The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-13
Vicious Gypsy Seals Her Doom
By Another Display
of Temper
TRIES TO CRUSH LIFE OUT
Washes Keeper Against Wall With
Her Immense Bulk - Circus
Scenes When In Win
ter Quarters.

Gypsy, the immense elephant belonging
to the Harris Nickle Plate shows, made
another attempt yesterday to take the
life of her keeper, Jim Roerick, who she
has twice laid up in the past.
Early in the morning while Gypsy was
being fed, she caught her keeper In a
corner of the little house in which she
is kept, and tried to mash his life out
between her immense body and the side
of the house. Mr.. Roerick saved him
self by sticking the iron hook he carries
up to the hilt in her body. This Is the
second attempt recently, and as soon as
Manager Wilson returns from Cincinnati,
where he has gone to buy three other
trained elephants, Gypsy will likely be
electrocuted. Mr.. Wilson Is expected
back today or tomorrow.
Winter quarters of circus are an In
teresting sight to the outsider. There
are about twenty-five or thirty people
around the querters, the majority OF
whom are the men who handle the stock.
There are also a number of performers
and managers of departments.
Still Live In Cars.
The cars, in which the circus travels
during the season are also used as winter
quarters. There are five cars, one for
the owner, manager and bosses or de-
partments: one for a dining room, one
for the workmen. one for the performers
and an advertising car Every thing is
snuggly arranged and the compartments
are well heated and supplied with not
water.
Tn the winter the men are not idle.
They have the wagons to repaint, the
harness to put in shape and clean, the
cars to repair and the stock to tend.
There is a pant shop rugged up In one
of the buildings where the wagons are
protected from the dirt, and here all the
chariots and lighter vehicles are carefully
touched up by experienced men, Every
one connected with circus Is past
master in some trade.
Begin Training Stock.
Next week ring will be built IN one
of the houses and the animals will begin
training for the coming season. They
have to be carried through an entire
programme similar to that done in the
regular performance, and the winter mis-
chief has to be worked out OF them
They are all kept as far as possible In
the same good condition as when on the
ly difference Another important task TO
be completed during the winter is the
mending of the tents and all the canvas
used by the show. The seats and the
stands which they rest on also receive
attention.
Every day is very much the same with
the men, They are given breakfast early
and after that they work on the canvas
wagons, cars and whatever else comes 10
hand The women with the show, mostly
the wives of the performers and man
ayers, are busy with costumes ana trap
pings.
The amount of money spent by cir
Gus would surprise the outsider. The ele-
plants bill of fare alone Is a heavy item.
Gypsv consumes two bales of hay day
The four camels eat about three bales
of hay a day, and they are also given
delicacies occasionally which cost much
more than hay. There are about seven
ty-five horses and ponies to be fed and
the lion, which can take care OF several
pounds of raw meat at meal. These are
only few of lie items of expense.
There is food for twenty-five people.
paints enough to cover all the wagons,
cars and cages, and new materials to re-
place the broken and worn out All to be
purchased.
Are Paid OFF Sunday.
Whether on the road or In winter quar-
tiers, everybody receives their pay each
week. Sunday afternoon just after din
ner each employe receives his envelope
from the paymaster.
The Harris shows start on the road
about March "a and for eight months
they rarely stay In one place more than
two days. and in the majority only one.
About 12b people are carried on the road