DASHED TO DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 211, 11 September 1897, Page 2

DASHED TO DEATH.

TERRIBLE FATE OF A BICYCLIST.

A New York telegram of August Ist states :—Ten thousand persons saw Frank Donahue, 2S years old, a slack wire bicylist, meet a terrible death to-night at RidgCAVOOct Park, Long Island. Decorated with many vari - coloured incandescent lights, he Avas riding on a live wire seventy-five feet above the ground, Avhen he lost one of his pedals, and with a cry of terror, fell to the ground. He Avas almost instantly killed. Donahue came from Fort Wayne, Ind., with his Avife and child a feAv days ago for this act. The wire had been stretched seventy-five feet in the air between t.vo poles a hundred feet apart. This Avire Avas connected Avith a trolley Avire, and carried a full voltage to-night when the cyclist walked confidently to one of the poles. The tires had been removed from his Avheel, which Avas covered Avith incandescent lights, as Avere his clothes. Donahue mounted his wheel and dropped a small wire he held in his hand across the live trolley Avire. Instantly the incandescent lights became illuminated, and the spectators sent up a great cheer. Donahue rode from the platform and started on his journey. He had ridden 20 feet Avhen in some Avay he lost one of bis pedals. In the effort to regain it he lost his balance. "" He made a frantic effort for a moment to regain his upright position and then, as all gazed at him in horror, man and Avheel together fell to the ground! Both turned completely over in the air and the bicycle struck wheels down. Donahue Avas hurled into the air by the rebound and then fell dead.