The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-12
First Public Exhibition.


 T shall never forget that first public ex- hibition. All about were thousands of people, watching the incline and the loop; some whom l could see would gaze from one to another and then at me, and shake their heads and say something to their friends or to the people who chaneed 10 stand near them. But though l knew they were probably calling me foolhardy, 1t had no effect upon me at all. l mounted my wheel and started down the incline.
 The moment l left the stand l saw neither people nor land nor sky, keeping my eyes fast on the track. Through the loop l went. and out on the runway and after the rush of the air and the pressure had left my ears I heard tre- mendous cheering and shouting of the spectators, and it was really very pleas ant
 That night l was obliged to make an- other ride, with the course lighted by elec- trlct lights. This was really much more dlnicult, for the glare of the many lights was terrific; but this, too, l got through without a mishap. And since the first public ride have looped the loop at least 2000 times
 or course l am knocked unconscious; Tn fact, there is scarcely a week goes by when l am not; but l don't mind that at all. Indeed, once or twice l have ridden out or the spiral and had a fall, but fortunate no bones have been broken and a1ter picking myself up 1 have gone up the incline and made the trial again and come through all right.
 Ihough this ride takes only from Az 10 seconds, when finished it l am puff Ing like a steam engine, and generally I am trembling. For the different degrees or pressure which l meet on the ride nave very enervating effect, and really after l have finished my second ride 1 am ac had al rom early morning out in thf fields ploughinS or having, or at some such task.
 Naturally have to keep in good phy- slcal condition. The way 1 do this is by punching the bag, but my favorite method is to take a great big sledge ham, mer and go out and mawl stakes. This is the greatest exercise in the world, and the best thing I know of for putting a man in condition; and if some of the foot ball men. crew men and runners in the colleges would do 1t they might be better able to stand physical strain of the big games and races. When l am in condi- ton I weigh 164 pounds, and to support this weight l have wheel that weighs 70 pounds.
 When I first started riding I had a lighter wheel but so many things hap pened to them that I finally had this heavy one built for me. I have had it now Tor two years, and 1t IS aparentSly as good as new, although of course, I test 1t before each ride"
 MT. Matthiessen is 26 years old, and has been married two years His wife goes everywhere with him, and watches all his rides.
 "Of course I don't like to have him do it." said Mrs. Matthiessen, but I have perfect faith in him, and I am sure that nothing will happen. but it does give me a shudder when he loops the loop How ever, he is always very careful to test every part of the apparatus before he makes his ride and I feel that when he once goes up everything Is safe"
 Yes, it is," interrupted her husband, 'unles something breaks" That is the terrible danger that hangs over this ride No matter how careful he may have been in his inspection, some thing may break, and if it does he knows that 1t means probable death. Yet even this does not deter him.
 There is just one rule that l have about my riding.' he said. ''I don't trust anybody to do anything with the inspec- ton or testing. I know that l am master of myself, and that if look over every thing carefully, and anything does hap pen, no one else can be blamed
 And thus philosophically does this man who almost daily tempts death, or flies in the face of death. speak of his ride.