ALPHONSINE FALLS AGAIN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 439, 22 January 1890, Page 3

ALPHONSINE FALLS AGAIN.

The Spiral Ascensionist Comes Down Heavily at the Canterbury. ‘She’ll fall!’ ‘She’ll fall!’ Dozens of people uttered these exclamations at the Canterbury last night as Madame Alphonsine again commenced her perilous ascent of the spiral platform in spite of her recent fall. It was obvious to everybody that Madame was nervous. She set her teeth hard, though, and steeled herself for her dangerous act; and so, amid almost painful eilence, she traversed the narrow ledge upwards to the roof. Accidents wero looked for. The wings were full of artistes and employees ; the members of the orchestra threw their heads back and kept their eyes on the performer, while in the auditorium men held their breath as the rickety structure swayed and trembled. Properly, it would eeem, the pole supporting the winding platform should be run up from floor to ceiling, and secured top and bottom, bub as the Canterbury has a glass roof, this was impossible. The upright, therefore, is only made fast at the bottom, and, as a result, The Whole Struct ore Dangerously Oscillates under the weight of the performer. Last night a short length oi timber was brought out and set underneath the lowest platform, bub it added little to the stability of the erection. Alphonsine in her upward progress occasionally Stopped as though fearful of misfortune, and kept the ball motionless for several seconds. Just before reaching the top her platform commenced toshake in an ominous fashion, and it was only by great effort that she retained her position. Arrived at the top, the gymnast was hailed with hearty cheering. The preliminaries for the descent took up some little time, bub at last Madame made a fair start, and commenced slowly to roll the ball down the slope. When she had- accomplished a fourth of the distance

' • : * She Slipped, ' the sphere escaped from under her, and she fell on the supports running out from the pillar to the platform. A shock went, through the audience, bub they were momentarily relieved when they saw the performer clinging to the wood -work. Their horror, however, was redoubled the next instant, for Alphonsine, unable to maintain her grip, dropped in a heap to the stalls. The consternation of the audience was great. A loud cry. of alarm sounded throughout the house, and then there was an immediate rush to the front, with the object of ascertaining what/ injury had befallen the unforbqnate gymnast. Madame Alphonsine, however, had no sooner reached the floor ; than she was surrounded by half-a-dozen people, who while the -band played a lively tune, removed her,; in a half fainting condition, from the .sight, of the audience. She was observed to strike her back upon a chair in the stalls, and the general impression was that she had received the most i serious injuries.—English paper.