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TO LEAVE BIG TENT

GEORGE WIRTH RETIRES FROM

CIRCUS

AFTER FIFTY YEARS

After 53 years in active circus life—lie started at the age of 10—Mr George Wirth has decided to retire and leave the management of Wirth Bors.’ circus co his brother Philip and his family, who will carry on. “I do not think I will miss the hurlyburly,” he said, in an interview. “My wife, who has been a splendid helpmate, will notice the change much more oiian I. For years it was a labour of love with her to ‘dress’ the circus. She supplied the wardrobes, and had the elephant rugs and other trapping and decorations made. When the grand parade took place, the delighted surprise of the audience more than repaid iier for her efforts.”

One of Mr Geo. Wirth’s most excitng experiences concerned the notorious elephant “Cardie.”

“ ‘Cardie’ had struck several keepers,” said Mr Wirth, “and even went is far as to show his contempt for the general manager of the show, for he felled him one night with a ‘genie’ tap on the head with his trunk. U was so gentle that the manage) Mr Geo. Anderson) was not about for nonths. After this there were onh :hree men who would dare go neai cardie’—the keeper (Lee) John Cooke, and John Beirnasconi. But Bernasoni left the show for some time, and >n returning he went up and spoke to 'Cardie,’ who immediately gave him, r. ■rack on the head. Their friendly days vere at an end. That left only two vho could handle .him-—his trainer and his keeper,

TRAINER. IN DANGER

On June 29, 1923, whilst dloing his ict in the ring ‘Cardie’ knocked his trainer (Mr Cooke) down. I believe le did it unintentionally, but the moment he saw Mr Cooke on the ground be pricked up his ears and rushed over o him. Putting one foot on the prostate man’s leg he held him down anc. vas proceeding to crush him. I just rot there in time to turn him off. Mr Jooke told me afterwards that he -hought it was all over with him. He saw me running to the rescue, but thought that I would never reach him n tune. At first it was hard to convince him that he was alive. . . Taking it altogether we were the losers bj several thousands pounds when w:e shol •Cardie,’ but it was not only the value bf ‘Cardie’s’ work and his looks that nade me sorry to destroy him. He hac been with us 21 years. “Elephants have great wisdom, and they remember both friends and enemies for years after either a friendh action or a cruelty is done them.

SIX LIONS LOOSE.

At Murrurundi in 1905 two lions and four lionesses got loose. This is how Mr Wirth tells the story: “We had these lions and two wolves in a big cage. After their periOrmance the door was opened to lea tne lions into one of the smaller cages, but the wolves got in too. To make i; worse one of the boys got in with them also. I saw ‘red.’ My brother Philip pulled the boy out. and also got. tlm wolves out, but he did not close the door quick enough/ The lions broke through and got into the street, The people who had seen the show were afraid to move. They stayed in the tent. A little later one of our performers, nam#d Datas whose turn did not commence till 10 o’clock, came in and said that he had seen ‘thq biggest dog he had ever set eyes on outside a hotel.’ We told him that the lions had got loose and he was so overcome that lie canid not go on with his turn. We hadn’t much trouble in recapturing the lionesses, but it was different with the lions. We found one lion in the fowlyard of'a hotel, but could not locate the other. Search parties went out, and in the early hours we saw the other lion in a paddock two or three miles out of the town. It had knocked down a cow, and had started to eat it. We destroyed the cow, and eventually recaptured the lion.

BEAR SEIZED TRAINER

“There is one experience I shall never forget. It occurred at Christchurch (N.Z ). There was an act in which six lions, two bears and two wolves'performed together. One of the bears did not like the acting trainer, Sid Rose. One night she seized him in her paws and threw him to the ground. The man was fighting for his life, and the bear seemed to be eating into his stomach. The audience was panic-stricken. Seizing a piece of 3x2 wood I rushed over, and with all the force 1 could command I aimed at the bear. The wood rebounded from the bear’s head to my forehead, cutting it open. One of our men then picked up a heavy iron bar, and struck at the hear. I thought that its skull would be split open, but the iron bar had no more effect than by wood. Then Schmidt, the polar bear trainer, came on the scene. He jabbed a fork into the bear’s mouth, and led her into the retiring cage. Then I remembered for the first time the six lions, two wolves, and the other bear. I had to get them off their pedestals and back to their cages. As it happened, they obeyed like frightened children.’’

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HOG19300512.2.64

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1930, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
912

TO LEAVE BIG TENT Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1930, Page 7

TO LEAVE BIG TENT Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1930, Page 7

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