WIRTH BROS GREAT ALLIED SHOWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 8

WIRTH BROS GREAT ALLIED SHOWS.

THE OPENING NIGHT. Willi bands playing and banners flying, Wirfh Brothers' great show arrived in Dunedin yesterday morning, and will open a seven days' season, on the Southern ' Oval. The shows have received unstinted praise from the leading newspapers of Australia and Tasmania, and in the two performances at Invcrcargill liave more than fulfilled the flattering advance notices, by presenting a programme which embraces the cream of the aeria! world, in which the bright particular star is the world-famous Chefalo, who defies all laws of gravitation in two acts which - have been from their inception tile unequalled sensation of the civilised world. The programme submitted contains no less than 30 items, and each in itself is well worth seeing. A feature of the circus is the promptitude and rapidity with which the several events arc brought off; 110 sooner is one over than another is engaging the attention of the vast audience, wlio are delighted, amused, thrilled, and even perplexed, by some of the feats which were-performed for their entertainment. Prominent points' in the performance are the accomplishments of the animalslions. tigers, elephants, goats, horses, camels, and dogs, etc., all taking nart, and doing some most wonderful things. The 'performance with the tigers and lions are nerve-trying, and the acrobatic acts in mid-air are thrilling. The most exciting item on the programme is the leaping of the chasm on a bicycle by "the dauntless, daring demon Chefalo"; but Uncrowning feature of all i 3 the looping the loop by the same artist in the menagerie tent immediately after the circus performance. Prom a height, seemingly under a canopy of stars, with almost maniacal rashness, he dashe3 down a hundred feet of narrow, precipitous incline, gaining such incalculably tcrrific momentum that when his wheel strikes the inner circle of the loop it shoots him up and around the.circle of the:upright ring, both man and cycle turning a complete somersault in mid-air, while the aptly-named ■ death-trap slowly cradles back barely in time to enable, the flying crimson figure to shoot out, with.the speed of a bullet, to safety. It is an . indescribable triumph of courage, steadied and directed will, and centrifugal force. Even those who see it twice a day do not breathe until it is all over, then a moment of awe-stmck silence, then a deafening pandemonium of hysterica! applause. If lie should fail and fill. what .then? Doubtless instantaneous death.