The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-18

During the progress of an interesting
athletic entertainment given in honor Of
81. PatrlckS day at the Y. M c.. A.
gymnasium last evening, an accident oc-
CURED which might easily have cost the
life of the assistant physical director of
the association. j. H. Hanks.
The entertainment was very largely at
tended and the gallery of the spacious
gymnasium was filled with people,
Among other numbers was double high
trapeze act by j. H. Hanks, the assistant
director. and Chas. Ledger, a we'll known
athlete. This was to have been given as
the third number and was looked for
ward to with great interest, the act be-
ing hazardous to all but the most ex-
perienced athletes. Two trapezes were
hung from the high ceiling Of the room
and the two athletes were to hang from
one during the progress Of the act, while
one made flying jump to the other
After the preliminary work, Mr.. Led
ger, who is an old-time professional
athlete. who has recently taken out a
card In the association. took his position
on the higher trapeze and Mr.. Hanks
followed him, afterward climbing down
and hanging from Mr.. Ledger's hands, in
what Is known as the brother act.
Preparations had been made and or
ders given that when the director, Mr..
Hanks. gave the signal "all right an
assistant at the second trapeze should
allow it to swing towards the perform
ers. thus assisting him to catch 1t on
the jump
The two athletes hung on the first ira
peze, swinging slightly, and were almost
ready for the final act. when someone
gave the signal agreed upon. Mr.. Led
ger, who was holding the other man.
heard the word and loosened his hold,
Mr.. Hanks falling to the oak floor Of the
gymnasium, twenty feet below.
The force Of his fall was accentuated
by the slight motion of the trapeze upon
which he hung, and he struck with great
violence and lay without motion. The
people in the gallery jumped to their feet,
thinking that the man had been killed,
but he moved slightly, and as assistance
reached him gave few brief directions.
DR.. Canac-Marquis was at once sum-
moned. while Hanks friends anxiously
waited the result of the preliminary ex-
animation. Strange to say, his injuries
We're by no means as dangerous as at
first thought. and he was taken to st.
Lukes hospital shortly afterwards in the
hospital ambulance.
Upon making more thorough exam
ination the doctor found that the ath-
lete had suffered fracture of the radius
of the right arm, accompanied by q Sc
we're strain and bruises The left arm
81" AONho ~ NC SOFCiCiy oPl 0AISu, pUt
no bones broken His back was also
sprained, resulting in very severe pain.
The doctor stated before leaving his pa
tient last night that he would recover
in due time and that he did not consider
his injuries dangerous, though they were
necessarily very painful.
In speaking of the unfortunate event,
Secretary Grace, Of the Y. M. c. A, stat
ed that he had protested against the al
lOWance of such a feat in the eVmna Sil1m
thinking it hazardous and dangerous. 1t
was under protest that he finally. con-
scented to allow the event included in the
evenings programme, and he would not
have given his consent then but for per-
feet confidence in the ability Of the per-
formers. The trapeze is no part of the
Y. M. c.. A. gyms paraphernalia- It
was the first and will be the last time
that trapeze will be seen there.