PERILS OF PICTURE SHOW ARTISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 303, 20 December 1913, Page 17

PERILS OF PICTURE SHOW ARTISTS.

AN ACTOR IN NIAGARA RAPIDS.

PRIMA DONNA IN A LION'S DEN

In the forest on the outskirts of Uerlin the unusual spectacle of a famous prima donna singing operatic airs surrounded by lions at a piano, accompanied by their woman tamer, was witnessed by some 200 Berlin personalities on Wednesday afternoon. The prima donna was none other than Mme. Emma Destlnu. Being well known in most parts of Europe and America, she had often been asked by the manager of a cluematograph company to allow herself .to be filmed in a lion's cage. For the occasion an exciting melodrama was sketched by a well-known Berlin playwright, in which two daughters of a millionaire, who had committed suicide as the result of complete bankruptcy, are compelled to exercise their hobbies of singing anil llou-taiuing in order to earn a livelihood. This being still insufficient, they stake their existence on a coup, which they act together in a startling turu, such ns -Mme. Destlnu ami the tamer performed ou Thursday. In the cage were three fullgrown African lions, three tamers, two

attendants, and also tlie dtu-ttists. From tlie moment when the tamer persuaded one lion to jump up nnil sit on the top of the piano and signalled Mme. Host inn to enter. the singer for a quarter of an hour was within an arms length of v couple of the beasts. Of singing and piano playiug really there was none, tlie sound being phxluced by means of a giant phonograph, and tlie artists merely mimlec'l the movement of the lips nnd lingers. A couple of airs from

"Miguon" were thus silently played without the lions betrnying the least annoyance, one switching his tail anil another shaking his mane. Mme. Destiun then fondled tlie lion on the piano for a couple of minutes whilst extra photographs were being taken. The Invited assembly broke into a loud cheer when the cage was finally clfared, this plainly surprising the lions more than the whole performance. Mme. Destiun afterwards allowed the scared onlookers to feel her pulse, which appeared quite normal. She said she had been quite devoid of fear, the most startling moment being when she had caught sight of the blanched face of her manager sitting close to the cage door.

Peter Lnngtird. of Copenhagen, a during cinematograph aotpr, nearly lost his life recently while attempting to make a trip through the whirlpool rapids just below Niagara Falls in a small motor boat.

He safely nnd swiftly navigated the tempestuous waters of the gorge, and reached the outer edge of the famous whirlpool, when the engine went "dead." For five hours Langard drifted round and round, bailing like a madman ns tho leaky boat took water. Every minute he could see planks drifiting about him suddenly sucked down to the jagged rocks below by tho grip of the pool. At eight o'clock a freakish current swept the boat near enough to the shore for a line to be thrown aboard, and Langard, shivering and exhausted, was safely landed.

Langard began his perilous journey at three o'clock, nnd the powerful motor boat darred through the tearing waters with beautiful precision. The terrible strain, however, caused the engine to stop and the boat to spring a leak just as he readied the treacherous whirlpool. Thousands 'of persons on the America! and Canadian bunks of the rapids watched Langard, hut they were powerless to help.

As night closed lv two powerful searchlights picked out the boat and its struggling occupants, and when he was finally pulled ashore a great cheer echoed over the raging waters.

Langard now regards himself as a very fortunate man. because he realises that the giant whirlpool seldom gives up anything it once grips.