HIS LAST CALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 12

HIS LAST CALL.

« GTTS ST. LEOK BEAD. VETERAN CTRCUS-MANT. Gus St. Leon, the noted Australian circua proprietor, died in Victoria yesterday, aged 89. The St. Leon family have been connected with the circus game for three generations. Gua' father established a show in Sydney 90 years ago, and that circua, which is now being run by the sons of the deceased, is the second oldest circus in the world. Seventy years have passed aince the original St. Leon Company visited New Zealand, and it was near Rotorua at the time when the famous Pink Terraces were destroyed. Gus St. Leon was born in Sydney, 80 years ago, and was connected with the circus all hie life. He wag the first circus rider to ever perform a somer.sanlt on the back of a running horse, and he was considered to be the greatest horseman the Australian circus world has ever known. Three years ago the present show, which his sons manage, came to New Zealand, and, although not actually connected with the management, the old Gus could not keep outside the ring, and he appeared as a talking , clown at all the performances. A loc.il friend states that many a successful man to-day owes his success to the generoue help given by Gus St. Leon. At tie time of his death, the circun veteran was visiting Phillip Wirth, of Wlrth's Circus, in Victoria.