Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-10-01
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Harvest Time For AcrObatS.


over.
This trick is just as spectacular as
the bicycle loop, and is not so danger
Gus, that is, its originators hope not.
Dummies stuffed with sand have done
it successfully, out it has not yet been
tried by a real man. The only ques-
ton is, can the looper hold his grip,
can his arms withstand the very strong
tendency of his body to fly off into
space? In day or two some daring
youth will know from his own exper-
fence.
Despite the popularity of the loop,
the managers of no up-to-date county
fair are wholly satisfied unless they
have provided wire performer. They
know that the rural population never
grows weary of watching a man high
in the air, with only a thin wire be-
tween him and the hard earth, cast mis-
outer garments to the winds, burst
forth in tights and then take sur
prising chances with his life.
This is called in professional circles
straight act" TO distinguish it from
those like looping the loop and para
chute leaping, which require no unus-
ual skill, but plenty of recklessness.
They are known as trust to God" acts
1T takes long time to become a
good wire walker said the performer
at well known seaside resort near by.
Il began in circus when was eight,
and have been at it for 20 years. I've
had some falls, of course, but | seem
to have developed kind of instinct
that warns me when there is liability
of an accident. had that feeling one
day not long ago, and it was lucky /
did.
The wire looked all right; | had
tested it as | always do, but for some
reason got the idea that it wasn't Just
as it should be AS | stood with my
balancing pole ready to start out,I had
a feeling that something was going to
happen. There were a lot of electric
light wires near mine, and didn't like
them either.
well, when | got about halfway
out, the wire suddenly saggei couple
of feet. 1t threw me off my balance,
but | was ready for it and as | went
down | caught it with one hand.
was reaching out for one of those cleo
trio wires with the other when it came
to me that if did that | would make
a circuit, so ierked my hand down to
my side. | pulled myself up on the
wire again and had no trouble abou
getting back. But If hadn't been
ready for something, | wouldn't be
here to tell you about it.
The principal danger is in let,.ng
your mind get away from your work,
which gets sort of easy after you've
been doing it every lay for good
while. You may be 100 feet in the air,
but when you are used to it you have
"a feeling that you could almost jump
down.
"You may get to thinking about
your girl or what you are going to do
to-morrw, or how you're going to make
the manager give you 900 week next
season. These are the times when
there's the most danger of no next
season for you because any little slip
will send you down. 1t is necessary to
Keep your mind on every move you
make. This is one reason why don't
like storms when I'm on the wire.
you remember the blow we had
early in the week? Well, | was work
ing when that came up. From the
wirethere's a fine view you know. II
reaches as far as the hill in Prospect
park and away out to sea. could see
the whole of as ugly looking cloud
as | ever locked at. 1t wasn't black
exactly; there were different colors in
it, but all of sudden it grew so dark
that | could hardly nee the wire. The
people down below began to run to
cover, and had a kind of feeling
that was up on the wire bucking the
storm alone.
II was out on the middle of the wire
when IL got so dark. ! began to waltz
along for the platform, but said to
myself, Now's the time you must be
careful, so kept my eyes on the wire.
hoping that wind wouldn't jump at
me before | was off.
well, had just made the platform
and lad down my pole when gust
swooped in that broke ropes loose ana
sent them flying into the air and tim
Der tumbling down. ! got 1t all up
there, and had to lie down and hold on
with my hands and feet to keep from,
sailing off.
But I've been out on the wire in
some heavy winds. | have to fight
them. | brace myself and lean against
them, and | tell you that sometimes
after tussle like this, when relax on
coming off the wire, Pm so weak for
minute or two that can hardly walk.
Il don't like lightning, either. One
day out in New Brunswick 1t struck
within so feet of where was doing my
act. The fash and report were enough
to knock man down, but when I'm on
the wire my whole instinct is to keep
it under me. / was Jared when the
bolt struck, Eut | JIont forget the wire.