Frightful Occurrence.
--A frightful accident occurred in
London, on the 12th ult., by which a performer, called the "Female
Blondin," nearly lost her life.
The
Star says:
‘
Shortly after ten o'clock "The Female
Blondin"ascended one of the stages connected with the rope, which is about one hundred feet in height, and by the aid of blue fires, and attired in a suit of armor, proceeded on her perilous voyage in mid air. She reached the eastern stage in safety, and again returned, performing the feat of wheeling the barrow a third time.
She crossed the rope covered with a sack, and then commenced her final tour to the starting point in the midst of fireworks discharged from each end of the balancing pole she carried in her hands.
’
She arrived within about twenty feet of the western stage, when the Catharine wheels at each end of the pole had reached their greatest velocity, and at which moment reports were heard and stars of various hues were entitled.
At this instant it was plainly observable that there was a fearful oscillation of the pole as well as of the unfortunate performer.
A general cry was raised that she was falling, the pole fell from her grasp, and the performer toppled over.
For a moment she appeared to cling to the rope either by her legs or hands, but whether from fright or otherwise, in another second she was seen descending headforemost into the midst of the lofty trees beneath her. The scene of horror and consternation, coupled with the screams of the females present at this moment, may well be imagined, and hundreds rushed to the spot where the poor creature lay at the foot of the tree, completely doubled up and apparently lifeless.
In a short time she was restored to consciousness, and by the direction and under the superintendence of the medical gentlemen was conveyed to a sleeping apartment of the tavern.
In the meantime, the greatest excitement as to the fate of the unfortunate but intrepid woman prevailed.
So much so that although Leotard's performance had commenced in the great hall, hundreds still remained in the gardens, making earnest inquiries of every one who came out of the building into which she had been conveyed.
A second catastrophe was also feared, with regard to Leotard himself.
He had gone through a portion of his performance, when some one indiscreetly informed him of what had happened.
In an instant he became lividly pale, and became so unnerved that the next bound he made he missed his grasp of the handles of the centre trapeze, but came bounding on to the padded platform, on to his feet, amidst the applause of the audience.
