Year: 1877

SENIOR MIRANpA's pELIRIous MIDNIGHT PER


roRMAScE ON THE sHUrrERs--AN EXTRA Or


pINARY SCENE IN FIFTY-sIxrH STREET.


About midnight or Monday . most extraordinary
scene was witnessed at No $40 East Fftysix street.
man was seen TO emerge from window OF tho sec'
ond story, and, apparently supported by the air to
ghds 10 the peak OF the roof thence to the adjoining
house and front the street, disappearing IN
the darkness.


rnR PERFORMER.


The actor of this scene was Senior Miranda, q
eymnast and trapeze performer OF some note short
time ago he was performing at Nblo's. He appeared
70 take great pride in accomplishing eats that 10 tie
audience seemed miraculous He constantly
inventing features, and would dream at night OF
his pubic successes Two three weeks ago. while
the act OF an extra hazardous performance, he
caught violent cold, which became more and moro
serious and settled his Iucgs He was confined TO
his bed his iathers house Fiitysxth street. but
grew daily He required constant attention and
watching. Tor he exhibited desire to make his bed
stage and the bedpost trapeze bar After several
gymnastc performances, IN whch the family involun-
tary assisted It was found necessary to bind him TO
the bed with ropes


OUT THE WINDOW.


About midnight OF Sunday he was loft alone for u few
moments, securely bound, as usual He was at this
time deliriors In his fancy he saw the audience
smiling at him. To break the cords that bound h'm
and Jump to the window was tho work Of moment
With cry that echoed through the house he sprang
out and hung suspended by his hands. The cry
alarmed the household and rushing to the spot, they
were horror-stricken ut his position Hanging, sus-
pended thirty feet from the ground, he smiled al them
nd then bowed his head as If awaiting the applause
hc was accustomed to receive.


..up TO THE NOON"


Tho startled family endcavored 10 persuade him TO
come back to the room. and some OIL them advanced
toward him intending to suddenly seize him and draw
him in But this was not in his programme, ana with
one hand motioLing them away he cried:-


.'Let me alone; am gong up to the moon!''
smiling at his audience, who no doubt watched him
with more intense interest than any that
he had ever previously performed before Each mo. mo-
fear that il force used he would drop below and be
das pieces, he was allowed to continue. Alter
while he wearied OF his position, and, with cry, he
suddenly disappeared from the window





AS he tell from the window the family paused mo-
ent expecting to hear the tbud that would announce
his contact with the pavement below But no thud
followed ana II there WAS not method IN his madness
he certainly 10 uonc of the coo'ness and nerve ne
possessed when sane. Grasping u water spout, he
cl,mued hand over hand "toward the moon" Reach-
ing the noor above no grasped ono OF the swinging
shutters ana paused a moment 10 rest. Then, smiling
again. he commenced series OF clever and dangerous
eats--dangerous even on an ordinary rapoze He was
row forty feet above the street, tossing and swaying
"A creaking and not ovcr-secure shutter His au-
denco watched him with interest growing more and





upturned faces. Tring at last, he sprang from the
shutter with cry that was echoed below, and brmy
grasped the gutter OF the roof Finding this moro to
his liking, he uttered cry after cry Of satsiac-
tion, and began sores of waves and urches
that threatened each moment 10 hurl HIM senseess
mass below. He gradually grew quieter, and finally
hung pendulous fifty feet above me street.


FROM HousE ro HOUSE.


After resting again he started along the edge OF the
root, quietly swinging himself from hand to
hand. As he ncarcd the adjoining house he paused
moment and hung dangling Imply by one
arm. shudder passed through his audience
and they braced themselves to witness hts fall But
10 fall was not his intention. Suddenly he was seen
to tighten grasp, ind, with another wild cry, pitch
forward Graspng the root of the adjoining building,
lie tottered moment, seeming to struggle for the
mastery. and then hung oscillang IN the moonlight,
his body casting grotesque shadows the street be-
Meath


NOW


Prcparations were made 10 catch him, but with
no avail. He proposed to return to the ground IN
manner as as he had reached tho root. Quietly
reaching the roof he dropped from sill TO sill,
from shutter shutter until he reached small st0op
over the front door. Standing a moment here, he
turned n somersault, slid down OF the pillars and
with shrl cry disappeared in the shadows OF the
street. His friends have notified the police, and the
actor this moonlight drama Is now being carefully
searched Tor.