Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-24
HIS LIFE'S AMBITION
Acrobat Tuans Triple Somersaul
 Without Breaking Neck.

Dan O'Brien, one of the best known | acrohats of the sawdust arena, achieved the ambition of his life at the Hippodrome yesterday morning when he executed a triple somersault from spring-board. A bare half dozen athletes have ever performed it nothing worse than strained muscles is marvel to his acrobatic associates. They expected to carry him off the stage to the hospital. 0'Brien has spent his life leaping over elephants and camels. He claims the record double somersault distance of thirty-two feet but he has been de- tered from attempting the third turn by the fate of his comrades of the ring.
 This fall weather has put new life and energy into me-" he announced to his fellow leapers on Saturday night Be here Monday morning and I'll do something to boast about or quit leap ing for good
 0'Brien isn't young man any more but he will take his chances with all the circus and vaudeville acr6Sats of the younger generation. Age has not stiffened his muscles or had any bad effect on his bones, 80 far as is appar- ent.
 Among those who assembled on the big stage yesterday morning were Frank Melville. the equestrian dlrec- tor: Colay Morella, John Davenport and Thomas Cook acrobats. They ar rived at o'clock, at the time O'Rrien said he would show up to do his stunt, and the long. narrow springboard and the runway were put In position. The straw mattress on which the acrobats allght was placed twenty-five feet from the springboard. Melville gave the signal. O'Brien. clad in his circus spangles. as though for regu- lar performance. dashed at his high est speed down the runway and hit the elastic springboard with terrific bound
 Up he was thrown for almost fifteen feet. with his hands tightly clasping both legs between the knee and ankle, and pressing them closely together. Twice he revolyed, and then he ap- peared about to fall, but he turned again, and landed. limp and inert, in the center of the straw bed"
 Before his comrades had reached his side he was on his feet, pale, but smil. ing.
 q lost all brain sense after the sec ond turn" he panted. ''and expected to land on my head or the back of my neck. That will be about all in the triple somersault line for me. I'm con tent with the double from now on"
 According to circus annals, the first man to turn a triple somersault was performer in Van Amber's circus, in Mobile. Ala, in 1s42. He broke his neck.
 William ]. Hobbes made the attempt at Astley's ampitheatre. London. dur ing the season of 1S45-6. He was in- stantly killed.
 The next one was John Amar. He had been successfully turning a double and was the original in accomplishing it over four horses. He tried a triple at the Isle of Wight. England. in 1859. turned twice. landed on his forehead and broke his neck.
 Sam Reinhardt. while travelIng with Cooper & Bailey's circus. did it at To- ledo. O.. in 1870 making a high leap turned twice and a half. alighted on the broad of his back and was disabled for some time.
 Frank Starks undertook the feat at Indianapolis, Ind. in June, 1872. He alighted on his head. dlslocating his neck. and died in a few hours
 The only person, living or dead. who accomplished the feat successfully more than once was John Worland, now living at Cornwall. \. |. He threw a triple sOmeTsault six times from a trampoIine board.