Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-08-31

of hazard in il. and at the same time
have an effective scene. Therefore.
when the high-salaried stars balk at
circus stunts. the director instead Of
becoming angry with them. or tearing
his hair, simply sends for Gordon or
| Austin, or both. But. of course. the actor
would not advertise his timiditk bv
giving credit TO his double i'm the screen.
Some years ago Gordon and Austin
followed carniyals throughout the South
and Southwest. They furnished the OK
ritcment incidental to such affairs. Both
were balloonists. and both. when the
balloon got Ia a certain height. would
open "A parachute and soar gracefully to
earth. Austin used To come down hang.
ing by his teeth: Gordcn went him one
better and descended hanging by his
| toes
OF late years their stunts have been
confined "a The movies. but. instead ri
being less hazardous than their former
fcats. they have become more So.
As has been said. sometimes both to
gether are hired 10 double i'm "A pic
ture. In one picture two men were nee.
dcd To perform feats 81 hazardous AZ
to daunt anyone but i circus man.
Both were engaged. and made up to
look like the principals. They were sup
noscd Ia he closely pursued. Both were
mounted on motorcycles.
The picture was filmed in Milwaukee
and in that city there is a bridge Of
the type known as 'iackknifc.' The
bridge separates in the middle and the
two blades are drawn upward Ia permit
IF boats passing up or down the river.
Down the street leading to this bridge
tear Gordon and Austin. the two cyclists
The bridge IL open. and n gap IF twenty
feet yawns between one section and the
,ther. The two cyclists hit the incline
IF the near section. fly up. reach the tip
md shoot of into the air. For an in
slant they soar through space. Down
hey come on the opposite leaf Of the
bridge. skid. slide. straightcn up and
hen speed away.
On another occasion Gordon Jumped
/ horse otf u 30 foot cliff in Missouri
lie escaped unhurt, but the horse had
70 he shot. Ndecd the only hurt either
If them ever came by was when Gordon
ran a speeding motorcycle into the curb
- escape AN automobile and then his
wound amounted Ia nathing more than n
accraicd wrist.
Later Austin had a stunt to perform
which WAS If such 4 character that II
il was-small wonder the star refused
o 10 il. II was this: A rope was mace
d fast Ia the roof of the Equitable
suilding in New York. and Austin was
lskcd to descend il hand over hand. For
y stories. Would he do il? lie would.
And he did it. Ii j. To be doubted whcth
or many would care to trust their lives
10 the mere strength of their arms forty
stories above the pavement. But Austin
lid il and thinks nothing Of il.
Last winter he jumped of a ferryboat
INTO the r"y waters Of the Hudson River.
And when be had jumped off the scena-
rio plan made II necessary that he climb
onto a floating ice cake. All this. mind
YOU. on a bitter cold day. with the river
black and with a boistcrous wind blow
ing and the lee cakes a. thick az daiS
ic> IN summer field.
Neither Of the two cares 4 rap about
heights or depths. for neither Of them
has any nerves Ia speak of. To them il
: Ill IN the DAYS work: and they nri
her fear their work nor dislike il. II
: . matter of business. after all. AMI
When they have pockctcd their $40 or tt0
for "a stunt" they merely Straighten out
their clothes and 90 home.