The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-02
DOC Train ON FIRE
Big Gentry Show Has Narrow
Escape From Destruction.

While en- route from Emporia to To-
peka during the early hours Of this
morning, the circus train of the Gentry
Bros. famous trained animal show came
near being consumed by fire. Conse-
quently the show could not be given this
afternoon but the regular performance
will be given tonight at the grounds at
Fourteenth street and Topeka. avenue.
Thirty miles from Topeka while the
circus train was running at the rate of
30 miles per hour the flames were dis
covered leaping from the menagerie tent
wagon, and for a, period of ten minutes
it looked as though the circus was
doomed. The ringmaster, Mr.. Weaver,
who was intuitively awakened, and the
eously. He applied the air brakes to the
train and the engineer pulled the throt-
tie wide open with the object of reach
ing a water tank 20 miles distant.
1t was a race for life, in which the
fate of 100 men and $50 beasts hung in
the balance.
There was no way for the engineer
to make his object understood" said l..
B. Williams, land the people on the
train were under the impression that
the railroad employees were unaware OF
the danger. Nothing has a. tendency TO
frighten animals more than fire, and the
smoke and flames aroused every one of
the 1926 trained animals aboard the train.
4nlS auueQ CONFUSION TO the SITUATION
and during the time the train was rush
ing towards the water tank the most
intense excitement prevailed"
Gentry Bros. have a trained monkey
fire department which daily gives an ex-
hibitiOn Of skill and this morning the
services of the monkey brigade were
brought into practical use.
1.-THE monkeys Mr.. williams contin-
ued, actually seemed to understand
what was required of them, and while
not brought directly into use when the
paraphernalia and chemical engine used
by them in the exhibition was being
used, they seemed really DESTROYS of dis
tinguishing themselves on the usual
lines of paid fire ladies
The fire originated from a spark
from the engine. The menagerie
tent which was nearly new, having only
been used three or four days, was prac-
tically destroyed and the loss to Gentry
Bros. is about 81. 500 The old menagerie
tent which was replaced by the new
one, was substituted in Topeka, and the
absolute perfect system maintained by
the Gentry Bros. will enable them to
give their performance in Topeka this
evening under adverse circumstances
that would praeyent less enterprising
and experienced showmen from at
tempting to give a show at all No dam
age was done to the circus paraphanalia
and the animals all escaped without in
jury.
Mr. w w Gentry, who is the general
manager with the show, was remarka-
bly, cool, but Notwithstanding the fact
he was seen after the flames were dis
covered covering the distance across
cinders in his bare feet from his state
room, which is in the front end of the
train. to the rear end where the fire was
burning.
Incidentally, it might be mentioned
that the Gentry Bros. have a much larger
exhibition this year than they had last.
There are numerous new features, the
most noticeable of which is the forty
pony act, which but one adjective is
strong enough to justly describe, and
that is magnificent"
Imagine nearly half hundred beauti-
full Shetland ponies going through evO-
lutions similar to those witnessed by
those on a ball room floor by as many
ladies and gentlemen.
Scenes from camp life, SO realistic
that one is led to believe, were the eye
not deceptive, that they were men and not
dumb beasts that were entertaining
them, and drills that would do credit
without exaggeration to the local mill
tary company.
Without question the Gentry Bros
have in Pinto the baby elephant, the
finest trained animal of his species in
the world.
On account Of the catastrophe the
management decided this morning to
cancel their date in Leavenworth to-
morrow, and will remain in Topeka Civ
ing two extra exhibitions.