The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-25
THE TRFLE SOMERSAULT.
From Harrison's Magazine

From Earrison's Magazine.
To turn a double somersault from q
spring board it is necessary TO make
leap at an angle of about thirty de-
grees to obtain the necessary "bal-
last" or impetus to turn twice. II an
almost perpendicular leap is made,
the acrobat would not have leverage
enough to turn. In order to accom-
plish the double the performer has TO
leap from the springboard with all his
might to get the proper angles as well
as to obtain sufficient height, so that
he may have time to turn twice before
alighting. The Same conditions gov
ern the triple somersault, only that it
is necessary to go about one-third
higher in the air. 1t was said a few
years ago that, with the exception OF
Sam Reinhardt, now dead, the famous
Rob Stickney, and an English leaper
whose name has escaped mem
DRY, no gymnast in America had suffi-
Gent power leap higher than is neces-
sary to accomplish double Not that
these three men could ut that or any
other time accomplish triple somer-
saolts at will, but they could do more
than double
Some assert that the triple somer
saults might be acc emphasized by high
err and more powerful spring boards
than these in use, but first-class per-
formers say that these would merely
change the angle and the result would
be the same. OF course the board
could be placed high enough. but the
specific gravity of the performers body
would be increased in descending. The
height is not the only trouble. If it
were only height, leaping experts, by
improved appliances and practices,
would overcome that difficulty. But
after the body has turned twice the
performer ''loses his CATCH" or control
of his body. and the law of gravitation
overcomes bodily 6exterity. His head
being heavier than his feet, he is apt
to light on it first and break his neck.
+ The first remembered attempt to
throw triple somersault in this coun-
try was by a performer in Van Am
burg's circus in Mobile, Ala, in 1924.
He fell ON his head and broke his
neck. Another attempt was made in
1916, at Astley's amphitheater,L London,
England, then leased to Howe and
Cushing, the American managers. In
the company were: /. Lipman, fine
vaulter, now in Cincinnati; the late
Levi j. North, famous equestrian;
the late William o. Dale, an acrobat
and equestrian, who afterward lost his
sight and died in Cincinnati, and VIII
liam /. Hobbies, champion leaper. 1t
was previously announced that Hobbies
would attempt a triple, and the house
was jammed. He tried it and was in
stantly killed.
The next to attempt the dangerous
feat was John Amor, who was born in
the home of Dan Rice's father, near
Girard, Pa. Amor travelled for years in
this country with Dan Rice's circus,
and in that day was considered the
greatest gymnast in America, if not in
the world. He was said to be the first
person in America to turn a double
somersault over four horses
In 1859 he went to England and
travelled with circus all through the
United Kingdom. In the same year 10
attempted to turn triple somersault
in the Isle of Wight, but landed on his
forehead after he had turned twice and
broke his neck.
Billy Dutton performed the great
feat while a member Lakes circus, at
Elkhorn, Ill, in 1860, at a rehearsal
in the presence OF John Lowlow, the
famous clown. Dutton was ambitious
to have to say that he did 1T. but did
not make the attempt with the inten-
ton of repeating it. Hemade the leap
from high springboard and actually
turned three times. Dutton was very
proud, but sensibly said that he would
not try it again, and that his alighting
on his feet was an accident, as he could
not control his body after turning the
second time
Frank Stark, who was reared by
John Robinson, the circus manager.
undertook the feat at the fair grounds
In indianapolis in 1879 for a wager Of
500. In the first attempt he turned
three times, but alighted on his hands
Everybody was satisfied with the re-
suit, and The money was rendered him
He proudly refused it, saying the feat
had not been perfectly accomplished;
that he would repeat il and slight up
on MS feet before he felt justified IN
taking the s10o. He did repeat il. but
struck on his head, disiocating his
neck, and death resulted IN few hours
Bob Stickrey, the Apollo Belvedere
of the modern arena, accomplished the
great feat at the age of fourteen years
while practicing in the Hippo theater
in Fourteenth street. New York. VII
liam Stein, at that time an sttache OF
the circus, and who now with his wife,
give a ''secondSight- performance,
was ore of the persons who held the
common wooden catch blanket in which
Stickney slighted- The late Sam
Reinhardt, of Columbus, o., while
travelling with the Cooper & Bailey cir
Gus IN 1870, became dissatisfied with
the double-sornersauIi feat. at which
ne was an adept. and burned TO per
form the triple A. Toledo. o, he an
nounced that ne would make the at
tempt, and did 50. notwithstanding the
advice Of his friends sam made .
splendid high leap. actually turned
three times. but landed on his seat in
stead of as feet Andy Spear. vet
eran circus clown who Was cnce q re-
markable lesper. claims to have &C
ompIished the fezt- John Wo-land-
one Of the greatest trick leapers and
all-round performers ever known 20 the
circEs world. claims 70 have sccora-
plished the feat OF several occasions
He published a card 70 thai eHcrs in