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For decades, circuses have captivated children with their thrilling acts, from daring acrobatics and exotic animals to high-wire performers and playful clowns, creating a world of wonder and excitement.
Yet, behind the applause and laughter lies a darker reality. These ten tragic incidents reveal the perilous side of circus life, where danger and devastation have often taken center stage.
10. Mary the Elephant
Our list starts with a widely recognized tragedy—the execution of an elephant. On September 12, 1916, Mary fatally trampled her handler, Red Eldridge. The reasons behind the attack vary, from Eldridge provoking Mary with a stick to theories that she was merely bored.
While Eldridge’s death was horrifying, Mary’s fate was arguably more tragic. The residents of Kingsport, Tennessee, demanded justice, leading to the decision to hang Mary. On September 13, a crowd of 2,500, mostly children, gathered to witness the execution. Mary was suspended by an industrial crane, but the chain broke, causing her to fall and break her hip. A stronger chain was used for a second attempt, and she remained hanging for 30 minutes before being buried in a shallow grave.
9. Sarah Guyard-Guillot
Cirque du Soleil, renowned for its artistic excellence and safety standards, had never experienced a fatal on-stage accident until 2013. This tragic record was shattered during a performance of their Las Vegas show, “Ka.”
Sarah Guyard-Guillot, a 31-year-old aerialist, was performing in the final battle scene when tragedy struck. Her motorized safety harness malfunctioned, causing her to ascend too quickly and collide with a catwalk. The harness cable snapped, and she plummeted over 90 feet (27.4 meters) into an open pit. Despite immediate medical attention, she succumbed to her injuries. A new safety system was implemented, and the show resumed after an 18-month break. It continues to run five nights a week at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
8. Massarti the Lion-Tamer
Massarti (Thomas MacCarte), a daring yet reckless one-armed lion tamer, met a tragic end on January 3, 1872. While performing with Manders’ Menagerie in Bolton, England, a lion named Tyrant suddenly attacked him. The other three lions in the act swiftly joined the assault. Massarti was nearly scalped as one lion bit his head, and he was fatally mauled in front of hundreds of horrified spectators.
7. The St. Louis Trapeze Accident
The trapeze act is widely regarded as one of the most perilous circus performances, demanding immense strength and agility. However, even the most rigorous training cannot always prevent mechanical mishaps. In 1872, renowned trapeze artists Fred Lazelle and Billy Millson plummeted to the ground after their trapeze apparatus malfunctioned. Gymnast George North, who was positioned below, was also struck by the falling equipment. All three sustained serious injuries; Millson likely fractured his ribs, while North endured internal damage.
6. The Duluth Lynchings
A grim episode in American history involved circus workers. On June 14, 1920, the James Robinson Circus arrived in Duluth, Minnesota. Irene Tusken, 19, and James Sullivan, 18, observed African-American circus employees loading wagons. Later, Tusken alleged that six of these workers had assaulted her at gunpoint. Authorities swiftly detained six men in connection with the accusation.
Soon after, a mob of 5,000 to 10,000 people stormed the jail, conducted a sham trial, and pronounced Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie guilty. The mob brutally beat the men and dragged them to a light pole at the intersection of First Street and Second Avenue East, where they were lynched.
5. The Flying Wallendas
The Flying Wallendas, a legendary circus family, included Karl, his wife Helen Kreis, his brother Herman, and several other relatives. Karl Wallenda revolutionized the circus world with his Seven-Person Chair Pyramid act, where seven performers balanced on tightropes and a chair, suspended 32 feet above the ground, all without safety nets.
Despite their extraordinary skills and bravery, tragedy struck in 1962 when their performance took a devastating turn. The lead performer lost balance, causing three members to plummet to the ground. Richard Faughnan, Karl’s son-in-law, and Dieter Schepp, his nephew, lost their lives, while Mario, Karl’s adopted son, was left paralyzed below the waist.
4. The Cleveland Circus Fire
The Cleveland Circus Fire of 1942, though it claimed no human lives, was a devastating incident that resulted in the deaths of more than a hundred circus animals. A fire, whose cause remains unknown, ignited near the menagerie tent of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. While spectators and workers managed to escape unharmed, the rapid spread of the flames made it impossible to rescue all the animals.
Nine cages housing lions, tigers, and zebras were engulfed in flames. Although some animals escaped, twenty-six others suffered severe burns and had to be euthanized by police using machine guns.
3. The Hartford Circus Fire
This catastrophic event is widely regarded as the most infamous on our list, owing to the massive scale of the fire and the staggering loss of life. On July 6, 1944, a small blaze ignited in the southwest sidewall of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey big top tent. The tent, waterproofed with paraffin wax and gasoline, caused the fire to spread uncontrollably.
Naturally, the 7,000-strong crowd panicked and surged toward the exits. However, two exits were obstructed by animal chutes, leading to a chaotic stampede. Many were trampled, crushed, or suffocated under the weight of others. As the fire raged, some spectators perished in the flames, while others succumbed to smoke inhalation. In desperation, some leaped from the bleachers, but this escape attempt proved fatal for many.
The final toll was devastating: approximately 169 lives were lost, and over 700 people were injured.
2. Hagenbeck-Wallace Train Wreck of 1918
On June 22, 1918, the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was en route to Hammond, Indiana by rail. The train had halted for the night, with many performers asleep in the wooden carriages. At 4:00 am, a Michigan Central Railroad troop train collided with the circus train at 35 miles per hour. The troop train’s driver, Alonzo Sargent, had dozed off at the controls, failing to notice the warnings about the stationary circus train.
The collision resulted in 86 fatalities and 127 injuries.
1. The Great “Wallace Brothers” Circus Train Disaster
In 1903, two Wallace Brothers Circus trains smashed into each other. The first train had come to a stop on the tracks, and despite the second train’s conductor spotting the warning signal, the brakes malfunctioned, causing a collision. The accident claimed the lives of 30 circus workers and injured 27 others. Several animals also perished, including an Arabian horse, three camels, a great dane, and an elephant named Maud.
