Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-20
Circus Star Badly Cut on the
Forehead by a Rope In His
Perilous Descent
AUDIENCE DID NOT KNOW OF 1T
Joseph Matthiesson, the "DiavoIo" of
the Forepaugh- Sells Bros. Show
Narrowly Escapes Breaking His Neck
at the Night Performance Here-Five
Thousand See the Show Tuesday Ev.
enins.

While there were 5000 people WHO
witnessed the Forepaugh- Sells circus
Tuesday night, and marveled at the
sensational feat of Diavolo, in looping
the loop, very few knew that in the
perilous descent the daring bicyclist
came near losing his life by breaking
his neck. Such is fact, however
and only because the rope used to stop
was high enough to miss his neck
saved his life.
AS could be seen by the spectators
the machine Diavolo uses is heavy,
built expressly for the loop act. Its
weight is eighty three pounds, and it
has no gearing. Consequently, with the
momentum gained by the long ride
down the incline, before the loop is
made, is SO great that it is necessary
to rig up device to stop the machine
gradually. This is accomplished by q
rope, placed on pulleys, which is sup
posed to catch the bicycle at the
handle bars. and slowly bring it to a
standstill. The rope became unadjusted
slightly last night and was too high.
In a way it was fortunate for Diavolo
that it was as high as it was, for six
inches lower would have wound it
around his neck AS it was the rope
struck him on the forehead. decorating
his head quite badly, and causing him
to bleed profusely. The spectators
nearest the man saw him place his hand
to his head when he was being helped,
lifnping, to his dressing room, but they
thought it was because Of dizziness.
The limping, as was known,was due to
his fractured ankle, received at ST.
Joe one week ago today. The surgeon
who is employed by the management
dressed his wounds and the man will
repeat his performance this afternoon
and evening at Cedar Rapids.
Diavolo's name is Joseph Matthies-
son. His body is covered with scars. as
the result Of falls he has sustained
at different times since he began his
career as loop>the-loop artist. There
are only a few men In the business.
altho Arthur T. Prescott, who invented
the loop, maintains training quarters
in New York, where big bonuses are
offered young men who wish to be-
come "Diavolos." The number Of ap-
plicants, however, has 80 far been
small.
The original loop the-le'op man was
Joe Mack, who came near being killed
in Des Moines about year ago. He
quit the business because he was 50
badly demoralized physically that it
was impossible for him to continue in
the work. Humor Cruzon, OF Creston.
the boy who sustained Il slight frac-
ture of the skull at st. Louis two weeks
ago, gives promise of making a sue
cess out of it. and is said to be one
of the most promising youngsters in
the business. The only other three sue
cessful loop riders are Arthur Wolfe.
now in ST. Petersburg; r. B. Wander
Worst. who has just completed an en-
gagement in Paris and has gone to
Brussels; and John Ruehl, who is with
the Ferris Carnival Company, and is
soon to join the Jabour circus.
The portable loop used in the circus
is manufactured of high grade steel.
Twenty three men have the care of 1t,
and do nothing else. 1t can be placed
ready for use in an hour and eight min
utes, and can be torn down in nineteen
minutes. Mr.. Prescott, it's inventor, is
only Is years OF age. and got his idea
while studying physics during his high
school course, on constructing mini
ature loop illustrating the centrifugal
laws Of nature. He has made million
out of his ingenuity. He also owns
loops for roller coasters, that are in use
at eastern summer resorts.
The circus departed from the union
station early this morning for Cedar
Rapids.