Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-12-06
HE AVERTED A PANIC
A REMARKABLE CASE OF BRAVERY
AND PRESENCE OF MIND.
MntsniSi. the JugEier. Held an Audi
encc Speiiboand while the Theater
Attaches Were Fighting "A had Fire
Behind the scenes.

MntsaiSi. the JugEier. Held an Audi
encc Speiiboand while the Theater
Attaches Were Fighting "A had Fire
Behind the scenes.
Satsuma Matsuki. n Japanese juggler
and acrobat. was filling an engage
ment at Burlington. His marked abil.
ity as magician caused the opera
house TO be crowded every evening.
One feat in particular interested his
audience. Lying prone upon his back,
he would toss 4 long. light table back.
ward and forward i'm all conceivable
positions TO the time OF lively music.
his tiny feet keeping the table perfect.
" balanced.
1t was Saturday evening. Satsuma
Matsuki had been performing for an
hour He had aStonishel his audience
with score OF wonderful achieve
mentS. but as yet he had not perform
ell with the table resting on his feet
MatSukf passed into one OF the dress
ing rooms TO change his costume.
Scarcely had he closed the door when
he heard 4 sound that made his heart
stand still for 4 mOmcnt-a cracking
and h.SSing-and the next instant
long tongue OF flame leaped from the
stairway. envcloping 4 window. 9th
ers in the rear OF the stage discovered
the flames at the same instant. and n
fierce battle was begun between the
attaches Of the theatcr and the raging
fire. For one brief instant Matsuki
stood irrcSOlute. The FIRE was confined
within the dressing room Of the right
wing. and as yet no one I'm the audi
ence had an inkling Of the grave dan
ger that threatened the house. Those
fighting the flames knew that n terrible
panic would ensue the moment that
the spectators realized the danger.
NIatsuli understood the situation. too,
and in that moment OF hesitation be
saw the part that he must act.
MatSuH was before his audience.
He had placed the rugs hastily in posi-
ton that he might rest easily. \ mo-
ment later and the orchestra CON-
menccd playing. MatSud had balanc-
Ell the table and was gracefully dane
ing it back and forth. keeping perfect
time with his dainty feet shortly the
measure OF the music was Qulckened.
and he was obliged 10 move more
quickly. At one time the table would
be az an angle Of forty-hve degrees and
again ut ninety degrees and the next
moment perfectly perpendicular. The
long table seemed fairly alive
Meanwhile those fighting the fire
had worked bravcly. and success was
browning their efforts They heard
the music OF the orchestra. and they
knew that Aiatsuki was doing his part
TO hold the attention OF the people. y
few moments more and all danger of n .
stampede would be past.
Fire Some one had seen pun
of smoke issue from the right wing OF
the stage.
Year. Hire And Matsuk sent the
table nearly 10 the ceiling turning n
complete somersault in its flight The
audience shouted with delight
For twenty minutes Matsuh had
been in constant activity The veins
stood out upon his arms and temples
like whipcorls
Fire" Another had noticed n pun
of smoke
Year fire"' And again was the Ia |
bic hurled aioft and caught again with /
the same deXterity.
The conductor Of the orchestra knew /
not what il all meant At first he /
thought that M0tsuki had gone mad /
Never before had he dared so much. /
If he was mad. surely no one could |
deny his astonishing skill.
\ moment later the stage manager |
walked across the stage and whisper |
cd something TO Matsuki. at the same /
time placing the table on the floor |
Matsuki was unable TO rise. Attend |
ants lifted the brave fellow and car
ried him behind the scenes. Very
shortly the manager returned, and
when he spoke his voice was sadly
broken.
Ladies' and gentlemen" said he, !
passing his hand across his forehead, |
Il have no doubt that you have great |
" enjoyed SatSuma Matsukis perform
ance this evening. He has we'll merit
ed your generous applause, more, per
haps, than you imagine. l have TO IN
form You that Satsuma Matsuk alone
has stood between you and death for
the past twenty minutes or more The
danger is past now, and you are liberty
TO leave this building, but permit me TO
- "OiOAN 9ou NSp"AI bhdl our IElenu
Matsuki has lost his entire magiclan's
outfit. which cost him over thousand
dollars. Fire has completely destroy
ed his property. l leave IT with you
TO do what is right, and those who de
sire to show their gratitude for what
Matsuki has done this evening can
meet me here on the platform"
There was no hesitation. A long
line Of men and women was quickly
formed, and for an hour the manager
received the contributions Of those who |
wished to show their gratitude. When !
the amount was counted, pledges and !
ali, something over 81 800 was found
Forward
She Thought of Him.