The Mankato free press., 1917-07-06
Two Near Accidents In Floto
Show Yesterday
THINGS MUsSED SOME
However, Performance Was
Satisfying To Audience;
Thrills Also
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Two near accidents threatened to
mar the enjoyment at the Sells Flo
to circus yesterday afternoon. The
day was hot, and owing to another
engagement and in order to make
train connections, the circus had but
few hours to spend in Mankato, and
only gave one performance, the aft
ernoon matinee. Perhaps because of
haste the equipment for a couple of
the star acts was faultily put up,
and fell upon the actors, without any
serious results, however While the
statute poses were being given the
large circular black curtain over the
group in the central ring fell upon
them, striking quite heavily upon the
shoulders of one young woman. While
the curtain vas being rehung the
group of actors arranged their cos
tunes for the next tableau, which
was a beautiful allegory, patriotic in
the extreme, patriotic tableaux being
given in each ring, while a beautiful
professional, featuring the white
steed Pegasus, wings spread. under
the guidance of Columbia, going forth
to scatter the white doves of peace
throughout the world. This act was
one of the prettiest of the afternoon,
and was enthusiastically applauded.
Later on in the program a group of
actors were preparing for their act
in one of the side rings when the
steel frame work of their equipment
collapsed and fell, narrowly escaping
hitting some of the actors.
Clever Trapeze Performers.
Clever trapeze performers executed
wonderful feats in the flying trapeze
in the tent top, the strong man per-
formed his feats of strength, carry
ing his entire. troup of men upon his
broad shoulders, and the slack rope
performers danced merrily upon their
elusive path. Japanese acrobats hung
by the hair of their heads and few
down wire from the tent top, and
tumblers and bar performers In the
different rings kept the eyes busy
trying to see all the show The train
ed elephants and their trainers per-
formed some very clever. acts, and
danced few dances for the amuse-
ment of the audience Trick riders
on beautiful horses that tangoed and
walked the dog" performed clever
feats Of horsemanship. The aerial
horse and rider formed a pretty tab
leau as the imitation airship rose al
most to the tent top, horse and rid
er as still as statues, and surrounded
by beautiful display of fireworks,
with American flags floating from
the ship. Tent top trapeze artists
performed double and treble sommer-
saults in the air and every clever act
was aped by laughable clowns, who
circled around the tent and kept
things lively. The large audience in
attendance appeared to be well pleas
ed and satisfied in the opinion that 1t
was good show. ,rf
Sells-Floto circus carry with their
company Robert Fitzsimmons. the
famous prize fighter, and his son,
Bob, Jr," who were introduced dur
ing the show, and gave sparring
exhibition during the after show.
The circus trains pulled out OF
Mankato for SiouX City before eight
o'clock last evening
Many Outsiders in Town.
The Milwaukee train yesterday
hoA AShOoh piOu6hI LOU pcOplS, WHICH
was not as many as the officials had
looked for, as they had provided two
extra coaches on the train.
The Hagenback show is said to have
shown to 5000 people at Owatonna. 1t
had to disappoint the people of Ro-
chester, as the railroad could not de-
liver the trains there on time. Just
recently, some Of the circus cars were
piled in ditch, but no great amount
of damage was done. ei.
The day passed very quietly in Man.
kato, so far as anything bordering on
disorder was concerned Several
strangers who came to the city,
probably from dry territory, tried to
soak up all the booze in sight and had
to be locked up. One of these was TAX
en- from a prominent drygoods store,
where he was making himself con-
1 -xs