WIRTH’S WILD WEST CIRCUS.

Southern Cross, Volume 12, Issue 43, 21 January 1905, Page 5

WIRTH’S WILD WEST CIRCUS.

Messrs Wirth Bros, have announced a big programme for their season in Invercargill, commencing on Wednesday, Feb. Ist, matinee Thursday, when, in addition to the usual programme Ohifalo, the ‘ demon ’ of all daring feats of skill, will give the public an opportunity of witnessing bis feat of ‘Leaping the Chasm,’ which has in other countries alrerdy created much sensation, and given rise to a deal of argument amongst scientists as to the natural laws controlling the act. Chifalo, in the latest of cycling sensations, mounts his machine at a height near the canopy of the tent, and at a given signal dashes down an almost perpendicular incline on to a short plank adjusted below, shooting into the air again high up, and bouncing in perfect safety and with apparent ease, on a sft wide plank, a distance of 42ft, across an open space.

The act is perhaps the most daring of the kind which has been offered the public as a sensation, and in addition to this, Chifalo goes through his ‘ loop ’ performance in an enclosure in front of the main tents of the circus. This is a peculiar feat, and one which rivals many in sensationalism, as the spectators are able to measure with the eye the apparent impossibility of carrying it out. The demon cyclist starts from the top of an incline of about 4<sdeg and lets go the bike. His speed increases as he approaches the great circle, or loop. As he rushes about a third of the way up this, a bolt in the mechanism becomes automatically loosened, and a section of the cycle swings backward and upward, and joins with the main circle, which it completes-just as Chifalo, after whirling round the loop, reaches it. It is a nice piece of adjustment, and a gap in the whole being closed by this means enables the performer to rush into the arms of the attendants stationed to receive him.