San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-17
A BLOW FOR CHARITY.
THE CIRCUS TENT COLLAPSED UN-
DER WIND PRESSURE.
Scenes of Wild Confusion Among the
Audience and Circus People.
A Number Injured.

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Gus entertainment in very short
order and at an opportune time,
before the big tent was crowded
with people, as it would have been
one-half hour later. When the
storm came up there were per-
haps four hundred people in the
tent, including the performers,
lemonade, fans and peanut sellers,
while outside there was long line
of eager ticket buyers struggling
to purchase admission.
Those who were inside the tent
had no other warning of danger
than the sudden raising of the
big tent poles off the ground,
the heaving and Juggling Of
the tent and the rising of
the seats and the big crush to
center as the tent collapsed. A
scene of wild confusion followed as
the enveloped people who were
caught endeavored to extricate
themselves. Women we're Shrek
ing and fainting, while the men
were using their pocket knives in
slashing the tent in many places
to assist their ladies and
the children out of danger.
When the tents began strainlng at
their fastenings the Wild West
company of cowboys and Indians,
who were in the menagerie tent,
first took the alarm from their
horses, which were snorting and
plunging. All made a dash for the
outside in flash and escaped.
The people in the circus tent
were not so lucky and many were
injured, among them being Mrs.
Dewey, ankle sprained; Mrs. B.
F. Yoakum, cut on lower limb
Nathan Hart, hit on the head
Will Sherman, struck on head
with tent pole; R. III. lines, cut in
the face; John Bowers, hand
bruised; Geo. Whiting, struck in
head with pole.
There were several others slight
ly injured and several ladies
tainted.
After few minutes rapid work
by committee Of gentlemen who
volunteered, all were safely gotten
out and taken to place Of shelter
from the rain and the circus was
abandoned for the night.
In the tent where Benefits
horse and dog show was quartered,
the animals were almost stam-
peded, and it required all the exer-
lions Of Capt. Bennett and his men
to keep the animals together. At
one time part Of the tent raised up
in the wind, and carried two ponies
up with it, despite the efforts Of
the men to hold them down. Capt.
Bennett was severely burned by
holding the ropes in his hands.
When the storm first broke Carl
Beck's band was in the dressing
room, with their music distributed
and were just about ready to march
into the main tent. Mr.. Beck saw
the tent poles dancing and told his
men to collect the music sheets
and bring them to him. This was
done and then he gave the ord er to
retreat, which was done with great
alacrity.
NOTES.
Mr.. Feight says he will give the
performance tomorrow night,
weather permitting, with only the
side walls up. The top tent is ut.
terly ruined. This is a great loss
to the circus people.
Capt. Bennett lost one Of his dogs
in the confusion.
The trained goat was lost but
afterwards came back to the tent.
One of the wild west cowboys
lost gold watch.
A lady lost her purse.
A gold watch was found by some
boys who searched about the wreck
just after the audience had left.
The electric wires in the tent
were very dangerous for a time,
but the current was cut off quickly
by order OF one OF the policemen.
The most damage was done by
the seats breaking. One Of the
poles also broke in falling.
In the scramble for safety Michel
Castanola was lost from his moth
er, in the darkness, but he was az
terward found.
General Russ was among the in
jured.