The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-11
A TERRIBLE FALL.
Tho Tight Rope Broke and the Man bao'y
Hurt-Night At the Exposition.

This is an unlucky night with us,sald the
muscular but pretty young woman VINO
takes part in the bicycle act at Pam ;
Paris to me last night.
She stood on the step outside OF the
frame building in rear of the scenery OF
that show. on the Exposition grounds
with a heavy cloak, Whiting to near tue
news from next door, where two uoc-
tors were working hard to restore 10
consciousness poor Jean Weitzman. inc
tight-rope walker, who lay apparently
Ifelcss from a fall of twenty-five feet.
She was in real distress. having known
the man as a fellow Snowman for lons
time and showed Il womans syInpath!
as well as the feeling akin between PEI
ple whose means of living is so baZaru-
Gus ~ r A..
This was the second exhibition of the
attractive spectacular show, pageant ana
nvrotechnical display, which is the man
amusement feature of the t.xpositloh'
The stands. wheels. shapes and other
fireworks taken down Saturday night 10
save destruction from the rain had been
replaced. red calcium illuminators added
brilliancy to the dazzling scene. ana
crowd Of four thousand well-pleaseu
spectators watched the ever-chahgihs
movements. light life and activity pre-
scented in front.
AN ACCIDENT.
The opening pageant over. the wonder
ful bicycle performance took place, anu
here the bad luck commenced when Tue
Young woman referred TO. One OF the
young men fell: his movements were
dexterous and calculated to conceal an!
awkward knocks, but nevertheless ~
has bruises to nurse to-day. Then me
.,,rc,,i1o xr-baca NTlppl. ike
himself. is on a miniature pattern. twice
had his wheel to fly in pieces while rap
idly revolving it in the air suspended py
his fathers strong hands. There were
hurts attendant here. too, but these were
not serious. and while not uncommon
they ere not frequent. In discussing tne
matter last night, the young woman san:
We 90 sometimes for months and never
have a bitch and then string OF accl-
dents will all come together:
The starting accident when causeu
her and a number Of other performers ~
make hurried inquiries of anybody VINO
came out of the closely-guarded door
near by. was of more serious character,
however.
Whom the festival in frolt of the empe-
ror's Dalace was at its height and the IN
tercst was high. figure dressed IN
white was rapidly drawn 70 the top OF
n rail- pole and after taking IN his hahus
and carefully posing a balancing roo
he stepped forward cautiously upon
taught wiz, rope running across the en-
tire width of the scenery, twenty-five
feet from the ground Men stood at in
tervals with guy ropes TO steady the long
stretch Of wire. The rope-walker tested
tile narrow line cautiously AT first. and
then seeming TO be satisfied, stepped out
more boldly, passing over square net
arrangement swung to aid IN some spe-
cial act not far from the starting place.
The ROPE GAVE WAY.
Having reached a point directly over
the nlank stage the aerial walker showed
signs of uneasiness, his legs trembled
ard he made awkward movements TO
1etrace his steps.
Those who watched him seid with a
laugh he is pretending. but no the rope
perccptibly gives. the man tries to turn
and reach the net, he takes one step and
gether and clutching his BALI lie
he drops like lead to the cruel planks
below.
There is n moment in which not
sound is uttered, and then there is
rush and hubbub and he is carried out
of sight. and by dint of scOlding from
the managers the performers are made
to keep the entertainment moving as II
nothing had happened.
In the seige of Paris which quickly
follows with the bray of brass and eX-
pl0sion of bombs the accident Is for the
moment forgotten.
The limp form is borne to the dressing
room in the rear and DR. Hoge is
promptly at his side, and willing hands
obey his directions.
A hurried examination shows that no
bones are broken, and i'll few minutes
Jean Wcitzman speaks once more TO the
great relief of his comrades.
His face is badly cut, and he is much
stunned, but not very dangerously hurt
was DR.. Hoge's reply to my hurried in
quiry.
The manager said he had been per-
forming with him for ten years and this
is the first accident he ever had.
! asked his opinion of the mans con-
dition. He said he thought 1t likely
that he would be able to perform at the
next exhibition.
The performance last night was com
pleted without a hitch. and the pyrotech-
MICS were novel and beautiful n por-
trait of Mr.. A. NJ Tyler, the secretary Of
the Exposition, in fire, while not strik-
ing likeness. was a wonderful picture
considering its material and size.
NOTES.
Racing will Degin to-day at | o'clock
promptly. There still exists considerable
difficulty to obtain a glass of water in the
main hall of the Exposition. Why can
not couple of large coolers be placed ut
convenient points!
The grounds and buildings are now eX
cellently polced. There is a force of
fifty men during the day and about thirty
at night. The Battle Of the Crater will
be admirably presented this evening.
Morris illusions prove to be most en-
pertaining and pulling. There is a per-
Torrance about every half hour in an
apartment just east of the music hail,
and crowds flock TO witness the mermaid,
amphitnte, the living statue, the wizard
and the half woman. The entertainment
borders on the artistic, and possesses IL
rarity for this fin de steele age. that
rarity being novelty. For the small cost
of admission one sees more there than
anywhere else about the place, and every
one leaves the improviSed playhouse de-
lighted. Former attempts at Illusions
in this city fade into insigniiicance as
compared with those produced 10y Pro
fessor Morris. and not only should the
country sisters. cousins and aunts at
tend, but all the city folk should go if
they wish to see something worthy of
their attention.
JUDGE GEORGE HUGHES DEAD.