DISASTER TO A CIRCUS
OVERWHELMED BY SNOWSTORM
Disaster overwhelmed Carmo’s circus, one of the biggest travelling shows in England, recently. In the heaviest snoAvstorm Birmingham has . known for five years, Avhicn raged there one night in March, hundreds of tons of snow accumulated on the huge marquee, which normally accommodated 4000 people, causing it to collapse. The circus staff off over 200 had worked desperately to clear the place o circus properties and equipment. I ear ng a stampede of the animals the men .nany of Avhom had miraculous escape.' from death, turned their attention t( other tents, in one of which were 4( horses, AA'hile in another there avcil eight caged lions. Fortunately these were saved. One of the most alarming experiences was that of Mr Beaumont, the elephant trainer avlio Avliile assisting to clear the big marquee of suoaa’, AA’as hulled by a falling pole into a tent containing tAvo restive elephants. He fell betAveen the animals, Avhieh Avere trumpeting wildly, but he at length succeeded in quieting them. Captain Ankner, the lion tamer, was also struck by a pole. He Avas knocked through the roof of a tent, from AA’hich he craAvled on all fours, Tt became evident about 4 a.m. that the marquee Avas doomed, for the 32 side poles sagged and snapped one by one. Trapeze artists, acrobats, oloaaiik and all other members of the company, in scanty riothes, stood helpless in the snow ais*they Watched the collapse. The show, Avhieh the night before had played to crowded houses, had to be abandoned. “It is heartbreaking, said the manager, “for Ave have nowhere else to go unless AA'e can find a lnigc hall”
The damage Avas estimated at many thousands of pounds. The storm also put over 2000 telephone lines out of action in the Birmingham area.
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Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1930, Page 2
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302DISASTER TO A CIRCUS Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1930, Page 2
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