The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09
HORROR STRICKEN
CIRCUS SPECTATORS
Woman Performer Falls From
Ladder and Is Dangerously,
Perhaps Fatally, Injured
Toe Slips From Hold While Ac-
robat Is Executing Difficult
Act on Tall Ladder

More than 5000 persons We're horror
stricken yesterday afternoon when MISS
May Scott, who performs on the swing
ing ladder in the Sells-Floto circus
plunged from her lofty pedestal to the
ground falling a distance of nearly oo
feet. That Miss Scott was not instantly
killed is miraculous, for she struck on
her abdomen on the csrb of the ring
The young woman was rushed to the
central emergency hospital, where she
lies in precarious condition
TOE SLIPS FROM HOLD
Miss Scott was swinging back ana
forth far above the ground when the
accident occurred, and ii was at time
when all three rings were empty so
that fully two thirds of those who at
tended the performance yesterday att
ernoon were witnesses of her frlghtrui
fall Just as the long ladder swung
close to the canvas, Miss Scott low
cred herself and was about to perform
the difficult birdnest trick, one OF the
most daring of her feats. Her TOE
slipped from the round of the LADDER.
This caused her body to slip through
the ladder and, although she valnly
grasped at the rope which an attendant
tried to throw to her, Miss Scott was
precipitated to the ground.
WOMEN ARE -UNNERVED
Hundreds of women and children
were unnerved by the accident and II
was necessary for the attaches OF the
circus to circulate the report among the
spectators that Miss Scott was not "a
tally injured before the performance
could be continued.
AT the central emergency hospltal
Miss Scott was treated by DR.. William
C. Eidenmuller. Her injuries were
found TO consist of numerous bruises
and cuts about the head, race, arms
and hands, sprain of her right wrist,
fracture of two ribs, badly wrenched
back and possible internal injuries.
main in bed for several days, and 1t
will be many weeks before she will
be able to resume her act.
THINKS APPARATUS DEFECTIVE
Although suffering intense pain, Miss
Scott bore up well under the treat
ment of the physician and the nurses
at the hospital. She very calmly re-
lated what she believed to be the
cause of the accident and urged a
woman friend from the circus to warn
the other trapeze performers against
using her apparatus until 1t could be
thoroughly overhauled and tested.
According to Miss Scott, the accident
was due to the fact that the property
men who rugged the ladder neglected
to. fasten properly certain guy lines,
which neglect caused the ladder to
swing sideways after it reached a GER
tain height.
CHILD OF THE CIRCUS
In addition to being a star performer
on the swinging ladder, Miss Scott is
also one of the best women riders at
tached to the circus. She it is who
rides the beautiful white Arabian horse
in the jockey races just before the
close of the performance. She is also
seen in an iron jaw act when she is
swung across the top of the circus
tent while she holds on by her teeth
to a piece of leather.
Miss Scott is a child of the circus,
being born beneath the proverbial sea
of canvas. Her parents, both of whom
are now dead, were famous circus
performers a generation ago. Miss
Scott is "a years old, and is an at
tractive brunette. When she is not
travelling she makes her home in Gin
cinnati.
In all probability Miss Scott will be
removed to some private hospital either
today or tomorrow.