Sword swallowers work on edge

YOUNGSTOWN — Travis Fessler doesn’t have just your everyday, punch-the-clock, 9-to-5 job.

He swallows swords, eats and breathes fire, lies on a bed of nails, snaps flowers from his lovely assistant’s fingers and mouth with the tip of a whip. And just for good measure, he hammers nails into his nostrils.

It’s all in a day’s work for the 35-year-old performer from Florence, Ky., which is just across the river from Cincinnati. He travels the country with his brother, Frack, performing under the name The Pickled Brothers Sideshow.

He was in Youngstown today, performing for visitors to the farmers market that takes place each weekend on the city’s North Side. His brother was not able to attend because of other commitments.

Instead, Fessler was joined by a friend, 20-year-old Elena Sellentin, a college student from Germany who is visiting America for a month.

Fessler was to perform today at the ruKus Festival in Warren, and will do showsMonday at Youngstown State University.

“It’s kind of a dying art,” he said of the routines he has performed for the past 10 years. “There are only maybe a few dozen [sword swallowers] left in the world.”

For the complete story, see Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.