 But under the big top you can see only a part of the story. The real drama comes behind the scenes where 500 people live as one family. Where Clyde Beatty constantly risks death in the most dangerous act on earth. This master of the big caps has journeyed to Africa and India hunting down his beasts in their native jungles. All of this is part of the Clyde Beatty story. Here then is a strange, unearthly adventure which Mr. Beatty calls zombies. My wife Harriet and I in West Indian ports pursuing our favorite sport of deep sea fishing had heard talk of zombies. But it wasn't until we visited St. Lucia in the British West Indies to hunt the seven foot venomous killer snake the Fair Delance for exhibition with our wild animal circus that one morning. All right now let's see. Oh there boy. Let's take the things over Harriet. Batnets. Snake hooks. Strap here on the pack horse Clyde. Okay. And the anti-venom kit. Got it right here. You better let me carry it honey. You let your hands pull with Mr. Misery. He's going along with us isn't he? Mr. Ampsons bringing him down from the plantation house when he comes. But the way those two have been getting along Clyde Mr. Misery is likely to prefer to ride with him. You may be right look. They're coming from the house now. Oh Clyde look how Mr. Misery studies Mr. Ampsons face. He simply understood every word. And the capuchin monkey is supposed to hate human beings. Well now Mr. Misery. You can all have a good early morning horseback ride. What? In the stock of sugar cane is a reward. Good morning. All ready to start off I see. Oh yes we've just been checking over the equipment Mr. Ampsons. Well you know as I told you the head of the house has been all but wiped out through these islands. Oh I think we'll round up a specimen or two. I hope so baby. Since you seem set on having some of the beggars. Shall we set off then? Okay. We're all ready. I'm afraid Mr. Ampsons Mr. Misery would really rather ride on your horse with you. Sticker fighter isn't he? But I think Mrs. Baby I'd best keep my hands free. Is it really likely anything might happen Ampsons? You carry your precaution. The anti-vendant kit you hold in your hand. I have here across my saddle my precaution. This 30-30 crank rifle. As I told you at dinner last evening baby. These West Indian islands are a string of powder boxes. From Cuba to the South American coast. Well it seems peaceful enough. Yes indeed. And in just such peaceful surroundings. I don't mean to frighten you Mrs. Baby but you seem a sturdy sort. In just such surroundings here in St. Lucia. Planters. And infinite oil fields overseas. They've been seen for years. Clyde look. Around this turn in the road. Oh big crowd. What are they up to Ampsons? Don't know baby. Come now. We'll just ride straight along. They'll make way. You cry like you can easily. Yeah the crowd separating. Clearing the center of the road. Except. Hurry. Mr. Ampsons. Clearly. He won't budge at any rate. Clyde look. Her eyes empty. As if she were dead. Quite. That is a girl named Martha Brown. Or was. If some would have it. Why Mr. Ampsons. Yes you see. Many say that Martha Brown is a zombie. A risen member of the colony of the dead. Well come along. We must ride round. We return to our strange West Indian story. Zombie in a moment. Back to Clyde Beatty and our story. Zombie. We passed the girl Martha Brown. Gazing with vacant sightless eyes. Standing unheeding in the middle of the road. We rode on between the twelve foot high walls of sugar cane and quite soon a tall man, unburned, hapless about fifteen years younger than our host Ampsons. Appeared ahead. He waved cheerfully and rode up to us. Come of the morning. I say. Out to the breeze so early are we. Morning. Oh this is Johannes Van Eckert. Has the sugar plantation next to mine. How do you do Mr. Van Eckert. How do you do. This is Mrs. Beatty Van Eckert. Hello. Mr. and Mrs. Beatty are wild animal trainers. They have a circus in the United States. Oh yes I know the beaties. They hope to take specimens of the third allowance for exhibition. Well then that account for all that beer you have aboard. Oh Mr. Van Eckert. This is Mr. and Mrs. Beatty. Hello there. Sorry to say so. We think so. That's the reason for his nose. Well it's you. All right. I have told Mr. and Mrs. Beatty the mongoose has all but eliminated the third allowance from St. Lucia. Hold on though. What is it Mr. Van Eckert. I just thought. Well I'm a bachelor you know and. The fact is I don't keep my dig just one month might call ship ship. That refuse pile up and that sort of thing. Well to tell the truth we've attracted rodents with the mess. Wats. Marys. Just lately. They've been disappearing. That could be the work of the third allowance. So if you don't recognize Mr. Van Eckert. Yes so I've heard. Well if you don't have luck this morning why not come round and give my place to go this afternoon. Thanks Van Eckert. We might do that. Oh and I see. Bring a swimsuit. I have a sort of a water hole that serves for a pool. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Hey honey you. Oh I'm through. I'll. I'll. Yeah. Yes please go ahead. Get up. Oh. Oh. Thanks. Finally. Oh. I'm sorry baby we failed to turn up your sad alone. I'm beginning to believe there really aren't any on St. Lucia we've hunted my place over thoroughly enough this afternoon. And we come became feels this morning's. the king feels this morning you know it's too bad and then decided not to come along with you to my place yeah yeah it is yeah and I'm sorry Mr. Mithry's missing oh and he simply refuses to be separated from Mr. Ameson what precise did it ameson say that he that is we don't mind he said convey my apologies to mine here Vanneke mine here oh that was the barb you see I'm an African that born so anyhow out in the towns vows South Africa a South African Dutchman a boy that he so I haven't been back for years I spoke Ameson doesn't consider me a proper Englishman that seems a little stiff necked of you I don't seem like Mr. Ameson at all then of course there's the business of Mrs. Ameson you've not met her no we haven't she's over in she would be you know spend three quarters of her time there nowadays hard lines before old Ameson sure said his wife there's your set ameson she's a Martin take her 15 or 16 years ameson junior that sort of thing what is it honey look at the string of agent to the poor on that low rock that's a pair of their lines I was looking for 30 feet away on the brick floor of the gallery of Vanneke explanation for it cautiously we made our way back the fair delan still sunned itself on the rock six feet long reddish colored with triangular markings the head distinctly shaped like the head of a lance iron lance head the English meaning of fair delan's the deadly snake French Creole named it how would you like to take him I wouldn't know what to do I'll tell you take one of the backnets yes take one to Harriet stand by in case Vanneke needs help look here baby I I wouldn't want to be the cause of your losing him you won't now come on just easy slow so we won't scare him off and we're in range I'll reach under him with the end of his snake hook and lift the snake won't slip off he'll coil himself around the hook at the end of his pole they always do then you'll reach under with your pole with the batman at the end very well I understand and I'll tip him into your net do you work that lever there along the side of your pole closing the mouth of your neck the fair delan's bag that's all there'll be to it that's all ready now yes yes so far as I'm likely to be stand by here all right here goes up under the middle court with all right now quick under him with that batman benefit I told her I told her there there again I shut the net shut it I'm sorry Mr. Vanneke sir we might step out on the gallery to digest our dinners baby mrs. Beatty rather cooler out there present this time of evening it was a lovely dinner with Jamsen oh it's kind of you mrs. Beatty to compliment the dinner I fear my hospitality in the absence of mrs. Hamilton is something to be desired no in the country and oh she said we'll be back quite soon of course something must have turned up unexpected the over in Martha me can detain her ah now we can sit down now that you have your fair delan's that you'll be leaving St. Lucia baby oh pretty soon I suppose I say baby don't you have to need that snake out there in its box we'll round up some live frogs for it in the morning may come it'll be safe enough the snake boxes securely fastened yes yes and our poor inquisitive dictionary chained up yes come are the voodoo drums have you and your husband seen a voodoo ceremony no we never had suppose then we put on some mosquito boots take a walk across through the cane matter fact I have a particular reason for looking in on the voodoo people I don't know if you'd know much about voodoo not very much and it's not native to the western world of course it came with the slaves out of the homie chiefly and adjacent to shanty along the Guinea coast of west Africa I didn't think voodoo had spread as far south as here in the windward island it's ice lay precisely baby I don't think I understand you it had not until quite lately her incident with our uprisings and troubles over the island I see yes I see you mean you think there's a connection voodoo is a passionate animistic religion suited to stirring up simple people and by capturing their credulity holding them in sway yes yes we found out in Africa the witch doctors worked on the simple imaginations of the people to gain power the power they had in some of them more primitive parts of Africa was really terrifying you said back at the house you had a particular reason and then for looking in on the voodoo ceremony quite it's a story given very wide credence yet about that the white so don't remember keep quiet something wrong don't move watch someone coming toward us from the direction of the drums you can just make out his face in the moonlight indeed you can indeed know he's turning away now going off to the left oh it's only Mr. Van Aker we ought to call him let him go I don't I don't get it and I had not finished my sentence when Van Aker appeared now well what were you gonna say this is a story given very wide credence hereabouts that a white man is behind the unexpected appearance of voodoo behind the recent troubles and uprisings in short it is a power lustful agitator of the subtlest and most dangerous kind do you think it's Van Aker I do baby I'm convinced of it and now here is an important message and now back to the West Indian story zombie tonight's thrilling Clyde Beatty drama Harriet Hampton and I stood at the edge of the open-sided roofed-over area called the voodoo tunnel watch the slatteringly glassy eyed dancers watch their leaders sprinkle cornmeal in weaving patterns on the ground listen to the vibration the boom of a tree trunk hollowed gold skin-headed heels of hand-struck rada drums Harriet and I didn't have much hard for what we saw you want to go honey and then Harriet and I are ready to go now if you are as we came out of the cane into the cleared area below and since sprawling plantation house we nearly walked into someone standing in the pool of shadows spread by a flamethrie and native girl yes yes staring yes it is Martha Brown the young native girl said by many a st. Lucian to be a zombie said by many a st. Lucian to be a dehumanized soulless walking dead girl gazed with great open fixed eyes that dully reflected the sheen of the moon she did not see us we can try this brown Martha Brown Martha Brown Martha Brown well you'd be all right down there in the bungalow now nothing we can do for you doesn't say you're here's a doctor out of here in the morning yes yes well if you forgive me I find I'm quite exhausted I'm awfully tired to cry oh that makes three of us you know first we turn in good night good night mr. Ameson you come home at last you were expecting another woman my husband mr. and mrs. Beatty this is my wife mrs. Ameson how do you do hello if you remember the beaties were coming as I remember how do you do madam if your baby I am enchanted thank you and naturally we know all about your great work with the wild animal the famous circus your fabulous career in the United States only than me as my husband will have made you to know we are most happy to have your day thank you're very kind mrs. Ameson oh dear oh my share I am exhausted the broad the crossing from for the cross the whole day the city hmm well you'll want to rest in juzette we were just saying good night anyhow then we shall meet again in the morning oh yes good night mr. Ameson good night but we are not going to the bungalow no no they're staying in the house the rear bedroom they are not staying in the bungalow no juzette why nothing nothing Harriet and I had hardly more than slipped in under the mosquito netting tucked it back in again around the mattress edge when we were asleep then in the middle of the night Mr. Ameson at the door in five seconds I was with him a yard boy had been awakened by a screen from the bungalow near the house Ameson with his cried rifle had rushed to the bungalow had seen the fair delance slipping out the open door it dashed it to oblivion with a single blow of his rifle stock inside the bungalow on the bed writhing with Martha Brown the awakened zombie all right all right Harriet hurry and get the anti-venom kit open oh yes go ahead here you are a tourniquet first oh yeah here be older like still will your answer right fair delance bitter here in the fat of the leg calf could be worse all right and tighten the tourniquet while I get ready to incise the bike right right the scalpel there you go here don't wind the tourniquet too tight and no no we don't want to cut off the flow of the blood just slow it down very well I understand Harriet older like what I make the infusion oh all right steady now hey that'll do it you know she's no zombie now she's unconscious but she felt that she's certainly did seem to Harriet no no suction cut oh here it comes okay you can inject the anti-venom serum honey while I handle this above the tourniquet huh well you know that well there's a chance we may be able to save her now could work baby and if she does come out of it I think there's a good chance you'll prove a theory of mine about zombie this particular zombie anyhow Harriet if you finished your coffee yes card will you do as I asked you on the way up from the bungalow oh yes excuse me of course there another cup baby you certainly earned it those hours and hours of caring for that poor girl we have a captain that's fine thank them I should never have imagined one had to apply suction to a snake bite for many hours I have to be sure you get all the poison out now you said baby that that girl if she survived might prove some idea of yours about zombies yeah well she did prove it indeed after you came back up here to the house an hour so ago she came to talk to us I say did she she's certainly not a zombie if there is such a thing as a zombie which I guess I'm just a little too much Ohio brought up to believe quite that girl was suffering from a form of cataleptic of course I should have thought that accounts perfectly and the shock of the snake bite brought her out of it his electric or insulin shock often revives a cataleptic mental patient in a hospital the right rest and care she may recover completely as if that from among the dead baby from among the walking dead the zombies at least or so the voodoo people around here you know you think yes yes baby has it stuck you with are that that snake of yours should have been able to escape its box I take the box looks they were all passing oh oh forgive me then I had a thought but everything about post were fastened and the fair delance was out somebody must have let it out and shut the box of course of course baby if someone had been playing upon the credulity of the country folk voodoo a zombie that sort of thing and suddenly he had reason to fear a major part of his trickery was about to be unmarked you mean Van Akenamsten I do you mean that if he were the white agitator said to operate in these parts during up the natives working on their superstitious minds the apparent zombie might have been part of his equipment yes and he'd go to the length of loosing my fair delance to bite and kill her to prevent us from discovering and letting the community know that she was no zombie and then yes baby what I've got to say isn't going to be easy for me to say go ahead baby there is no agitator van Aken or anyone else that stories a rumor a rumor answer than nothing more the uprisings here the sudden turn to superstition and primitivism on the part of the natives it's all part of the tension and upheaval it's gripping the whole world how can you know this so surely baby I told you we talked to Martha Brown yes you did well one of the characteristics of catalepsy is that the cataleptic while apparently unaware of the world sees hears and remembers all that goes on around well Martha Brown was exhibited at the voodoo ceremony in fact wanted here to your place somehow from the one last night I see and so knew that the voodoo business was purely spontaneous and native yeah and she saw who brought the snake box to her bungalow door last night and let loose my fed along and walk that's right well here yeah just this time yes a note I say that note papers my wife baby what's it all about I want you to know and then this isn't easy for me for my wife either well they were very well but but what we heard this note I have run away very early this morning sherry and I am to take the morning boat to martinique is it possible you can believe that I love you joseph you see evidently your wife didn't know who Martha Brown was when she found her in the bungalow last night jealously she meant to kill Martha Brown oh no joseph my joseph Martha will live amston joseph may have meant to kill her but instead she brought her back from the living dead well it's a sure for amson and me now she's about to pull out goodbye then I get goodbye goodbye for so long in chat and good hunting over there in martinique they were jolly lot more fair than ours that we have here thanks heavens come along amson in a moment I'll wait for you sure cheerio baby this is baby all the best goodbye bye goodbye goodbye harriet if I may call you that oh and goodbye with black bearded lighter look mr. misery wants to stay behind with you would you accept him with pride in my warmest good wishes oh thank you thank you harriet very much well so long old man applied when you're over there in martinique you might look up but uh no no no let it pass it's for the best it's better this way goodbye Clyde goodbye good bye harriet goodbye and goodbye mr. misery well here we go honey that shape on the horizon over there that's martinique it's not far no no and yet in another way Clyde thinking of mr. amson and his wife goody saint Lucía and french martinique are a long way apart a long way apart so ends this strange experience but Clyde Beatty will return in a moment once more here is the star of our show Clyde Beatty next week I bring you the story of the amazing things that happened when I attempted to give a benefit performance for crippled children in opposition to the wishes of a political boss what followed was like an exciting chess game with people for pawns and all new england for a chess board a game that ended with quite a surprise I think you'll enjoy it all stories are based upon incidents in the career of the world's famous Clyde Beatty and the Clyde Beatty circus the Clyde Beatty show was produced by Shirley Thomas zombie was written by William all names used were sectional and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental this is a Commodore production