New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-03
THRILLS EMBELLISH
SPORTSMAN'S SHOW
Many Landmarks Gone,
but the Attraction Is
Still There.

The Sportsman's Show, first held
some twenty-five years ago and still
going strongly, opened at Madison
Square Garden yesterday afternoon
with several thousand persons IN at
tendance.
There were missing the usual forest
the lagoon in the centre, in which the
ducks swan and looms the feath-
cred variety-dove, and the yard m
which turkeys strutted to their hearts
content. The realistic painting OF
Jackson's Hole and the surrounding
foothills was absent, too. And lnsteau
of tan bark the visitors walked along
the conventional board flooring. But
there were many feasts for the eye OF
the lover of nature.
There were rifles, trout rods canoes
and shotguns. There were the IN
evitable heads Of tigers, lions pufnas
and iaguars from the jungles OF the
Amazon. all giving a ferocious grim as
they leercd down on the spectators
from perches on the wall. The mount
ed hide Of a surly grizzly bear served
as a mat for the careless feet Of an
Iroquois Indian, who perhaps might
have been more careful were the mon
arch of the Sierras up and doing. The
Indian camp. pitched in the centre OF
10 foor was a centre of interest. ne
Abanki. Iroquois and Mohawk tribes
uere represented. The conventional
tenees. wonderfully painted with pet
ures Of the Sun God, the Great Bear
and a medicine shield which one OF the
Indians declared was all powerful m
vvarding off the evil spirits was huhe
on the lodge pole of the CHIEF lodge.
Chief interest in the aquatic contests
which have been a feature OF this snow
centred about the exhibitions OF nlgn
diving Miss Mae Eccleston, the Gag
lish champion: Dare Devil Joe Murphy
and Kearnev p. Speedy were all on the
diving platform. Arthur {. Holden
fractured his collar bone in the morn
ING and was unable TO dive.
Rv far the most sensational per-
Torrance of the day was the owe by
Miss Fccleston. who dove oil the CIR
ders. eighty feet above the hoorlns'
into five feet of water. She was a bit
nervous at first, but she steeled her-
self 10 the effort. and while the crowd
hold its breath she made her dive. Sne
raised "A great spray as she Grove lhe
water. but quickly came up, ana Wav
ing her hands bowed her way through
the cheering crowd. ,..-
Miss Eccleston, attircd m "hl1y
one-piece suit, trimmed with RED ana
black spangles, made pretty picture
as she made ready for the ave. 9he
smiled 10 some friends who wished heI
well. and gave the order TO hoist her
up to .he platform in calm STEADY
voice. When she finally reached the
diving platform she seemed 70 become
ratified. For what seemed an lntermlna,
bic length Of time she stood there, and
then made ready for the plunge.
n was quiet as the tomb, when from
tn, south side of the Garden a y
calibre rife in one Of the galleries
snapped. That little report sounded
like the boom of 42-eentimetre gun
and Miss Eccleston shrank back agar H.
After some little delay she made ready
again, feeling her way along the shak-
ing platform, and then, while gasp
went up from the crowd, she hurled
herself through the air. That gasp
changed 70 a cheer as she redppeaIeu
and hurried TO her dressing room.
When seen by d Tribune man after
she had dressed Miss Eccleston was
willing 70 talk of her feat.
We're you nervous ?" she was asked.
"Not a bit" came the ready answer.
"The reason that ] stayed up there 50
long was because ! have been used TO
diving off ladders. The platform UP
there is shaky. | had to balance my
self carefully before ! dove. Further
more. there are wires strung up there,
and / had 70 judge my distance very
carefully If / ever hit one Of those u
will be Good night, Mae Eccleston.
But I'm going 10 be very careful ana
see that ! don't hit a wire.
81 have been doing the swan dive
Heretofore, but this afternoon l had TO
do the regular front dive. u is impos-
sible 20 spread your arms out up there
because of the network Of wires, posts
and ropes"
$40 YOU like this flirting with
death ?" inquired The Tribune man. Il
don't call il just that" she answered.
"It's dangerous, 20 be sure, but my
nerves are strong and have all sorts
of confidence in my ability. Anyway
Pm lust wee bit Of fatalist."
Kearney p. Speedy, Charles Bigney
and Joe Murphy made their dives.
Murphy had a narrow escape from
death. In making his back IackEniie
dive he missed his calculation and just
grazed the planking at the end OF the
tank. Three inches further IN and ms
back would have been splintered. Miss
Kathrine Brown, a dainty miss OF some
four years Of age, the daughter OF Al
Brown. the noted professional SWIM
mer. gave an exhibition Of swimming
and diving. She was cheered 70 the
echo when she left the tank.
Miss Ritan Greenfield, with The aid OF
q three-second handicap, splashed her
way 20 victory in the 6O-yard swim for
women. She defeated Miss Daisy
Greenhall, who had an allowance OF
four seconds, ard Miss Claire CALI
gAE, nho .iso had q four-second allow
sne. The time was So seconds.
Among other features at the now is
the light car exhibition. The Agricult
ural DEPARTMENT OF the federal gov
eminent is giving an exhibition Of road
construction in connection with the
automobile display. The models Will
show the most modern methods Of road
construction.