Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-27
CIRCUS MEN BRAVE.

Ready for Every Emergency or Acct-
 dent Possible to Take Place.
 The bravery of circus men is pro- verbial. Every big tent show has hundred current stories of incidental feats of courage known only to the as- socfates of these unheraIded heroes. FL ephants break loose and are subdued at the peril of life and limb; the jungle animals, often exhibited in the dens and cages in pairs and families, engage in fierce and jsanguinary balt- ties, and are separated and segregated with no thought of the frdghtful risk involved; accidents on the show lot and wrecks by rail call for the exercise of courage not surpassed by soldiers on the field of battle But these things are expected. No circus man would call himself such if he was afraid to meet danger under any and all circumstances
 Sometimes startling acts of bravery mpd out with particular brilliancy. Madison Square Garden, on Ine occa- sion of the first and only dress re hearsal prior to the New York opening of the Barnum & Bailey greatest show on earth, furnished an instance of this kind that Is still discussed with enthusiasm in the dressing tents of the big show The hero of the incident was only a stable boy. but his courage undoubtedly prevented frightful ca tastrophe and entitled him to place an the front rank of circus celebrities What he did, however-darfng though 1t was would have been attempted by any other man In the show
 It was during the rehearsal of the preliminary spectacle, 'HThe Tribute of Balkis.'' a gorgeously costumed and eIaborately ornate display of oriental splendor three centuries before the be- ginning of the Christian era An army of people was grouped in the great center spaces and along the hippo drome track At one end was a herd of big elephants. restive under the un- wonted excitement of the rehearsal, and requiring the combined efforts of their keepers Go keep them from stam- peding. At the other extremity of the track herd of camels exhibited the same restless nervousness in the blare of tine music and the flashing lights of the big building. On either side, be- low the central arena. boxes, mounted men, representative of the soldiers of Queen Ballis. were straining every
 
 of their horses.
 The first figures of the sensuous oriennai dance had just been brought to a picturesque climax, under the di- rectiom of the great BolosSy Kiralfy, when, suddenly, one of the horses be- came unmanageable. threw hts rider heavily to the ground, and started, pIunging and kicking, down the hippo drome track.
 On the ellipse, only those in the vi- oinftv seemed to be immediately aware of what was tTanspfring, and the two or three hundred spectators on the ele- vated seats, made up principally of cir GUS people, fairly held their breath as the frenzied horse dashed down the track fin the midst of men, women and animals and spectacular paraphernalia There was wild scamper to get out of the way, and for a few seconds chaos reigned on the track The queen the mighty potentate to whom she had come with her brilliant retinue to pledge her loyalty and to pay her an- mual tribute: the resplendent carved harges of state and their richly appar. elIed f1gTIrantes- -all were forgotten Even the dance measures of the band fr the music balcony died away in a sputter of discordant notes. All eyes were turned toward the arena. where the rtr1away horse seemed to be liter ally ploughdng his way through a seemingly frextricable tangle of dane. CTS. marching men, choristers, priests and led animals Men, rendered cal Ious to danger by years of strenuous circus experiences turned pale. The dancing girds screamed in terror as they realized their danger and f1*anti- caIIy rushed to right and left, opening q passageway almost under the hoofs of the runaway.
 It was not until the horse had almost completed the circuit, and was ap Droacffng the point where his discom fited rider had landed so heavily in the sawdust, that any serious effort could be made to stop the animal. Then Bob, Biggsby, one of the superfn fendents of the show, pushed through fhe crowd of coryphees, and throwing oaat his arms tried to intercept the rssnaway. Biggshy was forced aside