Man Who Jumped Niagara Falls Joins Circus

AP via News and Fishwrap ^ | 11/14/03 | LYNN BREZOSKY

[Rebelbase]

HIDALGO, Texas (AP) -- The only person to survive a plunge over Niagara Falls without a safety device has run off and joined the circus.

Kirk Jones, 40, planned to make his debut as the "world's greatest stunt man" during a Friday night gig with the Toby Tyler Circus, now touring Texas' Mexican border towns.

Last month, the former auto parts salesman from Canton, Mich., jumped over the Canadian side of the falls and somehow emerged from the rushing foam with only a few broken ribs.

Jones said circus promoters called him a few days ago and promised him something "spectacular." He would not say what his act would involve.

With only a few days left on the circus's 2003 season, Jones will limit his performances to public appearances and autograph signings. The circus resumes touring in Beaumont in January.

In the meantime, circus promoter Phil Dolci said Jones will have to work like everyone else in the troupe, washing elephants and taking down tents. "Everyone has a second job here," Dolci said. "No free ride for Kirk."

Jones said he was still negotiating his pay.

Jones said that after going over the falls, he has a new appreciation for life, and plans on writing a book with his brother called "You're Kidding Me: A Knucklehead's Guide to Surviving Niagara Falls."

He still faces charges of mischief and unlawfully performing a stunt in Canada.

People who lined up Friday to buy tickets for the circus were unimpressed with Jones' career change.

"So he's a celebrity now?" said David Saenz, a 36-year-old from Weslaco. "I really think he's taking it a little too far. I'm glad that he made it alive, that's a miracle. But to brag about it?"

[Rebelbase]

He had a quick 15 minutes.

[Paul Atreides]

Man Who Jumped Niagara Falls Joins Circus

He's going to run as a Dim candidate for the Presidency?

[billorites]

I'm convinced P.T. Barnum could have done so much better had he been dealt this hand.

[Rebelbase]

I googled "Toby Tyler Circus". There were some shady results:

"In Washington, DC, Toby Tyler's Circus ran out of money and abandoned two truckloads of animals in a parking lot in Virginia. When local humane authorities discovered the abandoned animals, many had died from heat exhaustion"

"05/21/92, Richard Garden, who owned Toby Tyler Circus and United Funding, was accused of cheating charities and deceiving donors across the country"

"TOBY TYLER CIRCUS During a show, two circus workers threw
water on a chimpanzee named Tyrone the Terrible to make him behave ferociously ... "

"... As recently as 1988, a Maryland judge ordered Dick Garden, owner of the Toby Tyler Circus, to pay $1.7 million in civil fines and $615,000 in restitution to ... "

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Toby+Tyler+Circus%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&start=0&sa=N

[Paul Atreides]

When local humane authorities discovered the abandoned animals, many had died from heat exhaustion"

How horrible. I guess it was too much of a strain on them to pick up the phone and anonymously report that they had left the animals there.

[Flux Capacitor]

----Man Who Jumped Niagara Falls Joins Circus----

Some headlines are just too good to be made-up. :)

-Dan

[metalboy]

What`s he gonna do next? Try to report a Clinton scheme and see how long he can survive? "Ladies and Gentleeemeeen!!! We are sorry, but the "Niagara man" didn`t make it! He has indeed committed suicide by cutting off his own head with a pen knife!"

[JIM O]

"Man Who Jumped Niagara Falls Joins Circus"

Strange, in tonights show Homer Simpson joined the circus too!

[william clark]

Think about the sun, Pippin...

[Liberty Valance]

I think i like this story....;o)

[Recovering_Democrat]

My thoughts exactly.

[lowbridge]

Kirk Jones, 40, planned to make his debut as the "world's greatest stunt man"

BS. The worlds greatest stuntman is Yakima Canutt (1895–1986)

Last month, the former auto parts salesman from Canton, Mich., jumped over the Canadian side of the falls and somehow emerged from the rushing foam with only a few broken ribs.

All this Kirk Jones guy ever did was try to kill himself and he failed. That does not qualify him as a great stuntman.

Jones said circus promoters called him a few days ago and promised him something "spectacular." He would not say what his act would involve.

Soemthing that will get him killed on opening night, no doubt. Either that, or they will put him to work in something more safer, like making balloon animals.

[lowbridge]

Man Who Jumped Niagara Falls Joins Circus

He's going to run as a Dim candidate for the Presidency?

Too many clowns spoil the circus.

[sweetliberty]

"He's going to run as a Dim candidate for the Presidency?"

ROTFL!