The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-17
TEWPTED OEATH ~ VEARs.
Hairbteadta Escapes Of Ilsh Bsvev and
Tesrk Ctciiat.

NttfN NNNNsANH
Frank Refs; formerly . professional
tFioh cyclist, bioycls racer and high DIVER
has been In the jaws 81 death q score Il
times during q career extending over q
\ period OF twelve years,
His greatest accident and most marvel
lous escape was IN the attempt to loop the
loop at ~, Louis. This loop was con-
structsd for another man, says tho Republic.
but he developed stage fright et the last
moment and refused to make the attempt.
Refs, who had never looped the loop, con-
sented to make the ride. He made the first
turn Of tho giant wheel, but in the second
round the machine misguided and Refs was
hurled into the air.
His nose was broken, the fesh was lit
orally torn from his left check. both his
arms we're broken, many Of the small bones
In his hands were splintered; while his entire
body showed the marks of the great fall.
He was hastily taken to a hospital. where
the surgeons, after careful examination,
| found that seventy-two bones had been
fractured, while tho body was covered
with bruises from head to foot. Some
Q. the doctors gave him an hour to live,
but at. the end Of eighteen weeks he left
the hospital. hardly showing q trace OF the
accident.
In 1898, when he was riding a wheel down
| the chutes, going at an estimated speed OF
| fifty miles an hour, the machine swerved
and he shot into the air. His left arm was
broken. but his other injuries were slight.
The next season he tried the same trick,
riding backward. Result. right arm broken
| and q rib fractured.
In 1899, when riding down Cass avenue
at full speed, Refs dashed into a street car.
Spectators turned their heads that they
might not see him killed. When they
! looked again he was scrambing to his
feet. Total injuries right wrist sprained
J In q eimilar accident. He was racing his
; wheel, when he suddenly came upon o Grand
| avenue car.
Unable either to stop or turn his machine,
be took o daring chance and shot his heel
straight ahead In an effort to beat the car
to The crossing. Instead Of beating the
car Reis plunged into the fender, one OF the
old fashioned fat variety.
The wheel, instead Of stopping when it
struck the fender, continued to roll, and the
machine and rider sailed gracefully over
the fender TO the other side of the street.
The motorman the while was vainly trying
to stop the car. For a moment the pas
sengers were W stricken then the humor
laughed heartily as Refs. who was smiling
and uninjured, rode on down the street.
In diving from a hundred foot pedestal
I at the Lagoon, in Cincinnati, In 1898. he
! ml9JuQgeQ Cn6 tank DelOW ana uS DoQy
was hurled violently against the side Of the
\ receptacle. His body fell into the tank
and he was dragged out unconscious. Left
shoulder bruised, otherwise not injured.
AS o member of the Morgan-Wright
bicycle teamin 1898, he figured In more than
twenty spills, but escaped without serious
injury. On n occasion, at Louisville
| KY, be wes guiding q squad in a ten mile
handicap on,the three lap track at Fountain
Ferry Park. -,
On the last turn Refs was unable to guide
1 the machine around the bend and the
quadricycle, making q speed Of nearly a
mile @ minute. dashed over a twenty foot en-
Fbankment and sailed In the air for a distance
of fifty feet. None Of the riders was In
iured.
By way OF variety, Refs was shot at in a
street fight. Though the firing was at
eoiose range. the bullet merely grazed his
ksdght ear.
In lighting a gas machine in bis bowling
faIley a year ago he ignited four gallons Of
,gasolene, which exploded with such great
force that buildings for blocks around felt
the shock. Although Refs stood within a
few feet Of the explosion, only the hair on
the back OF his head was ~soorobed. The
building in which the explosion occurred
was wrecked.
Reis has not appeased in public for nearly
three years. Personally, he prefers the
show business and wugld be eager to take
q few more chances with grim death II it
were not for the objections OF his family.