The morning times., 1895-12-08
EXPERIENCES OF A GYMNAST.
Severe Accidents That Injured a Well
Known Trapeze Performer.
NHxx Nnrlr I,alenca m

Severe Accidents That INJURED w ell
Known Trapeze Performer.
New York Telegram.
James &. De Forest. nuw an instructor of
| athletics at the new Manhattan Athletic
! Club, is one ur the once famous De Forest
! family OF gvmnas.s. and has had some thrill
| ing experiences on the flying trapeze. He
only recently recovered from an accident
that nearly ended his life. and he made up
l his mind then to abandon the trapeze
| habit.
De Forest began work on the trapeze at
! the age of fifteen, when he Travelled with
| two brothers and n sister throughout
| Europe. While in Bremen, Germany the
! youngster ran way from his relatives and
managed TO work his way to America.
| His folks suon came to the United States
ane he reloined them.
Speaking of the tumbles he had taken,
De Forest said: ''0ne uf the worst falls
ever got was when was with o. Brien's
show at Chester, Pa. We were about half
through uur act, when a heavy wind and
rain storm struck uur tent. Our crane bar
was attached 10 the center puls and one
OF the guy wires gave way. My sister
Miriam n nd myself were thrown outside the
nets. She had two ribs broken and / got
off with a sprained wrist and 4 dislocated
ankle. 1t was three months before We were
able to resume.
Our next tumble was at Belfast, Ne.
Some Ineddling person had looseped q rope
attached to block and fan. We bad Just
finished our first trick nd started IN the
second. when the four poles gave way,
sending us all to the ground. / escaped
with a sprained kneecap. but my brother
got broken arm and 4 had cut on the
head. Ny sister struck an iron stake and
received injuries that resulted IN her death
shortly afterward. / went on crutches FOR
time nd nearly decided a give
up the dangerous work. There 10 a fas-
cinattUn about the flying trapeze that is
hard to resist. nd so wbe n The Opportunity
presented itself I accepted another en-
gagement- l got partner and We did
the leap for life. be catching me as I
swung down from the gallery.
One night at Brockville. Canada, he
failed to catch me. I struck against the
brick wall back of the stage and fell on a
heap of scenery. Five of my ribs were
broken. which laid me up for three years.
l haven't done any trareze work since,
and do not think l shall"
Referring TO the triple somersault, De
Forest said 1T is almost Impossible to turn
three somerSaultS. Several great trapeze
performers have attempted it, and lost
their lives. l have not heard OF anybody
succeeding from pedestal or trapeze bar.
Several performers have attempted the feat
fro n spring board over elephants. but 1
have not heard OF anyone succeeding.
After two somersaults q Icaper loses coutrol>
of his movements. On the third turn the
leaper usually strikes on his head. snap
ping hisneck. Tberecord shows that nearly
all who try it strike on their heads, with
the result of almost insta Mt death.
The double somersuult is quite difficult
enough In accomplishing that l take a
deep inhalation before leaping from my
pedestal. / keep my head straight, per-
haps little back, till reach the ma ximum
height Of my leap, when l tuck my head
on my breast, draw my legs up and go over
like ball. 1t is very dangerous trick"