Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-07-24
rANIU CIRCUS TENT.
5000 Persons Thrown Into wild uonra

StuNO into w lli tonlutioh
When the cyclone struck the circus tent
OF Barnum, Baily \ Hutchinson, at Cort.
land, n. Y, on Wednesday last, eight
thousand persons were in the audience and
were thrown into tho widest confusion.
The tents had been pitched in the suburbs
OF the town, near the depot of tho Elmira,
Cortland n Northern railway, in large
field, surrounded on three sides by low
hills. Toward the west tho country is
fiat and thunder showers easily assume
cyclonic shape on entering the enclosed
space. AL day long thousands of people
tt0oked in from the surrounding country
and when the performance began there
was no Indication of any storm, except
that the day was sultry. About half past
three there were indications of a moderate
blow. Assistant Manager Hyatt saw the
danger and quietly gave orders to prepare
the tent for the emergency. The four
peaks were lowerer and all the stays were
tighteucd while the last act of the circus
proper, " the performing elephants" was
being performing, Mr.. Hyatt, feariu &
trouble from the elephants, hastily
brought their drill TO close aud called
for the hippodrome performance.
Just as the last elephant was leaving the
tent and the horses were about to score,
| the rain began to fall in torrents. Sud.
denly a terrific crash was heard and the
audience, TO a man, rose in their seats. \
cyclone had struck the tent near the
dressing rooms. Ia . second the stays and
braces were torn from the ground aud were
| flying in a wild confused mass above the
| heads of the terrified audience. About
each Of the main poles were dozen or
more of the attaches, trying to keep them
in position. These were hurled high in.the
air like SO many straws. The animals in
the menagerio tent howled and cried fear.
fully, while the panic stricken crowd,
blinded by the rain and wind, ran in
all directions. To add TO the con-
fusion the elephants began TO trum.
| pet, and for o time it seemed as il
nothing could prevent them joining the
stampede. The flying quarter poles were
whiTled about like flags and were con
| tinually striking the ground in their mad
whirligig. Hopeless confusion and con.
sternation Teigned everywhere. The two
| teams of four horses each, which were IN
readiness for the chariot race. became un
manageable and ran over dozens of per.
sons The kitchen tent was ovcrthroNr
and tho implements were sent flying with
the mass. The ensuing scene OF iaintinl
men and women, lying ropes and stays
uncomfortable, rideTless horses, all mixeC
| IN ono COul uslOu, WAS IuiceSiioSo'c, 'vi u
less than three minutes the tent was II
shreds and no vestgs except the shattefet
seats remained.
The superior discipline oF the employees
was evident. Every man was AZ his pos
aud did his utmost to sop the riot. Man.
of them were thrown down, but strange 4
saw, none were seriously injured.
seems miraculous that no one was killed
l The number of those seriously wounded
will probably reach seventy five. lnas
: much as tho majority Of the audience wa
r from the surrounding towns, many wer
{ taken directly to their homes in th
{ Wagons in which they came. Mr.. Hutch
{ inson and his assistants procured imme
| diate medical attendance for all th
Q wounded they could find and gave order
o that nothing should be spared for thei
comfort
o | Another U.rcus Tent DemoIi'hed by
Hurricane.
At Richheld Springs, N. y, during
| circus performance hurricane struck tn
tents, tearing the maenagerie canvas NJ
> most to atoms aud throwing tha main on
:. to tho ground. This was filed with tn
. fashion OF Richfeld Springs Hundred
4 OF children were compelled to crawl fror
\ under the canvas on their hands an
/ knees, only TO meet terrific hail storm
. followed by rain in torrents. Mono OF th
> children we're injured. Halls cottage an
a number Of barns were struck by light
ming. Trees ard hop poles were prostri
ted In all directions.