The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-20
HOW THREE THRILLING
TRICKS ARE PERFORMED
Feats Of Bycsts IN BaynD G. Baieys Circus I0ozye Some
Interesting Problems in Mathematics and Re-
4Aiye Remarkable Nerye.

s'Thrillers'' is the only word that
aptly describes the sensational fea-
lures OF the big Barnum & Bailey cir
Gus this year. There Is an unusually
large number Of these "thrillers,'' but
three Of them stand out with proni-
nence. In the language Of the circus
bill. "volo, the Volitant," cycles the
on single wheel while carrying a
companion on his shoulders. and An
cilotti turns somersault on a BIZ
cycle while looping the gap" This,
however, gives no adequate idea of
the character Of the acts nor the SEN
sattons they produce when seen for
the first time.
Perhaps the most interesting Of
these three acts is the whirlwind de-
scent and flight of the daring Volo.
Starting from a platform elevated ff-
ty feet in the air, Volo wheels down
a runway ninety-three feet in length,
secures sufficient momentum to fly
fifty feet thru space, lands on a Sec
ond incline, and descends to the
ground with the speed Of an express
train.
The act displays great cleverness as
well as remarkable nerve. The in
cline Is less than three feet in width,
and the slightest swerving Of the
wheel would cause the rider to dart
over the edge and be dashed to the
ground. The cleverness of the rider
is also shown In bringing the wheel
down to the second incline. Should
the bicycle strike on the back wheel,
the rider would throw an involuntary
somersault and probably 1njure his
back or kill himself. Vo1o overcomes
this by. perfect mastery Of his wheel.
There is q certain point In the flight
when the momentum Of the wheel
seems to overcome the resistance Of
| the air. At this moment Volo dexter
ously throws his wheel down and the
bicycle drops to the platform. strik-
| ing fairly on both wheels. Il This en-
ables the rider to descend safely and
with great speed.
volo's real name is Charles B.
| Clarke. He is a man Of rather small
| stature, and, with his close-trimmed
beard. is the perfect type Of a young
physician. In fact, he is Doc Clarke
to all the circus.
Volo Describes Daring Trick.
IT was doing the loop the loop act
last season." he said recently. '"This
new act was suggested by a combina-
ton of the ideas of the loop the loop
and shooting the chutes.' It was all
figured out mathematically to ascer-
| tain the angle necessary for each
platform and the space that could be
Jumped. Then we had civil engineers
figuring on it. Finally models were
made, with marbles instead of a
bicycle.
when made the first jump every
thing was surrounded by nets. Every
thing worked just as anticipated, and
I came out all right. When I tried it
again I fell. I was not hurt much
/ and was soon on to the knack Of 1t.
There is a moment just as it looks,
when practically stand still in the
air. That is when the force Of grav-
ity overcomes the. upward tendency,
and begin to come down. The ten
dency all of ltheiitirae tfaat9I am in the
air is to fall on my back, and have
4 to throw my weight forward 1t is,
4 of course, more difficult. to, control
i a bicycle in the air than on the
ground" ~
4 The trick of riding down a ladder
on a un1cycle is a most difficult as
Gus character is enhanced by. the fact
q that the rider carries another mem
I Der of the circus company on his
shoulders. It Is difficult to ride a
single wheel on level space, but to
fly down an incline on unicycle is
Solo, however, does it at every per-
Torrance and wins a generous amount
I of applause for his cleverness and
daring.
Looping the Gap.
i Scientifically, however, the most
daring as we'll as the most danger
GUS, Of these ''thrillers," is the gap"
Those who have seen the loop the
loop" apparatus will readily under
stand the arrangement Of the para
phernalia used in this feat. It is, in
effect, great loop with section of
the top removed. The opening thus
made is close to twenty feet. Like
Volo, Ancilotti, who tloops the gap"
starts from an elevated platform and
gets his momentum on an inclined
runway. This momentum must be
sufficient to carry him over the gap
throw him over the top of the second
! part Of the loop. insufficient mo-
THE NEW STREET RAHN