Monday, October 06, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Roy still critical; progress noted

Mirage CEO says illusionist responds to doctors' requests to move arms, legs

Siegfried & Roy supporters have been building a tribute of flowers outside of the MGM Mirage hotel following Friday's show when a tiger mauled illusionist Roy Horn. Photo by Craig L. Moran. Roy Horn's brother, Alfred, thanks well-wishers at Sunday's candlelight vigil outside of University Medical Center.

Strip illusionist Roy Horn remained in critical condition Sunday, but he was responsive and able to move his arms and legs, officials said.

When University Medical Center doctors requested, Horn moved his right arm and then his right leg, said Bobby Baldwin, chief executive officer of Mirage Resorts.

Horn, who was attacked onstage by a white tiger during a Friday performance of Siegfried & Roy at The Mirage, also was able to move his left hand and left foot, Baldwin said.

Horn then gave doctors reason to be even more optimistic that he might survive the mauling.

"The doctor said, 'Can you put two thumbs up?' Roy distinctly put his thumbs up," Baldwin said. "We look at this as a very positive thing. He is obviously conscious and understanding the doctors."

Baldwin and other MGM Mirage officials declined to say whether Horn was able to speak.

"The doctors are telling us, the more time that passes, the better off we are," said Bernie Yuman, the longtime manager of the popular duo. "Every day that passes, we're going to be in better shape."

The magician's progress, though slight, inspired hope among several hundred family, friends and co-workers who gathered in front of UMC on Sunday night for a candlelight vigil.

Horn was injured about 45 minutes into Friday's show when he walked a 7-year-old tiger onstage with a leash. The tiger refused Horn's command to lie down. Shortly thereafter, the tiger locked its jaws on Horn's arm. Horn hit the tiger with a microphone, and the tiger then lunged at him, clamping his jaws on Horn's neck.

Bob Salyer, production manager of "Siegfried & Roy," recalled during the vigil how Horn's co-workers rushed in and tried to beat the tiger off of him. Their efforts were in vain, Salyer said, until a quick-thinking carpenter grabbed a fire extinguisher.

"He shot it at the cat, and the cat released," Salyer said. "Nothing short of that was going to make the cat let go."

Horn was bleeding profusely, but his stubbornness and toughness were evident, Salyer said.

"Some of the first words out of his mouth were, 'Let me up so I can go back on,' " Salyer said.

Horn suffered severe blood loss Friday. During surgery that night, he had to be resuscitated. Horn then suffered a stroke and had another surgery Saturday morning to relieve pressure on his brain, a hospital official said.

"He's got the heart of a lion and the heart of a tiger," said Nicola Hageman, a dancer in the show. "He's a fighter."

Hageman is one of roughly 260 crew members who have to find new jobs because "Siegfried & Roy" has been cancelled indefinitely. MGM Mirage officials have advised that they begin looking for new work.

Corporate officials told show employees that they would do their best to hire as many staffers as they could within the company and that Steve Wynn also would make every effort to hire them when his new Wynn Las Vegas resort opens, said Alan Feldman, the corporation's spokesman.

The tiger that attacked Horn, named Montecore, remained quarantined Sunday, but officials have not yet determined what will become of him.

Yuman said Horn loves his animals and doesn't want any harm to come to the tiger.

"This has nothing to do with the tiger," Yuman said. "He's the last one to lay blame (on the tiger). This is an unfortunate accident."

Amy Fink, a friend of Horn's who attended the illusionist's 59th birthday party Thursday and visited the hospital Sunday, said he made this point very clear on his ambulance ride to the hospital Friday night.

"When they wheeled him out of the ambulance, he said, 'Don't kill the cat. It's a good cat,' " Fink said.

The vigil for Horn attracted many local magicians, including headliners Lance Burton and Penn Jillette and magic pioneer Channing Pollack. Horn's supporters collectively sang "Amazing Grace" and prayed for him.

Many cried at the vigil, and few wore a sadder face than 32-year-old Nineth Gonzalez.

Gonzalez has been part of Horn's housekeeping staff for the past 11 years. She wakes him up every morning, and the awakening is fit for a king, she said. She can't wait to someday walk into his room and be the first voice he hears once more.

"Every morning when I get him his coffee, I always tell him, 'It's a beautiful day and the sun is shining.' He has breakfast in bed and a rose on his tray."