Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 15, 2025
As Joe jumped out of the net to get ready for his next act, he saw Benny Turton leap off his platform to dive into the tank of water. It was the beginning of the acts of the "human fish." "He seems to be all right," thought Joe. "I guess he was just nervous about the first day." He watched the youth, and saw him make a clean dive into the water.
But I must crave your slight indulgence, and I feel sure that, under the circumstances, you will extend it to, not only myself and the show management, but to the young man who has volunteered to take the place of the 'human fish' on such short notice. "You will see by the circus posters that we claim Mr. Turton can stay under water four minutes.
Fuller, Hiley Addington, Rose, Gascoyne, and Bathurst, on one side; and by Mr. Ward, Sir P. Francis; General Vyse, Sir T. Turton, Mr. Whitbread, Lord Henry Petty, Messrs. Canning, Stanhope, Perceval, and Wilberforce on the other. At length, on a division, there appeared to be one hundred and twenty-five against the amendment, and for it only seventeen.
Joe bowed to the applause that followed, and then hurried to his dressing room to don dry clothes for his mystery box trick. "I should think, if you were going to do tank work, you'd wear a suit better adapted to it like mine," said Benny Turton, whose apartment was next to Joe's in the dressing tent. "I'm going to," Joe announced, looking around to make sure no one overheard.
His medical attendants are said to have remonstrated with him on its unfitness in the stage to which his disorder had reached; but he persevered; and his fever increasing, and some secret distress of mind, under which he owned to Dr. Turton that he laboured, aggravating his bodily complaint, he expired on the 4th of April in his forty-fifth year.
Turton, a man above the general run of bush hotel keepers, and who, I believe, subsequently became a rich squatter, as he well deserved. The third day's ride brought us to our destination. There was a comfortable rough dwelling house and the usual adjuncts in the way of station buildings.
"Who's that from?" asked Helen, coming up in time to hear the message. "From the celebrated surgeon a friend of Dr. Wertz," said Joe. "I hired him to operate on Benny Turton to save him from becoming deaf and dumb. It took a lot of money, but I'm glad I had it saved. And that's why I had to pose as a 'tight-wad, fellows." Joe's voice faltered, but there was a happy look on his face.
"Say, what about Benny Turton?" asked Tom Jefferson, the strong man, as the performance came to a close and the crowd was filing out. "Can he travel on with us?" "No," answered Joe. "He will have to stay behind when the show goes on." And, as the circus was to play in another town the next day, the show "moved on." Benny Turton, the "human fish," was left behind. But it had to be so.
"Is is Benny going to die?" asked Helen, clasping Joe's arm. "No, he won't die, but it will be a long while before he can join the circus again." Joe Strong gave a low whistle. It expressed at once surprise and dismay. He looked at Helen, and saw in her eyes deep sorrow for the unfortunate youth. For Benny Turton was loved by every one in the circus.
By his will Chetham directed that the number of boys he had previously provided for should be augmented by the addition of one from Droylsden, two from Crumpsall, four from Turton, and ten from Bolton; and left the sum of 7000 pounds to be devoted to their instruction and maintenance, from six to fourteen years of age, and for their apprenticeship afterwards to some trade.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking