Year: 1873

BREAK-NECK GYMNASTICS.


Shot into the Air by Machinery.
| The means by which the acrobat


Lulu, at Niblo's garden, is shot into


the air, has been the subject Of much
speculation. The prevailing impres-
sion is that the power which sends


her alo't in so startling way is COM
pressed air. An inspection of the ap-


paratus shows, however. that the prin-
ciple on which it is constructed is sim
liar to that of the school-boys' bean.
shooter. Under the stage is q wrought
iron framework, like gigantic office
stool. The four legs are eight feet
high and two inches square, Three
sets of iron cross-bars run from limb
to limb-one at the top. one at the
middle, and one near the bottom. At
the top and middle, also, cross-bars
run from each corner to point in the
center, where they support small
cylinder. Through these two cylin-
ders-the one at the top, the other at
the middle of the framework iron
piston, about seven feet long and two
inches in diameter, runs. The upper
end OF this piston is covered with rub
Der, and is attached to the bottom of
. Eoo IT,, -.
Lulu stands when about to be sent
aloft. About Ealf way down the pis-
ton it has around it barrel-shaped
expansion, about one foot in diameter,
and foot long, which is fastened to
it and makes part of it. Round the
top ana bottom of this barrel. as it may
be termed, are iron hooks. Similar
hooks are fixed to the lower side
Of the crossbars at the bottom Of the
framework. Five strong rubber straps.
side by side, each an inch square, aud
let into an iron socket, with thimble
at each end, next come in use. OF
these quintuple rubber straps, which
are about eight inches long. there are
about fifty. The thfmble at one end
is just slipped over the hooks attached
to the lower side of the crossbars at
the top Of the framework. When ev-
cry hook has rubber strap thus sus-
pended from it, the piston is lifted by
leverage, and the remaining thimble
of each strap is slipped over the hook
which corresponds to it on the top of
the barrel. Another set of rubber
straps precisely similar to those al
ready described. only more powerful,
are then attached by one end to the
hooks on the bottom OF the barrel.
The other end is left dangling until it
is time to set the trap. When that
time comes. powerful beverages forces
down the barrel until the straps which
connect 1t with the crossbars at the
top of the framework are distended to
their utmost. Then the lower thim-
bles OF the rubber straps which dangle
from the bottom Of the barrel are slip
ped over the hooks fastened to the
crossbars near the bottom of the frame
work. The trap is set then ready for
use. One set of powerful rubbers is
hauling up the piston toward the trap,
and another set Of more powerful rub
bers is hauling it down to such pur-
pose as to keep the upper set of rubbers
at the greatest possible tension. When
the time for Lulu to make the ascent
arrives, an electric battery is used. A
wire is 40 brought to bear on the thin.
BILE of the lower set of rubbers attached
to the hook on the bottom crossbars,
that one application of electric force
instantly dislodges all the thimbles.
The rubber straps at the top Of the
band thoreupon contract with enor-
nous power, the trap is shot up three
feet above the stage, and Lulu over
twenty feet above that. A number of
rubbers of suitable strength are at
tached to the lower end of the pistod
previous to the discharge Of the trap,
and when the discharge is complete
these instantly draw down the piston
and restore the trap to the level Of the
stage. Lulu wears under her dress
steel mechanism Of a novel descrip-
ton. By one motion Of her shoulder
she can protect every joint Of her
limbs, and make her form perfectly
rigid, Those who watch her very
closely when she takes her stand on
the trap may observe her throw the
mechanism into gear by a motion of
her arms just before she is shot into
the air. To enable her to do this at
the right moment, small plug is re-
moved from q hole in the stage
through which she can see every mo-
tion Of the men in charge of the appa-
ratus'-Ne,o York San.