Evening star., 1943-06-19
150Fron1 Circus
Recover After
Food Poisoning
Show Expects to
Present All Features
This Afternoon

lVIS HTISINOON
This afternoons performance Of
the Ringing Bros. and Barnum s.
Bailey Circus was scheduled to 60 on
with all its features intact, despite
the food poisoning with which an
estimated $50 of the circus folk, some
Of them star performers, were strick-
en- last night
More than 100 spent the night in
hospitals, but most Of them were re-
ported released by noon today and
others were expected to be dismissed
during the day. None was reported
in serious condition.
Ninety-one of the victims were
taken to Casualty Hospital in i'm
provised ambulances, including sta
ton wagons, circus trucks, buses and
patrol wagons. Twelve were sent to
Gallinger Hospital. Most of them
had recovered this morning.
Performers awaiting release at
Casualty said most Of those poisoned
we're stricken before the show start
ed at BIS o'clock. Many became
violently i'll around 7 o'clock, while
others did not feel the effects until
as late as $50, after they had gone
into the big top.
Some Acts Eliminated.
1t was necessary to eliminate sew
eral of the final acts, including the
Wallendas, stars of the high wire,
and two closing spectacles, the pa
tients recalled, because key men,
bers of these casts were unable to go
on. Although some performers be-
came sick while under the big top.
none of these, fortunately, was in
the more hazardous exhibitions, the
circus people said.
Two of the Wallendas were
stricken before their act was sched-
uled and the daring display was
Cancelled.
Maj, Mite, noted midget, who was
strolling about the hospital eager to
get out after violent seizure dur
ing the night. said he became i'll
while going through a clown rou-
tine.
Everything began to look funny"
he said, but 1 managed to get out.
and I don't think any one noticed
anything wrong with me. If people
did they probably thought it was
part of my act"
Among others stricken were Baby
Thelma, the 6l8-pound fat lady of
the sideshow: Felix Adler, noted
| clown; Wander Barbette, director of
the aerial ballet, Mr.. and Mrs. Fred
Bradna (Mr. Bradna is equestrian
| director and Mrs. Bradna is a rider),
and Fred De Wolfe. treasurer.
Meal Is Described.
The late afternoon meal was
served from to o'clock in the cook
tent. 1t consisted of filet of sole
and chicken salad with mayon-
nalse. The circus freaks and side
show perSonnei, workmen and per-
| formers ate in the order named.
The night show was more than
half completed when the food
poisoning began claiming victims.
AS the number of those taken out
side began to grow, circus officials
became alarmed. DR.. Joseph Ber-
gin. show physician. administered
flrst-aid treatment to victims on
! the scene.
Those more violently i'll, suffering
stomach cramps, were rushed to
Casualty and Gallinger Hospitals in
ambulances, station wagons, scout
cars and private automobiles. Cas-
ualty Hospital became so crowded
near midnight that for the first time
the bombing and disaster ward on
the third floor was utilized.
Show Goes On.
Spectators were unaware of what
was going on, and circus officials and
performers met the crisis in the
finest the show must go on tradi-
ton.
When Fred Springer, radio an
nouncer and impresario, became i'll
his place was taken by F. Beverly
Kelly, former newspaperman who
proved an acceptable substitute.
Merle Evans, director of the cir
Gus band, handed his baton over to a
band member and went outside the
tent for medical treatment. Hear
ing what he believed to be sour
notes, he returned shortly, forgot his
stomach ache and finished the per-
formance. Two members of the
armed services, members of the Navy
and Marine Bands. respectively, sub
stituted for two of the circus band
and played instruments left by the
sick pair.
Students Help Nurses.
Allen Lester, press representative,
said today that nothing like this
ever happened before in our circus
of some $500 people"
Senior medical students of George
Washington Hospital, forsook their
examinations in building across
the street from Casualty Hospital,
and were called in to help, along
with nurses aides.
DR.. Christopher J. Murphy, assist
ant coroner, was riding past Casualty
when he noticed crowd there. He
made an investigation. Informed
this morning that no casualties had
resulted from the wholesale poison
ing. DR.. Murphy said he was happy
the incident passed off with a mini
mum of suffering.
Food poisoning usually is acci-
dental. 1t is one of those things that
happens in life" he remarked.
Starting at midnight tonight, the
circus will start loading for a trip
to Baltimore, arriving there tomor-
row for a weeks show starting
Monday.
DnIiro Dannr{ "A Ao..