Thursday, October 09, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

'TRAGEDY IS NOT THE END': Magician gives mixed signals on his future

Magician gives mixed signals on his future

Siegfried Fischbacher, right, talks about the white tiger attack on his partner, Roy Horn, as Siegfried & Roy personal manager Bernie Yuman looks on during an interview at Horn's home Wednesday on Vegas Drive. Photo by K.M. Cannon. Roy Horn

"Of course it's a tragedy, but the tragedy is not the end," Siegfried Fischbacher said of the state of his 44-year stage partner Roy Horn on Wednesday, going public for the first time since Horn was mauled by a tiger Friday.

"We started this together and we know we're going to finish it up together, whatever it is," Fischbacher said in one of several Wednesday interviews that broke his silence since the accident. Horn remains in critical condition at University Medical Center.

"This was bigger than Siegfried & Roy. But I know also Roy is bigger than life," he said.

Before an appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live," Fischbacher sat for separate interviews at the duo's "Jungle Palace" with CBS, NBC and ABC as well as a pool of three print reporters.

Fischbacher confirmed to King that Horn had "a minor stroke" and two surgeries after the injury. Horn was mauled onstage by a 7-year-old show tiger during a performance on Horn's 59th birthday.

The illusionist also told King that Horn "asked for his special dog and the dog is by his side." Earlier in the day, casino developer Steve Wynn had mentioned the dog to reporters as well.

A longtime friend of the stars told others in their close-knit circle of supporters that on Monday night, hospital staffers removed a breathing aid and that Horn's first words were to ask to see his dog.

Fischbacher otherwise mentioned only hand signals with his stage partner. "That's how we communicate onstage. Just by a touch of his hand. ... Sometimes we just have to look at each other and I know exactly what he means."

Fischbacher repeatedly characterized the tiger mauling as an accident. "It was nothing vicious, it was nothing mean," he said.

He also said Roy's final words backstage were: "Please don't shoot the cat. Don't harm the cat."

If the tiger had attacked Horn, "Roy would be no more after that. Ten seconds," Fischbacher told King.

The illusionist said he believes the tiger named Montecore dragged Horn from the stage by his neck and shoulder after Horn tripped, "because the cat wanted to be secure, wanted to get out of all this."

"The moment Roy tripped, the cat realized, `Oh my god, I did something wrong,' and then felt threatened, too. So what it did, the cat took him and dragged him backstage."

Fischbacher also noted, "Luckily, we also had a stagehand who was in the military and he knew exactly what to do and he knew how to stop the bleeding for the time."

"Everyone did exactly what he had to do and I think also including Roy and the cat."

Though he repeated many of the same statements in different interviews, the veteran illusionist gave mixed signals when it came to his future in show business.

He said he was speaking metaphorically when he told a German newspaper, "The show will go on."

"In that case, of course, the show stopped. But I always say the show is our life and life is the show," he said.

But Fischbacher told CBS correspondent Harry Smith: "We have to finish this up. I'm sure it will be a different cat but I know we are going to finish this up together."

Bernie Yuman, the duo's longtime personal manager, reaffirmed that "Siegfried & Roy at The Mirage" will not reopen.

Yuman said NBC still plans to continue production of "Father of the Pride," a computer-animated sitcom planned for next fall in which celebrities would provide voices for the white tigers.

Fischbacher no longer makes a primary residence of the Jungle Palace near Vegas Drive and Decatur Boulevard where both used to dwell. He has been staying there because of its proximity to the UMC Trauma Center.

But he said that on Friday night, when he walked into the house where Horn still resides, "I felt everything was going to be all right. When I walked into this house, I couldn't believe it. It was just serenity."

"This is everything Roy did. This is a home, this is our sanctuary, this is our place where we create, where we get our ideas. The spirit of everything is combined in this house."