The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-06
A CIRCUS IN A HURRICANE.
TWELVE HORSES LOST IN THE STORM
THAT SINK THE SOUDER.
Band Cart and Baggage Wagons Swept Over
board-Oniy Two Draught Horses Left-
The Calamity that Berell Murray's show.

hnnd Cart ana bnRgnge wagons swept over
board-Oniy Two Draught Horses Left-
The Calamity that BefeI Murray's show.
A stout-built numbering propeller, tho
Acadia OF Boston. steamed slowly UP the East
River yesterday morning. having on board
the remains OF John II. Murray's Oceanic Cir
Gus. Just returned from disastrous winter trip
to tho West Indies. The vessel was between
800 and 400 tons burden. schooner riggod. and
at her sides carried trced up in n complicated
tackle. the big centre pole OF the big tent In
which the show has been astonishing the ma
tves OF Barbados. St Thomas. and Mar
Unique. Forward were enormous bundles OF
canvas. poles upriRhts. quarter poles. string
ers. and piles OF board seats. Three hundred
and lfty chairs were piled on top OF the for
ward cabin. and tho hold was Uttered up with
baggage wagons. straw mattresses. ropes.
chains. and other pnrnphornlla. Tho mem
bers OF tho circus company crowded the decks
and shivered under tho unruly blasts from UP
the river. Overcoats and wrapping Of all kinds
were donncd. but they could not entirely keep
out tho cold. which to them. fresh from the
tropics seemed doubly piercing.
The story OF the companvs mishaps IL n long
one. They sailed from New York Dec 8. with
n company OF sixty-nve. including w. Dale
Stevens. premier equestrian Luida Jeal, bare
back hurdle rider from Barnum's Lizzie Mar
cellus. pad rider; Mile. Goorgina. The Lady
with the Iron. jaw" William Milson. mrial
performer: John Barry. somereault rider. and
Burt Johnson. L. B. Leach, tumbers and leap
crs. and W. Aymar and Billy " Stowe. clowns.
Aymar was formerly ring master at the Hippo
drome, and number OF the other performers
were from Barnums. The women. two Of
whom were married, had small staterooms ad-
joining the after cabin. the rest of the troupe
had berths in the wardrobe or stecrage abait the
engine and the Murrays and one or two Of
the principal performers occupied cramped
llttla cabin the forward dock The hunb
under u'rot Perry and the canvas men had
quarters forward. In the hold were stabbed
celebrated trick horses Black Eagle and Black
Bess. the former Of which was valued nj $4,000
All the horses had been to sea before and were
old yoyagers. twelve OF them including Eagle
and Bess. having made the voyage from New
Orleans 90 New York. on the deck OF n sailing
vessel and in toerably rough weather. The
Acadia sailed with a fair wind but was hardly
out OF sight OF land whom she was overtaken 10y
the hurricane that sank the Souder.
" i began before we were twenty-four hours
out. said Mr.. Murray, Jry son OF the pro-
heavy gale from the northeast and by night
fall il had increased to hurricane. Through
carelcssness on the part OF the crew the coal IN
low. while that on the port side was untouched.
The result was that the ship cHreened over TO
starbOard. In ordinary weather we could have
got along. but in that sea II came near sending
US 20 the bottom. II was impossible To move
without dropping on your hands and knees
lay so near her beam ends that we expected
momentary TO 20 over. Tho groans and cries
be."
The band chariot a huge affair with gilt SCROLL
work and red panels had been lashed over tho
forward hatch Near il stood two large bug
gage wagons. just at dusk an immense sea
struck the steamer on her port side. and Tor
more than minute she was cnvcloped in
spray. The water poured over the forward
deck in n torrent. tearing loose the band chariot
second sea ca" lew minutes later washed
away the two baggage wagons and swept
head to sea in her lopsided condition.
but by careful steering. and Keeping the en-
tho violence OF the i,urrIeans HaIf the oirrus
company were prostratcd with sea sickness. and
the other half were occupied IN devlsing means
for their safety. One man. II Is said. ofrrcd so
for a life -preserver. Lew Daniels. the Fagir'
each arm hut was in in the stomach 10y a heavy
sea and dashed down tho compnnionwny. The
women bore up well. though Linda Jeal SUI
fercd greatly, and all Of them were very much
Al IaG past c. James Murray burst open the
door leading into the forward hold. where the
suffering horses were irampng each other to
death. The dim light OF tho lantern revealed
a terrible scene. At each pitch OF the vessel the
torn and bleeding animals were thrown heavily
10 lecward. pilng up upon each other IN con.
fused mass III which limbs. hQois. eoks: and
bodies struggled yanly To get Tree. Ihe lower
half were crushed beneath tho weight OF tho
cape. Many Of them were kicked IN tho most
frghtfu manner by the agonized beasts upon
whom they trampled. Each blow OF the iron
hOois drew blood. Strange TO say. the ponies.
although the smallest. came 10 the top Ike
drowning rats and crawled. comparatively un-
harmed. upon the backs OF their sturdier COM
Assisted by pony" ,whins., the Master Of
Horse. and Chief Hostler Kelly. Mr.. Murray
made n last effort to save the trick horses.
Black Eagle w0s rescued from the ruck OF dying
aud dead. and. by dint Of shng and hosting,
threw him over backward, and striking against
a beam. broke his neck Bess, the other trick
horse. shared the same late By morning. hali
OF the fourteen were dead. and several others
mortally wounded.
The storm continued throughout tho whole OF
the 10th and the night following, and, although
its first violence mad abated. II was found i'm
possible to do anything for the horses, When
the blow subsidized. on the morning OF the llth.
eleven Of them were dead one (which after
ward died at st. Thomasl lay MORALLY wounded.
and the two remaining animals were badly
shaken up. All the ponies escaped.
On landing at Bermuda Mr.. Murray set 10
work and trained one Of the surviving band
formed before, but which. under his tuition.
made very fair pad horse. The other draught
horse was also successfully broken To the ring.
and. with these and tho ponies, the circus made
its tour through St Thomas, Barbadoes. Mar
Unique. and the other West ipdia Islands re-
and st. Augustine Fla. The weather was de-
lightul. and they drew fair audlences, but they
felt the loss Of their horses There were no
street parades. and the West India urchins
were sadly disappointed. ,,
foot Of ll2th street Harlem, she was bonrdcd
10y Deputy United States Marshal Bernharit
with the papers in asuit for s2j,OO0 damages
for violation Of charter party, brought by John
H. Murray against the Roston lirm who own the
vessel.
number OF the riders, tumblers, and other
performers loungrd about mo snip al day.
waiting impationtly for their pay, Of which
large arrears are due them. Up to a late hour
last night it had not been forthcoming.
Tho men say that during their West India
trip they only received small sums-s2. So, and
sl0-on account, and that there were no regular
may days. J. H. Murray, the proprietor. owns q
nue stock farm in Wes,chester County. whore
he raises and trains all his riding and trick
horses. He has been many years in the busi-
ness. and is said to be wealthy
UNINSPECTED BOILERS.