The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1901-07-25
DUE TO LOSS OF NERVE.
Cnaccountabie Fright Which Ere.
Quertiy ez.s Trick Performers.

l naccountable Fright Which Ere.
quertiy eZes Trick Performers.
"Joe Stark. the trick cycist who was
killed during a high dive in New York.
travelled for season with Davis cir
GUS. said a young man. Il was with
The show at the same time. on the
business staff, and l got to know Joe
very well. l see by the papers that
his death was due to Il miscalculation
of over forty feet in the dive, and the
reporters are wondering how in the
world he could have made such a blum
der. To any one acquainted with per-
formers of his class. however, the thing
is no mystery. They are all subject
to queer spells of panic, that come
without any particular reason and un-
tit them temporarily for business. If a
man persists ,in doing his act at such
a time. the consequences are alto
Eether Il matter of chance, and the ma
jority of the accidents within my recol-
lection have been attributable to that
cause.
while l was in the show business l
witnessed several striking instances OF
this mysterious loss Of nerve. perhaps
the most remarkable being that OF a
little Englishman who did a very sen.
sational act on the flying trapeze. He
had two bars suspended at opposite
sides Of the ring. about forty feet from
the ground. and finished his perform
ance with the feat that is called
'Fchelle,' in the slang of the circus.
don't know where the word comes
from. but in doing the turn the GYM
mast swings as far rs he can on the
trapeze, let's go, throws somersault,
and catches the other. the danger de-
pending on the distance he travels
through the air.
1.-The Englishman was a slow -spoke en-,
rather stupid little fellow, who had
been brought up In the ring and was
as nearly destitute Of emotion as any
body l ever saw. His habits were ex-
cellent. like those Of most professional
athletes, and he did his work with a
mechanical precision that almost ex-
cluded the possibility of a mishap. One
night his helper got drunk. and l went
with him to the little aerial platform
from which he took his long swing.
for the purpose of holding back the bar
while he got ready to launch himself
into space. AS was busying myself
with the ropes heard him groan and,
looking around. was thunderstruck to
see him as white as sheet and trem.
bling like man with the ague
What's wrong, FredY I whispered
oh. Lord he said between his teeth
I'm just in funk, an awful funk
was so astonished could hardly
credit my senses. but realized thai
something would have to be done Il
prevent fiasco that would ruin hin
In the business. Pretend you've
sprained your arm,' said, and leav'
the rest to me. Now. let's get dowI
quick He was so unnerved he coult
hardly descend the rope ladder, and TIT
audience began to buzz with surprise
l sent him to the dressing-tent ant
said a few words to the ringmaster
who made a little speech. explaining
that Mr.. had injured his arr
climbing to the platform and would b.
obliged to omit his usual finale. Late
on found the poor fellow lying Of
his costume trunk sobbing like a child
but next morning he was all right. ant
never knew him to have another seix
ure. You may rest assured Joe STAR
met his death through just such an un
accountable collapse. It probably tool
him AZ he started to make his dive, AM
pride forbade him to hold back. "-Ney
Orleans Times Democrat
A Holiday that WIN Last . Week.
There 10 q movement afoot In New
[ M. IL IA naka l,liah UnyR h0li6nY.-