The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-19
a FAMOUS ACROBAT DEAD.
Henry VI. HaEfIton Expires in PkiIa,
deIphIa.

PHILADELPHIA June I9--Henry NJ
Nagilton. who fifty years ago was the
aCrObatic wonder. Of two continents. but
who for the past forty years had been
an almost helpless invalid. is to bc bur
led this afternoon from his late residence.
1895 Ellsworth Street Born in PhiIadeI-
phia in ISIS, a student in the public
schools during his boyhUod- a carpenter
by trade when he was about twenty. ana
q renowned circus performer attracting
the gaze and pIaudits of the crowned
heads Of Europe. as well as the enthusi-
astic applause of his own countrymen. by
the time he was thirty. Hen NasiIton
lived the other forty years of his life
with half of his body dead and unable
to walk. as the result of an injury to
his spine.
Such. in brief. IS the biography Of a life
remarkable in many ways. Despite the
physical infirmities which ."@apacitated
him, he was OF a genial disposition, spend
ing hour after hour with his flute and
violin seldom complaining. more often
apparently happy and COntented-
He seemed to take naturally to gym
nastics. for as small boy Ne was known
among his playmates for his many daring
acrobatic feats. In the winter Of 1913
he was skating on a pond in the
southwestern part of the city. turning
handsprings, somersauIts. and other gym
nastiC figures. and was observed by sew
eraI men from circus then located
where the Continental Hotel now stands.
Young MagiIton accepted service with
the show. and became a lumber in
Aaron Turner's circus. touring for two
years from Hamilton Ohio through 4
greater part Of New York and the New
England States.
For eight years, from 1850. he was with
SPalding- & Rogers. travelling up and
down the Mississippi River While with
this circus he became well known as the
monkey in s.Jocko: or. the Brazilian Ape
His wonderful physical powers. coupled
with his daring. enabled him to climb all
around the interior of q tent or theatre
up ard down the posts, over the tiers of
seats, leaping from place to place with
the agility of a monkey So powerful was
mis- grip that, it IS said, he could travel
the entire length Of a joist holding his
whole weight by his thumbs and fingers.
IN 1861, in company with Hiram Frank
lin, gymnast, vaHIter, and rider: John Ne
Der, globe and slack rope performer John
Rochette,= mon bail tosser. and George
Dunbar, q general all round performer.
Magilton made a tour of Europe, per
forming IN FRANCE SPAIN tTcE4HaIlE7
Italy and other countries. Everywhere
he was regarded as a human wonder.
While performing in the London AEham-
bra he met with an accident that sudden
" put a stop to his phenomenal and bril-
liant career and sent him back to Amer
lea a cripple for life He was doing q
turn on the trapeZe preparatory 10
making his celebrated flying leap OF thiT-
ty-siX feet He was only ten feet from
the stage. and started TO leap q space Of
only six feet, when his flight was delay
ed moment by his belt catching on the
bar It was long enough. however, for
the bar he was TO grasp to start on its
return swing, and he fell to the floor He
struck on his spine and was unable to
rise The Queen, hearing of the accident
sent her own physician 10 treat him, and
during the six months he was under treat
ment in London he was waited upon by
some of the most celebrated physicians IN
the British Empire Medical science,
however, could do nothing for him, and
he was brought TO his native city OF Phil
! adeFphia soon after to spend the remain
der Of his life. He died on Sunday Of
/ heart failure