The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-31

$1,000 '
In these days of strenuous acrobatics, when
summer resorts and the vaudeville stage
are securing the uttermost corners of the
earth for new acts comprising feats of dare
devil skill and hare-brained athletes are tax
ing their ingenuity TO meet the demand for
new hair-raising stunts" 1t has remained
for a st. Louis boy to propose a feat which
will make the Diavolos of the Eastern loop
the loop and chutes look like amateur per-
formers.
Francis H. Conley, the st. Louis boy-he
is only 20 years old-haS made an offer to
the management of one of the local summer
gardens to loop the loop on a bicycIe-a
feat essayed by several cyclists in the East
with disastrous results. and only accom-
plished more than once by one man, Robert
i. Vandervoort of Brooklyn.
Vandervoort's performance, however, pales
into comparative insignifcance beside the
sensational feat which ConIey offers to ac-
complish. Vandevoort is a two legged
man. while Conley has only one leg. VAN
devoort rode around the cycle loop in the
center Of the broad roadway, through the
middle of which he had painted a wide
black line to guide him in his dizzy course.
To Ride on Narrow Rail.
Conley proposes to ride around the garden
loop on the narrow rail of steel composing
TO of the tracks on which the cars make
te journey. He declares his confidence in
lis ability to make the hazardous trip sue
Fcessfully and says he will use no net or
other protection against injury through pos
sible mishap unless the management insists
upon 1t.
Those who have watched with a thrill Of
nervous apprehension a carload of adven-
furious pleasure-seekers whirled around the
huge loop, safely ensconced in a car
clamped to the tracks, which prevents its
deviation to one side or another, will ap-
preciate the full danger of the sensational
feat which Conley proposes. The deviation
of a hairs breadth from the rail upon
which the wheel rides would be fatal to
him at the terrific speed at which he must
60 10 complete the circle. Conley says he
has carefully calculated all the risks. knows
his own powers and has entire confidence
In his ability TO DO the trick.
II have weighed all the chances" he said,
land l have no fear of not being able TO
loop the loop If the management will ac-
cept my conditions. The management has
offered to let me attempt to make the loop
II l will ride in the roadway between the
two rails. but l will not accept such a
proposition, as l do not think any cyclist
could do II. The wheel simply won't hold
TO the wood track. and when it reaches the
top of the circle it will swerve, in spite of
the utmost caution and care. and the result
IS a case for the hospital or the morgue.
l would use a steel rim wheel, especially
made for me. and ride on the steel rail.
I know from long experience that the steel
~ ~ anu l1lNAC VIII
be less danger of swerving-the defect
which has been fatal to riders who nave
tried the loop in the East. With the danger
OF swerving eliminated, the rest is COM
paratively easy-the centrifugal force will
carry me around as safely as it takes the
car.
i VIII use no clamp on my wheel to keep
1t in position on the rail. Instead, 1 will
adopt the method I have always used I'm
essaying similar difficult feats-that is,
fighfnn tho hall haar{,-. @E -
which makes it absolutely impossible for
1T to swerve or wabble. AS for the rest, a
cool head. a clear eye. a firm grip on the
handle bars, and, above all, absolute con-
Adence in my ability-that will do the
trick"
Has National Reputation.
Although he lacks a year of his majority.
Conley has achieved a national reputation |
as a trick rider, acrobat and comedian. He
was born in ST. Louis and has lived here
all his life. His mother conducts a room
ing house at No. 123 South Fourteenth
street.
Young Conley's left leg was cut off at
the hip by a street car when he was Z years
old. Tit loss of the limb does not worry
him in the least. as he Is far more agile
and active than hundreds OF youths with
both limbs, He is amazingly active on his
which he uses in some of his acts on the
vaudeville stage, he prefers to use his
=. III Oh OTulnaTy occasions, as he can get |
ABOUT much more rapidly If not gracefully
than with the artificial limb. He is an ex-
pert Ice and roller skater, and can execute
intricate figures with the skill of the Dro-
fessional experts.
In skating he discards his crutch all
together. On the fee he uses a cane with
a curved steel hook at the end, with which
he directs his movements. In his roIler-skat-
ing act he uses neither crutch nor cane.
he obtains his initial propulsion by the
simple expedient of turning a back somer-
on the stage, alighting on his foot
tne momentum thus obtained, aided by the
natural movements of the body. enabling
MN 10 execute cifficult and grotesque move
ments with astonishing ease and grace.
Rode Down the Steps at Capitol.
Conley first came into prominence as n
TICK rider about four years ago, when he
rode down the iron Stairway ar the -Four
from the third story to the basement
on his wheel. Later he excelled this Der-
IorIna1ce by riding down the steps of the
capitol at Washington, d. C. Since that
time ne has discounted both these feats hy
nding down a fight of stairs a
performance never duplicated by any of his
For three years Conley has been touring
ne country. giving exhibitions OF his versa.
uIity. He was with the Ringing Bros,
Slrcus three years and later was engaged
Win a vaudeville company. Last season he
vas engaged in shooting the chutes" al
Soney Island. For a time he travelled with
7 partner named Ward. who was killed
Early in the season while attempting TO
oop the loop at Coney Island.
fitzpatrick. the famous one-legged cycijst
Tno mas been giving exhibitions many
Issrs. VIII appear with Coniey in exhi5i- !