EXCITEMENT AT CIRCUS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21379, 31 December 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXCITEMENT AT CIRCUS

TIGER ESCAPES FROM CAGE ELEPHANT FLEES IN TERROR ' At Rouen, Franco, lately, a wild scene was witnessed when two elephants, terrified by a tiger which had escaped from its cage, charged through the streets. Both elephants were eventually captured, while (lis tiger, retired to its cage after a youth had courageously struck it on the head with an iron bar.

When the tiger broke loose a special performance for school children was being given in the Rouen circus. A negro who was cleaning out the creature's cage forgot to close one of the doors, and a few minutes later the tiger was pacing up and down behind the scenes. The directress of the circus and one of her woman assistants had the presence of mind to lower the iron safety curtain and thus made it impossible for the beast to get near the children.

The two women and other membcis of the staff escaped by way of a window. But at that moment the tiger advanced toward two elephants. Wild with fear these beasts smashed their way through a door leading to the public square outside. One elephant dashed trumpeting along a main thoroughfare. People tied in terror as it approached. But when it made its way across a bridge to the Tie Lncroix, in the Seine, firemen and circus hands managed to round it up.

The other elephant calmed down as soon as it was well away from the tiger and was easily headed off into the Palace of Justice courtyard.