Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1906 — CYCLONE WRECKS BIG CIRCUS TENT [ARTICLE]

CYCLONE WRECKS BIG CIRCUS TENT

Huge Canvas Is Hurled on the Heads of Ten Thousand People. Aurora, 111., July 2.—ln one of the severest cyclones ever experienced in Fox river valley the three-ringed tent of the Ringling Bros.’ circus collapsed in the driving park here late in the afternoon during a performance. A panic followed, in which two persons lost their lives and seven others were injured severely. Forty elephants, performing at the time in the arena, became frightened and the attendants had difficulty in preventing them from stampeding. They were corraled, however, and with whip and prodder restrained in their quarters until the storm subsided. The dead: Matthew Bury, Aurora, struck by a falling tent pole and trampled by the crowd; William Cress, Geneva, died from heart disease, due to the shock. The injured: J. Abel, circus performer, hip dislocated; Mrs. Bertha Freeman. Geneva, cut and bruised; John Kehoe, circus performer, shoulder dislocated: John Ray, Aurora, ambulance driver, burned by live wire while engaged In rescue work; Mrs. Sharping. Shabbona, bruised and suffering from shock; Mrs. Stanfield, Shabbona, cut and bruised; Joseph Williams. Aurora, policeman, cut and bruised while engaged in rescue work.