Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-07-17
ciRcuses AND STORMS.
Management Fears tho Crowd More
tnnu the Elements or Mcnsvcrle.

Management fears tho Crowd More
tnan the Elements or Mcnsucrle.
There Is nothing circus manager
fears rs lie does a wlndstOrm. I'VE
IRE n 10: more nervous than the nu-
dlencc ls." said W. u. Hagar Of the
Barnum & Bailey circus to Sunday
". Louis Republic reporter.
AFRAID OF the wind? Bless your
soul, no! We are afraid Of the people.
You have probably observed that ev.
cry person Of your acquaintance re-
sembles some type Of animal. There
IRE dog men and sheep men and lion
men. You have noticed that. certainly.
Well the people who keep the animal
well hidden exhibit |. In panic. Let
storm lay hold upon circus and
the number OF animals within the can.
vns walls Is by no means confined to
the menagerle proper. The bovine
man crowds and bellows like a bull.
The sheep men huddic In groups and
fellow where the rest lead, even II
they lead to death. The catty men
snnrl and paw ut the crowd. l'wOuld
rather turn our animals loose and let
them prey upon cach other for the
same length OF time than turn n circus
crowd loose upon each other under
the impulslOn of fear"
SO the wise circus manager exllausts
every other device before he an.
nounces to an audience tliat u storm
Is approaching and that It should
hasten home to avoid It.
1t IL an anxious time on the circus
ground when the cumuli. fenthery and
white like soft. innocent giant play
things. have changed to nlmbus clouds
and hang a pall-like menace over the
city. lf In addition to the flashes Of
lightning the wind begins It's rough
toying. the management feels It's r..
spOns.blllty to the full. william Old.
know the boss canvasmnn. known to
the circus attaches as "Whltcy." liz.
cause he cllnnccs to he u blonde,
studies the puzzling page OF the sky
with ANXIOUS face.
When the black browed clouds show
signs OF disposition to gather In
masses anu the wlnd takes liberties
with his hat he whistles shrilly
through brass tube that Is his In.
scparablc companion. and In less time
than II takes to tell 1t the stake men
collect about the big top. They carry
an extra stake, which is driven into
the ground distance Of two feet
from the rest. and eight men draw the
guy ropes ana give them half dozen
turns about the extra stakes. This
adds tenfO!d to the strength Of tho
guys. ana insures safety In all but
wlndctorms OF cyclone or hurricane
dimensions. The crew of 100 canvas.
men do this work In less than ten min
utes. II the managers fears are not
then relieved the center poles are
guyed by extra ropes. 1t Il only the
Initiated OF the audience who observe
this process In the hurry burly OF the
ring performance. This Is not often
resOrtcd to. because IL adds nothing to
the strength Of the tent, and Is a de.
vice simply to prevent the falling Of
the center poles II the canvas should
be carried away. Every big circus
company has provision for extra exits
In case Of emergency. There We're two
In tho Barnum 4 Bailey big top" n
fifty foot one on the west side ut the
middle OF the big tent, and forty
foot opening ut the east. The space In
from. o: these Is filled with properties.
except In case Of emergency, when
they can be removed In five minutes.
Tho stakes arranged about the
quarter poles are drlS on In dlagonally
ut right angles, thus adding to the
holding power of the guy ropes.
"There would he practically no dan
ger In circus tent during u storm II
people would do rs We tell Them" said
Mr.. ilagar. 1.-THE danger Is In their
taking the bit between their teeth and
causing a panic"