FITZGERALD’S CIRCUS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1371, 4 February 1905, Page 3

FITZGERALD’S CIRCUS.

Messrs. Fitzgerald Bros’ huge now shows and travelling zoo of wild animals will make their appearance in Gisborne on Thursday, February 9th, and will perform on the succeeding Friday and Saturday evenings ; also giving a grand special matinee on Saturday afternoon .at 2 p.m. We are informed that tho whole of the combination will positively appear in Gisborne with tho full strength of the company. No loss than 4£ horses and ponies, a well equipped-menagerie of wild and savage beasts, and a combination of arenic and aerial artists and artistes, will comprise a show of the greatest magnitude which has ever appeared before the amusement loving public of Gisborne. Amongst others, Dr Gordon, “ The Little Strong man,” is advertised to give his world-renowned. “ pull” of five tons. On the last occasion this feat was advertised the circus was unavoidably precluded from landing on account of the rough state of the weather. On this occasion, however, Dr Gordon will fully carry out bis promise of a year ago. Possibly, and probably, the star turn of the whole of tho circus programme which will embrace twenty-two disolays, will be the Japa_ "nese wrestlers. The Press of Australia and our Southern contemporaries cla33 it as the most sensational, unique and up-to-date representation of the Japanese art of wrestliDg, which combines wrestling "jujitsu ” and physical culture. An Auckland exchange explains the modes and methods of the “little brown man” from Japan (who, by-the-bye, is nearly Bix feet high and weighs nearly 14 stone, is not so small as one is made to believe). Hero it is . *• After some mystic ceremonials which are explained to be the swearing in of the umpire—a mere youth, who, however haß the competitors under complete command-and preliminary steps peculiar 80 their nation, the party squat around a straw-rope ring 10 or 12 feet m diameter until called upon in pairs by the umpire. Then ensue bouts of two to four minutes, as exciting to the onlookers as they must be to the contestants. There are said to be 48 different falls in Japanese wrestling—what With throws, lifts, twists, and hoists over ‘fas back-and another object aimed at is to bustle an opponent across the straw ,-nnn Beginning from a crouching atti-

fade, the competitors fly together, anjf Struggle excitedly for the > hold. They (i v,;g ” into each otper a flesh "V'th the Vigour of boxers, and slash ■and' clutch at each othor s faoe and arrosT and at last settle down for ““nal tussle. Swaying, and wngcling, an d scuffling, each does his utmost to gain the mastery, and the bout frequently ends by the man who appeared tQ \ e the “under-dog in the mattor of oriD effecting a surprise, and landing his onnnnent ienominiously on his back, or Of S“ tbe Hug. As oao pair of wrestlers after another close and contend there are birring tests oE strength skill, ance Every heat is a “ wilung go %TJ\o last, and the loser generally goes down panting from his - of**'the °ron’arkaWe "which a Srf- rs;s%is,fa”,s r ; ro°ot v ,°s 0 tK 'r- z: 2W “ Ofiir* » SSPISS M£|« - brought under clr ®“ 3 ‘ Laurenco, Messrs Frank J atto> Bgen t. in Lmgard, bha h lrlin „ up theic " end advance, have bee 5 a P grea 6 season of the log, and w P , ooal | so i ec ted by for tbe big Bb ° W ; , Da ddoek. just off the Mr Jones is Ma matiDee will bo Wbataupoko bndg . fco ., acoa _doors open g!V «? D .T,k lnd performance commencing at 2 o ol ? c , k ’S d |ho company will arrive t'j ;».«»! * *- D "'“ .Company’s Mannka.