Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06
DIED In THE RING.
Pretty Little Irena's Death Before an
Audience Of Thousands.
A TABLEAU NOT ON THE BILLS
Fumults Of Applause Suddenly Change
to Cries Of Horror.
IREsTs LAST REQUEST OF PAPA AD
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in town.
The citizens of - and vicinity had
turned out in large numbers, and the huge
pavilion was packed from top to bottom.
Little Irsna, the child bareback rider, pic
lures Of whom had for days decorated the
walls and windows. was going to appear,
and the vast audience was in high state Of
excitement. The clowns were in despair; in
vain they exerted themselves; the jokes tell
fiat. The principal riders and gymnasts
were at their best, but their acts brought
but slight recognition from the audience.
Little Irena was the attraction they had
come to see, and for her they reserved all
their applause.
AT last the ring-master announces her,
the drums roll out grand triumph at
entire, the curtains separating the dressing
tent from the great pavilion are pulled
aside. and with one bound huge black
horse. bearing upon his back tiny figure
in white, springs into the arena As the
star Of the evening appears wave Of ap-
plause, mingled with murmurs Of admira-
ton and surprise, burst from the great
audience. The rare. spiritual beauty Of
the child, for she is not above 10 years Of
age,
TAKES ALL HEARTS By STORM.
As the horse hears the applause his ewes
sparkle wiekedly and he rears slightly, but
is quickly brought down by the whip Of
his small mistress. "Selim is in one of his
tantrums tonight" (" whispers the clown to
the ring-master. "Yes; God forbid that
anything should happen" the latter re-
fr1rr II
her tiny hand, the little artist dashes around
the ring. The ordinary acts, jumping ban
ners and darting through hoops, are gone
through with, and now comes the grand
closing act of his performance, the escape Of
q Circassian girl from her Turkish captors.t
Lying close to the horses back, the child
urges him to swift galop. As she passes
the second time around the ring, from the
dressing tent dashes rider, habited as an
Oriental. He beholds the flying figure and,
with yell Of triumph, he sweeps In swift
pursuit. Then begins the apparent race for
life and liberty, With visions Of the slave
life that awaits her, the supposed fugitive
urges on her animal. With the instinct Of
rare dramatic talent the child enters heart
lily into the play. Her sweet face grows
termined expression; with whip and ca
ress she encourages
THE FLYING STEED.
Faster and faster around the ring sweep
pursuer and pursued. Slowly but surely the
Turk gains upon the child. Now comes
the climax. CHANGING over her shoulder
the supposed Circassian behoIds the near
approach of the would-be captor. With
the recklessness of last chance, she rises
to standing position, and drawing q re-
volver from her belt she fires twice at the
pursuer. The Turk reels in his saddle. For
sition, and then with an imprecation he
slides from his animals back and lies pros
trate in the dust.
The play has been an exciting one, and
the audience has watched its different
phases with breathless interest. As the
Turk falls . roar Of delight rises to their
lips, but it never finds vent, and the next
instant changes to murmur Of horror.
To properly finish. the act and to illustrate
the tender forgiveness OF woman, as the
Turk falls the girl is supposed to jump
from her saddle and bend over her foe, rails
ing bis head to her lap and attempting to
relieve his suferings, forming a pretty
tableau which always brought quiet reeog-
milton from the audience. Hitherto the
black horse has always stopped at the re-
port of the pistol, but tonight, with snort
Of rage he seizes the bit in his teeth and
continues his mad race around the track. In
vain the child attempts to check him. Sud-
denly he slackens his pace and springing
into the air, throws himself down and rolls
over the tiny figure on his back, then jump
ing up he rears and brings bis fore feet
down upon the PROSTATE child, then turns
and darts into the dressing tent.
a SCENE OF WILD CONFUSION.
The tumult that follows battles descrip-
lion. Women and children faint, hundreds
yf men spring to their feet and start for the
ring. Foremost in the rush is stout, gray
haired, middIe-aged man, who throws aside
with unusual strength the men who stand
in his way. It is the old Snowman himself.
BE kneels beside the little bruised form and
,ently lifts the small head. The clustering
,olden curls are damp with blood. The
She suffers terribly, yet as she feels the
ouch of old Adam, the soft blue eyes open,
Ind mingled with the pain comes look Of
owe unutterable, and the little hand seeks
lis.
Since the death Of her father, member
# an excellent English family, who had
,een dis owned by his family for marrying
Ter mother, circus rider, who died at the
firth Of Irena, old Adam has been the being
lpon which she had lavished all her afec-
ion, and in turn the sweet alteration of the
hild has won her place in the old showman's
Ieart, and never had she seemed so dear as
Iow. Now as she lay dying, for little
rena was dying, at the first glance the
ID Snowman knows that the child is
oomed.
What scence that wasl The dying
hid lying in the thick sawdust-for they
ared not move her-her head resting on
Id Adams knee surrounded by the men,
ers of the troupe. in their bright-colored
ostumes, and hundreds of her late auditors.
HER DYING REQUEST.
Papa Ad," the sweet voice murmured;
etween her sobs, 'I'm 80 glad you came,
wanted you near when die"
The tears spring to the old showman's
yes, and his gruf voice assumes an almost
romanly tenderness, as he says, 'Poor
title sunlight, don't talk of dying; you
lust live little one'
"Oh, I hate to leave you, the child re- =,
1rns;' "you have been so kind to me, but
am going to my own dear papa, but
amt you to promise me one thing; you
wed me as if was your own little girl,
idn't your"
"Yes, darling, yes.''
'Then promise me when die you will
ury beside me my own papa, won't you?
)on't put me with strangers"
A loud wall from the clown, down whose
heck the tears have made channels through
he paint, is answered by the sobs of the as
smbled auditors. Old Adam bends over
lechild, his lips press her brow, his utter
nee is choked, as he says: ''It shall be as
ou wish, little one." Low as his voice is,
he child hears the promise, and sweet
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