South Yorkshire Times, March 10, 1933

“Chapman’s Circus”

Next Week’s Big Attraction

The biggest attraction stages at the Hippodrome for some years arrives next week. No form of entertainment has so wide appeal as the circus, and Chapman’s is the biggest now touring. They bring with them the most spectacular group of performing tigers in Europe; two groups of forest-bred lions;  a unique company of snow white polar bears from the Arctic; the famous  dancing horse, “Rheingeld,” and other performing horses and ponies: and “boomerang,” the world’s boxing champion – Kangaroo!

With the animals are Isabel, reputed the countries out-standing lady rider; Chapman’s troupes of dancing girls; wire walkers, trapeze artists. clowns, tumblers the compleat circus in fact Heavy bookings have already begun, and the management are putting on three matinee performances; Monday and Saturday at 2 and Thursday at 2, and Thursday at 10-30 a.m. The Thursday matinee is especially to cater for men on the afternoon shift, who would not have opportunity of seeing the show till the weekend, and then would probably find it impossible to get a seat. This thoughtful arrangement by the management should result in a “bumper” house.

The tiger and trainer shown in our picture were concerned in a “life-and-death” drama”

During rehearsals on Wednesday, at Manchester, where the circus is appearing this week. The performing tiger shown above suddenly flew at the throat of the trainer Kruger. There were three other tigers in the cage, but Kruger, taking probably the only chance of saving his life, leaped aside, ignored all but the maddened animal, and fired two blank cartridges. That gave him just sufficient time to recover his whip, and then for twenty minutes he fought the tiger. He left the cage in the end exhausted but successful, and on the evening appeared in his act with the tigers as usual!