Evening star., 1942-08-05
Animal Hospital
Sef1 Up for Victims
OF Circus Fire
30 Burned to Death
In Cleveland, Nine Slain;
Loss Put at 100000
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, Aug. S.-Seared
circus beasts surviving the terror OF
fire that destroyed 80 animal at
fractions of the greatest show on
earth" today received treatment In
an emergency animal hospital set
up in Cleveland's public hall.
While the show under the Ringing
Brothers "big top" went on with all
its usual glitter and bright lights
last night, veterinarians worked to
save nve animals injured but
rescued after Commute fire
burned to death or suffocated 30 of
the circus beasts Nine others had
to be shot to put them out Of misery.
All were on display in the shows
menageries but had no part in big
top performances.
The burned but rescued animals
were painted with gallons of foille. q
new medicament used especially for
treating industrial burns. One OF
two scared elephants, q bull, died
during the night.
Long-handled brushes were used
TO daub wild beasts, Tannic acid
solutions were applied to scorched
tanner animals. under direction of
DR.. j, j. Henderson, Ringling's chief
veterinarian.
Cause Not Definitely Known.
Cause Of the blaze was not def
nitely determined, but Chief Louis
P. Pritseh of the Fire Prevention
Bureau said he believed the fire
was started by either carelessly
thrown cigarette or live coal from
q passing railroad engine. The cir
Gus pitched on the downtown lake
front.
As circus hands gathered for
lunch, flames broke out between the
menagerie tent and the horse tent,
Chief Pritsch said.
John Ringing North, circus head,
estimated the damage at 5000 900,
although . complete inventory of
animal losses in the menagerie's 18
cages and rows of tethered beasts
had not yet been completed.
There was no insurance on the
damage because circus "is classed
as extremely hazardous, so the rates
are prohibitive." explained Frank
Braden, the organizations publicity
man.
Animals destroyed by flames or
shot by police and coast guards
men included 10 camels, nine zebras,
three elephants. five lions, three
deer, a puma and two each of the
tigers, Indian donkeys. giraffes and
brindle 'gnus.
Elephant Boss Badly Burned.
Two Of the three giraffes were
mclnerated in their steel mesh
partitions, but the third broke out
and ran until it fell and was
captured.
Elephant Boss Walter McClain,
severely burned on his right cheek
and neck. released 46 of his charges
but was unable to make another
Ringing Rosy, leave her stall.
After the flames were ouenched
Rosy was Staked with double chains
but went berserk with pain and hao
to be shot. She was felled by a As.
calibec bullet fired by Detective
Lloyd Trunk and killed by subma
chine gun bullets fired by supt. D. L
Cowles Of the police science labo.
ratory.
All the performing animals anc
prize attractions. including the giant
gorillas. Gargantua and Toto, wer.
saved.
A rare pygmy hippopotamus out.
smarted the flames by diving In hi.
tank and staying submerged.
A huge polar bear could be seer
through sheet Of flame as he sur.
veyed the, scene, then returned Il
cakes of ice which had been put II
his cage & few minutes earlier.
The show under the big top" wa
staged as usual last night befor'
1900 spectators.