Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Siegfried: ‘The show is our life’

In his first interviews with the U.S. media since his partner was critically injured, Siegfried Fischbacher ranged from teary poetics about his 44 years of shows and friendship with Roy Horn to a description of what he saw Friday night when Horn was dragged offstage in the jaws of a white tiger.

There have been no new developments in the 59-year-old Horn's condition. He remains critical but stable, said Bernie Yuman, Siegfried & Roy's manager. Yuman said he and Fischbacher had visited Horn at University Medical Center only hours before the interviews Wednesday.

Surrounded by fountains, a lush garden and a greatest hits of Eastern and Western religions -- Buddhas and apostles, crosses and Shiva -- Fischbacher spoke to reporters at Horn's home near Vegas Drive and Decatur Boulevard.

Fischbacher clarified comments he made to a German publication about "the show going on," saying he was speaking metaphorically. "The show is our life and life is our show," he said.

Horn's home, known as the "Jungle Palace," was a fitting setting for Fischbacher's first comments.

"This is everything that Roy did ... our sanctuary ... where we get our ideas," he said.

Fischbacher also said the sprawling estate, an oasis of gurgling water, cages and warrens for Horn's white tigers and lions, palms, bamboo, cypress and a vine called cat's claw, was the first place he came to after last week's tragedy. Some of the big cats that have accompanied Horn throughout his career had been at the house as recently as July for a filming.

"Here I felt that everything was going to be all right," he said, echoing a phrase he uttered repeatedly during the morning, once bringing himself to tears.

Fischbacher spoke of what he saw during the minutes after the tiger named Montecore dragged Horn offstage Friday.

"The cat put him down ... and went to a safe place ... his box," he said.

Horn's lifelong partner then held his hand briefly.

"Then I knew he had to go fast ... the stage hand was a paramedic and stopped the bleeding ... and they had to take him away.

"I know he was fighting for his life," he said.

Fischbacher also said that the tiger deserved no blame for the accident.

"(The) cat realized he did something wrong and felt bad about it," he said to a CBS news crew in the presence of other media.

"(Roy) always said all his life -- the cat will react to me like a tiger ... like to his pals.

"If it was a hostile act, I wouldn't be here, Roy wouldn't be here and the cat wouldn't be here," he said.

A sign written in magic marker placed to the right of the "Jungle Palace's" front gate and next to a stuffed tiger said, "I'm sorry I bit you, Roy. I love you and know you love me."

Alan Feldman, MGM Mirage spokesman, said the tiger, Montecore, is "well-cared after and will live a long life" at the Mirage's "Secret Garden," adding that the tiger is not currently on display to the public.

He also said that a video made of the performance is still in the possession of the Mirage. No plans have been made to release any of its contents, he said, and he was not aware of any agency asking to see the video, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is investigating the accident.

Joe Boteilho, animal control manager for Clark County, said he had given a report of the incident to federal investigators Tuesday. He also said that Montecore was in quarantine at the "Secret Garden" until October 13 and that its veterinarian said Wednesday that the tiger was "healthy and doing fine."

Meanwhile, Horn continues to fight for his life, Fischbacher said, but is able to communicate by squeezing his partner's hand and with his eyes, according to an interview with ABC News in the presence of other media.

"We hold hands and one time is yes and two times is no, and I can see his eyes, and he is following me, and he smiles, and he is positive," he said.

As the morning continued, Fischbacher appeared at various moments to reflect on the emotional underpinnings of his lifelong relationship with Horn, which began in 1957.

"All his life he was a mystery to me ... and I feel like I still don't know him," he said at one point to the CBS news crew.

Looking back on their decades together, he said, "Maybe there was something wrong, because my life was the show and Roy's life was the animals. Maybe it will be different ... but we will finish this together."

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