Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-06-03
Having Fun With the Circus.

The students Of Yale University had
their annual frolIc with Barnum & Bsiey's
circus en- Monday. The leading chariot in
the parade arrived at the campus IN front
of O.b5rn Hall just as the boys were being
dismissed from the morning rectst!oDs, eod
was received by about 800 students, who
lined the street in front of the campus and
the New Haven House. Several hurdred
of she students had pockets full OF lsrge
torpsdoes and no sooner bad the head of
the procession turned the corner from Col
lege street into Chapel street than torpedoes
wsre thrown 10 showers. The horses began
to jump. rear. and plunge at the cracking of
sovpedees sod the frequent discharge of fre-
crackers and owing of horns. They we're
admirsoly handled, however, and it was
not Until the chariot bearing the jubilee
singers came along that sny serious trouble
wss apparent. This chariot was drawn by
six gray horses, and the first torpedo that
struck the flank of the leaders set them to
plunging madly, and as the torpedoes came
thicker end faster the whcle si1 were al.
most instantly engaged ia desperate ct
tempt to bolt on TO the sidewalk. The sing-
era, realizing the danger, jumped from the
horses. The horses we're soon quieted, but
it looked for lime like an exceedingly So
rous effair, snd the crowd that lined the
s,Teet broke away to escape the danger.
In doing this several pers, rs were someW hat
rudely handled in the jan that resulted.
When the Cages containing the lions, tig"-o,
leopaTds, hyenas and jagus1s cam, along, thog,
too were sssaed. and begsn to so loudly that
the crowds, which lined the sidewalk rushed TO.
ward tho corner. The procession halted, and
with the cages standing directly in front of them
til, students had a clear field The more the in
furiated snm sis rushed about their cages the fas
ter the tanta;zpg torpedoes we're hurled upon
them. The keepe S. standing on thoir stools with
the butt ends OF their whips firmly grasped, beat
the animals their heads and about their mouths
in way which seemed brutal, but was apparently
the only mesns at hand to prevent the madd, led
ar imas from attacking them.
When the elephants came along handsful of
spspping torpodoes were thrown eginst their
sdez. it'll the first onslaught the elephants ee-
waited their trunks and began boating the air and
bel owing. One Of the largest of the herd left the
| procession and made for the crowd. His keeper
was unable to restrain him by word or by the cruel
hook stuck in the bIutes ear On to the sidewalk
the elephant marched, dragging its keepsr, who
hold TO tho hsndlo of the hook. 1t WAS severaI
minutes before the elephant could be induced to
continue on its way down Chapel street. By this
time the students began TO realize that serious
| results might follow their frolic and ceased to
throw the torpedoes. The lady riders had been
made target for their missiles and several of
them would have fallen from the horses had it
not been for the care of the attendant who rode
near them. As it wss several OF the horses became
unco atrollsble, and leaving the procession dashed
sway with their riders.
At the afternoon and evening performances
class numerals were displayed by the clowns and
provoke much merriment among the students.
Heretofore the students have contented them
selves with throwing beans at the animals and
flash light from looking glass in the eyes Of the
attendants. This years demonstration exceeded
all others, and it is understood that the faculty
will take notice Of it.