Alexandria Gazette

SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 11.

STORM PANIC IN A CIRCUS.—During the exhibition by the Barnum circus at Williamsport, Pa., yesterday afternoon, a violent storm suddenly came up, and a panic was created in the large tent. The canvas began to give way, and it began to look as though it would come down bodily. Many of the poles were lifted three or four feet from the ground, and great exertion on the part of the attaches of the show was required to hold them down. The vast audience made a rush to get out, and the wildest excitement prevailed for a time. Managers shouted and tried in vain to quiet the people; but as the storm continued, and the danger of the tent going down increased, they urged the people to get out as fast as possible. Fortunately, by using all the exits and going out under the canvas, the people passed out without serious results. One woman, in her haste, fell over a rope and broke her wrist. The other tents did not fare so well. The dressing-room, the menagerie and the tent covering the freaks were all blown down flat. Three cages of animals were overturned, and some valuable specimens were injured, an antelope being so badly crippled that it had to be killed. The elephants, finding themselves fast under the canvas, began to make violent demonstrations, and the people were greatly alarmed. The proprietors of the show estimate the loss to their outfit at $10,000, not to speak of the loss by having to dispense with the evening performance. A number of the performers were more or less injured.