Smyrna times., 1891-02-11
PERlLs OF THE TRAPEzE.
Varied and Interesting Experiences in
the Life of a Gymnasf.

the Life of Gymnast.
The Connecticut Yankee is a great
traveller. The man you see mending his
fence may not look as though he were
accustomed to strange lands, and yet he
may have been around the world as a
salesman for a clock factory, and his
neighbOr on the next farm may be re-
tired sea Captain who has circumnavi-
gated the globe many times. Here in
Bridgeport there is the usual quota Of
lOng-distance Connecticut travellers, and
when Barnum's big show, which makes
its winter quarters here, gets back tc
town, there are added more travellers
who have been in many countries. or
these, some settle down comfortably for
the winter in this city, and others make
the winter season with circuses In other
lands. The show is now on the way
here after the season of 80, and some OF
the performers have already arrived,
among them being Prof. L. CeballOs, the
gymnaSt, who is now at his pleasant
home in State street.
Well known in this country as a gym
mast, Prof. Ceballos is widely known in
Mexico, where he was born, and in Cen
trail America and throughout South
America, as an aeronaut as well. He has
made 450 ascensiOns, using always hot
air balloons of his own manufacture, and
performing on a trapeze suspended from
the balloon. He has made thirty bal
looms, each auout ninety feet high and
fifty feet in diameter and made of Scotch
linen, and covered with light varnish
to render them waterpro +. When max
ing ready for an ascension he built on
the ground a sort of brick fur ace, with
a chimney about four feet in diameter
and five ieet high A fire of vine prun-
ings soaked in alcohol was the best for
producing an ample supply of not air
with the least smoke and fewest sparks,
and an iron cover was provided to put
over the top of the chimney if the sparks
became threatening. The throat Of the
balloon was placed over the chimney.
When inflated the balloon was held down
| by many men until the aerOnaut was
was ready to ascend. He lef the earth
| no.ding to the bar with his hands, and
wit his body suspended straight, and
! then p, 'Ormed the various evOlutions
! in mi air.
Prof Cehallos made his first ascension
in Cert al America in 1866, and between
/ at year md 1871 he made many aScen-
| siOns in Mexico and Central America.
| ct making thirty-six ascension with
Dut ace dent he met with his first mis-
arOn the occasion OF an ascension from
| Oaiaca, NJ xico, in 1868. When at an
attitude of about 600 feet a strong wind
struck the balloon and carried it ninety
mil. in two hours. When it swept over
a forest on mountain, CeballOs let go
the balloon and clung to the top OF big
pine tree. He was scratched and bruised
but not adly hurt. The balloon flew of
and was not seen again. Ceballos de-
scendpd the tree and found himself N
an uuinhabited part OF the country. For
two nights he slept on the ground and in
day time walked about in search Ol
human habitatiOn. At last he found 6
wOOdchOpper, W supplied him with
,O0d and directed him to the road. Or
his return to tle city he was publicly
received by the authorities.
In 1871 Prof. Ceballos went to Peru
He made 113 ascensiOns in CallaO anC
Lima. While making an ascension a
Cdilao the trapeZA ropes were scrapet
against the cOrnice of a house. The ropes
soon parted. and the trapeze ant
Ceballos fell on a roof. The roo wa
blo6rn, but Cehal Os escaped withou
serious injury. In 1872, in Lima, on tn,
occasion his 125th ascension, the Eal
loon was torn in pieces by the wind ant
Ce allOs fell about 65 feet, but escape,
uAfnjured.
In 1873, at Montevideo, Uruguay, MI
q Ceballos ascended with his hOt-air bR
o n. and at the same time Mr.. Bar ELI,
French aerOnaut, went up with a ga
balloon. BQ,h balloons were struck by
hurricane and carried out to sea. Barrel
was never heard of terward. Anothe
current brought Ceballos's balloon bac
= over the land and destroyed it. CeballC
fell on the roof of a house and wa
bruis ad, but not seriously hurt.
At Rosario. in the Argentine Repul
Il lie, in 1874, NicacO R0sas, a boy of
n the sou of Gen. Rosas, was among I'll
u spectators at an ascension by CeballO
When the balloon went up the your
clung to one Of the ropes of the ne
CeballOs wondered, as the balloon a
cended, why it leaned to one side. TT
IN boy was so high UP on the balloon tn
III Ceballos couldn't see him from the tr
l. peze, but he knew somebody was ther
e. and he spoke TO him, and told him
IN climb down by the net. Then Ceball
er tried to climb TO the boy, but his add
q. weight careened the balloon still mo
and increased the danger to both, al
of he had t. go hack. The boy held
ra bravely until he could hold no long
as arc then he fell grazing Ceballos as
nd went down, He struck on the grou
and was killed instantly.
Oh In 1878 Ceballos went to Brazil a
ma e many ascensions in various paI
of that country. His last ascension "
in Brazil in 1876. Since 1876 Pr
. Ceball1s has been a gymhast in circus
He has performed in Australia. Chill
Japan. Siam, Hindoostan, Fran
D Spain, and other countries.
Mr.. Ceballos is powerful and gra
full gynnast His wife Nine. zal
;, Cebalos is also an accomplished gy
mast, and their son. Nicholas, aged
Is noted as a performer on the h
wire. All three will give performan
- in Cuba during the coming winter, {
In the spring they will rejoin Barnun
Bailey's show,