The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-11-13
Hint For Press Agents.

Many people have wondered why
Zaeo, the once daring aerial performer,
disappeared so suddenly from our
places and halls of public entertain
ment, says the London Express.
Possibly nine out of ten people who
read the story she told the other day
to an Express representative of man
of mystery who manifested himself IN
the audience whenever accident or dis
aster occurred will say that the whole
of the mysterious circumstances she
relates are merely coincidental. The
condolences, however, are remarkable.
"My first accident. )" said the lady,
Occurred at the Alexandria palace,
when the machine, which was modelled
on the lines of the ballista of the an
clients, shot me too far, anud it was on
that occasion that first felt the IN
Huence of the man who has haunted me
for years.
dered slightly at the recollection 1t
was Just prior to my accident at the
Alexandria palace-he stood close to
me. and his sallow skin, closely crop
ped red hair, and black clothes gave
him a very Mephistophelean appear
ance. and do what would could not
forget him.
snake coil. ] in no way connected
him with the mishap, and was fortu-
nate enough to escape with only
scalp wound.
ssTwo years later in Valencia, I saw
the same man in the audience as | was
balancing in mid air and the wire
snapped and I fell.
In May, 1882, ] was performing at
Santiago. One of the supports of the
trapeze broke, throwing me violently
forward against the wall of the theatre,
and rendering me snsensible. No one
observed The man with the bangles
until he pressed forward in the crowd
and asked if / was hurt.
.sHis lean figure, his height. his
ghastliness and the bright red light
in his eyes made him conspicuous
He was the image of the, Vampire
Count In Bran Stoker's awesome
a wear passed. On October I, 1888,
I was giving a performance at the
Theater Rossetti, Trieste, when a
huge piece Of iron balustrade detached
itself from the gallery and fell into
the pit. I saw it fall while 1 was
balancing sixty feet from the floor Of
the theater. The thing fascinated me:
7 watched it. / saw the upturned face
of woman below. I saw terror in
her ewes as it killed her. I forgot
where l was and with prayer on
nv lips raised my hands to my eyes to
shut out the sight and lost my
balance.
The man with the bangles had been
seen at the theater that night.
Subsequently the mysterious
stranger turned up at Cairo, and was
seen by Zaeo's manager in the streets.
Precautions were taken to prevent
him from entering the Cirque, but
one night he was seen IN the build.
ING and was politely requested to
withdraw his patronage. He express
ed surprise, received back his money
and went away.
THAT night said Zaeo, "two of
my circus men had quarreled and one
murdered the other" =
The mysterious stranger also mace
his appearance when Zaeo was giving
her serpentine dance in London, and
the lady strained her foot the same
evening. Zaeo's manager spoke to
him and he gave Spanish name,
though he spoke English perfectly.
Fear OF this strange man has been
largely responsible for the artists alb
scene from the stage.
81 don't think, however, F" she said,
:" that we shall be troubled with him
again, for received the other day an
unsigned letter from Madrid, inclos-
ing a check ticket on which was writ
the in delicate hand:
IS October Z, 1888. Trieste.
sc I have gone before you, after all. ,
August 2, 1901. Madrid.
$50, you see, unless he is the
Prince Of Liars, am rid Of him as
far as this world is concerned.