The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-05-24
BIC TENT BURNS
Many Hurt at Circus in Wild
Dash For Safety.
LIGHTED CI6AR CAUSES BLAZE
Main Structure. With Bleachers. Poles
and Seats, Destroyed-Preseaes
of Mind Prevents Stampede
of the Animals.

Schenectady. y. Y. May 23.-Accom-
panied by Wild panic. the main tent
OF the Barnum a Bailey circus. caught
fire when the great canvas walled in
closure was crowded with $4,000 per
sons. and burned completely in less
than an hours time The panic started
al the first cutlery. and in an instant
thousands were engaged in a mad
scramble for the exits. The circus EN-
ployes kept their heads and worked
valiantly to check the excitement. but
in the rush for safety they were swept
aside and several were knocked down
and tramP'Sl under the feet OF the
frantf crowd.
Men. women and children tumbled
OF the highdecked tiers OF narrow
blue seats TO scramble and nSht with
one another in heaps upon the earth
below. Regaining their feet. they ran
into the rings. changing themselves
in the guy ropes and falling over the
show gear. Scores were badly injured
and many received minor bruises IN
the rush for the exits. Hundreds faint.
ed and were carried out by the police
men. firemen and show people.
Lighted Cigar the Cause.
The performance was Just begin
ming. and the tent was filled beyond
its seating capacity. Etra seats were
being Installed in front OF the bleach
e-s, when there came the cry OF fire
The management attributes the fire
TO the obstinacy OF a careless smoker
Employees who saw him carry a lighted
cigar 10 his seat IN the top tier. close
TO the canvas walls. warned him that
he must not smoke. Instead OF throw
ing the cigar away. they believe that
he bid it behind his back. and In Sc
doing brushed the burning end agains:
the canvas. In any event. the fire
started in his neighborhoOd and soon
was out OF control
Spectators first smelled the smoke
and. quickly discovering the FIRE. be
gan to beat at IL with their coats. The
fire reached above their heads quick
ly. and the next effort to conquer the
flames came, from the circus employees
who began tearing out huge patches
OF canvas. Their efforts met with nc
better success. for the fire. eating up
ward. soon worked its way TO the top
most peak
In short time the main tent
bleachers. poles and seats were totally
destroyed. Women tainted and were
snatched up and carried out bodily
Many were hurt In the crush about
the main entrance. but Il is believed
that no one was fatally injured. al
though bruises and cuts were plenti
full Hats. overcoats and umbrellas By
the hundred were abandoned by the
panic stricken men and women. But
for the bravery OF about 100 men who
did everything in their power 10 pre-
vent fatalities many persons would
have persisted.
Mensgerie and Horses Saved.
While some Of the circus stan. aided
by the performers. policemen and
cooler headed citizens. tried to re
strain the rush. the canvasmen and
animal trainers. working with the dis
cipline OF a perfect organization
struck the menagerie and the lesser
tents and removed all the stock. the
Gagged animals and the horses TO places
OF safety without casualties.
The prompt response of the FIRE de
partment prevented a total loss OF the
circus property. The main tent burn
ed to the guy ropes, together with
most OF the seating accommodations
and practically all OF the parapher
MALTA. so that the loss will run up into
the thousands