New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-18
Of Tribune readers.

possible that he may not have observed it. for in
some circuses the women ride in the same direc-
tion the more natural route. Accidents are
likely to result, however. IN circuses regulated
in this fashion. and the safety of the performers
devolves in great part on the equestrian
director; for the woman rider would take the
dangerous route every time, are assured.
were it not for the vigilance of this functionary
and with her feet swung the side of the
horse exposed 10 the supporting quarter pole
would court the risk out Of sheer preference.
One of the most difficult feats is the triple
somersaut over elephants. The ordinary circus
goer may be heard to boast that he has seen it
done. But though there have been athletes who
have accomplished it, such a statement will al
ways bear challenging. A little questioning,
too, will easily uncover the element of truth. 1t
may be written down on the inside of the hat of
the who is fond Of debating over circus rec
ords that the athletes who have turned the
triple somersault are all dead This does not
mean, either that the art is a lost one. They go
tumbling into the next world at once or at most
within day two.
There have been men who have asserted that
they can turn the triple. They are generally the
acrobats who have left the circus ring forever
and are devotng the last years of their lives
10 the sale OF cigars or some other stirring Oc-
cupation The men who have followed the cir
Gus all their lives say that no man has ever
turned the triple from the springboard and lived
10 boast Of his triumph. The triple sornersault
is done from flying trapeze but il is simply
q series Of revolutions in the air the per
former drops Even then il should be called
two and half revolutions for the acrobat falls
on his back in net and depends upon the
bound 10 hurl him to his feet. He can make
these two revolutions and a half from a spring
board sometimes, with the difference that nine
hundred and ninety-nine times out of a thou
sand ne alights his head or on the back OF
his neck. which brings instant death. man
who even falls that way in net is a subject
for the coroner.
The circus press agent. to whom Mr. Thomp-
son devotes a chapter, Is of the most inter-
esting figures in his strange world In his ef-
forts TO gain publicity IN populous centres there
is In him no serious purpose TO avoid arrest"
This does not mean. however. that he cannot
contemplate the arrest Of some Of the force as a
legitimate part of his efrorts-witness the Incl
dent concerning Splash" one Sunday in the in
definite past I'm Chicago. "Splashs" mission in
life high diving It so happened that short
ly after the arrival Of the circus for a weeks
stand, Splash and the brotherly press agent
were taking the air on Lincoln Park Bridge.
Splash" was impulsive creature. and the
surprise of the press agent may be imagined
when the fellow sprang to the rail of the bridge
cast off q few garments and plunged head fore
most into the water. Every one knows that the
press Is Ngllant IN gathering the worlds news
SO that there was no remarkable circumstance
In the presence suddenly made visible Of a dele
cation Of reporters. Every one knows that tba
price OF public security is the eternal vigilance
Of the police Dogberry and Verges were on the
spot with instant CONSERVATION. 1t is intinated
that their families were already rejoicing over
the prospect or witnessing the show-but that ia
another story. II Is also set down that the dav
being hot and dusty various stops were made
on the way TO the station house Everything II,
fact went smoothly until the sergeant refused To
hold the prisoner not finding that an offence
had been committed. It an anxious. frantic
moment the press agent spent searching through
the book Of ordinances. but he was rewarded
and his plan rescued from failure. At his in
stance the gratifed Splash" was locked IN
overnight on the charge Of disturbing the FISH i'm
the lake.
How circus travels what are the trials and
eIsrstons OF setting I'D the show: the inner sig