COLLAPSE OF A CIRCUS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 299, 11 September 1908, Page 11

COLLAPSE OF A CIRCUS.

1 -I-JUO-1.-, 10 . cAOu.,6 «... .... EXCITING SCENES. . (FEOM OUB. SPECIAL coeeespondext.).1 , .. . - Sydnoy,. Soptember. S. During a performance by Wirtli's Circus at Orange, in New. South' Wales, on Tuesday evening, about half-past nine o'clock, while two clowns'iwere, giving an acrobatic, perform- . ance,' the huge, tent was struck by- a terrific storm, The scene that resulted was-:one : of; .the wildest •confusion, and the wonder is;'that no one was killed. It is . estimated - that. about 1000 people . wero in the; circus at the time. First the tent, was noticed to sway and shake. 'A people'rose from their seats .with ■ the-intention of : avoiding any possible danger, "..but] were asked by the ringmaster .to remain itv their, seats', and nearly , all : sat down: I .The. storm- had arisen suddenly, and , without? any; further warning the wind -vio- : lently, striick the, tent- on the' northern side, - forced.-it.free of its fastenings, arid blew it over :;qn:-'the ' southern' side, with the result that- people in the 2s. seats were , covered with a mass of canvas; cordage, and poles. Then, the'; two large-centre-poles,-unablo to ; bear, the strain, suddenly snapped; and down cariie";th6. whole structure.- —-'- ' Immediately the tent foil, the lights'- went out,.'and at.once there'wis an extraordinaryscene; ;,.'Women and-' children' screamed; and men shouted. Those who saw the great'tent' collapsing-towards them" ran for their'lives, and fronr the- confused mass of canvas, tho •people, in/the darkness' scrambled out as best they could, slits being made everywhere in" ■the tent in-order that those inside might get' free.. Thfcri; they ran out into the, pouring rain, hat-less,' coat-less,, and terrified. Mothers and fathers w?re looking for . lost children, • and thei-screams- of.;-'the_frenzied women and -to the panic of the scene. •.Fortunately, nobody was killed. When tho two main poles snapped,- they-.fell into-the centre: of.-the ring; otherwise, thero might have been loss of-life. Many people were injured , rush from the tent and by' the collapsing of tho poles and seats..' One young woman, Miss ' Eose Leahmann,'' was reiidered;:uiiconscioiis, and is stijl -in a critical' Condition.. One .-'boy - had "a leg broken, another; suffered serious injury; to his chest, • and a girl had the muscles torn away in her arm. ; - ••'"■ '• . ■ -' Mr. Philip Wirth; estimates his loss at £600. '.: The big tent, which cost £300, has been ruined. . According to the correspondent of ; the "Daily Telegraph," tho circus hands.went on strike, as' the result of some, disagreement, which ended in a free fight.-'