite Q
wears old, who occasionally appears at
matinees only, and is never advertised for
fear OF being stopped by humane societies.
"But," said MIR. Wright, "when Mr.. Cragg
was arrested in Pittsburg for allowing the
baby to perform, the little fellow cried
bitterly. He is just crazy to go on the
stage, and the most unhappy child you
ever saw when he is obliged to pass a
week without appearing in public
"What do you attribute as Mr.. Craggs'
,.1,nI tho
Continued practice and confidence.
If he should allow himself and family to
90 month or two without practice he
would have to begin all over again before
he would dare venture n public appear
ance. They are not merely satisfied with
one regular public appearance every davi
but they rehearse and practice new tricks
every morning"
AT what age does Mr.. Cragg com
mence to train his children?"
Gust as soon as they are old enough
to notice things. When they are about
six months old Mr. Cragg begins to play
with them in bed, throw them in the air
and catch them with his feet or hands,
and when they are old enough to wall,
turning somersaults becomes u second
nature with them; and at the age of one
year and a half they are ready for public
appearance. Mr.. Cragg has made it q
hobby to introduce all his children to the
public at the age have just mentioned
The Cragg family have Travelled the worlt
over, have been on every continent, il
every country, and have appeared before
all the Presidents and crowned
heads. The younger Cragg re
ceved from Vice-President Hen
bricks at Washinton beautiful golt
medal. Mr.. Craggs' daughter, II years
of age, can turn the most beautiful hand
springs you every saw, and if one of the
boys should happen to get sick he coult
replace him instantly with the daughter
The boys devote so much time each da,
to their studies and can discount many o
our American lads in American history
They speak four different languages ant
all write beautifully"
"Have they ever missed that fal
where four stand on each others shoul
ders ?"
"No! never knew them to do 80
Mr.. Cragg tells me it is one OF his easies
tricks, although it has been attempted b,
many others and none have so far ha
been able to accomplish it. Certainly j
is very daring feat, and hardly thinl
! | WOull he fem Dtpl to try il -