Bandwagon, October 1953

Bandwagon, October, 1953. Note: Only some articles are included in this online edition. Illustrations are not included. The Circus Historical Society does not guarantee the accuracy of information contained in the information in these online articles. Information should always be checked with additional sources.

John Robinson Quarters

Through the years I have been hearing stories of what happened to the old John Robinson Circus winter quarters at Terrace Park. Some said that there was absolutely nothing there, not even a board of the old buildings, and some said that there was some things there, so like the guy from Missouri, I had to see for myself.

Accordingly, on Monday, August the third, after a very interesting "look-see" at the Billboard plant, I hailed a cab, and after running up a $5.00 cab bill and listening to an entertaining cab driver, I arrived at Terrace Park. A sign on the road leading up to the house proclaimed it to be the "Big Top Farm, Jos. E. Mills, Former Home of John Robinson Circus."

My first view of the old quarter was the beautiful old home, where I was very cordially received and shown through the house from top to bottom. It has three floors and 22 rooms, and its typical of its day. High doorways and ceilings, and some beautiful stained glass windows, one stained glass window on the upstairs landing once held a picture of the farm. In an upstairs bedroom are the initials "J. F. R." inlaid in the hardwood floor, as it was the “governor" who first lived here, his picture is also set in the corner of the fireplace stones. In another bedroom is one of those grand old fireplaces, the woodwork of which was said to be hand made. The front porch grill work is out of this world, just like down in old New Orleans (see cover).

After leaving the house (by the back door I noticed one of those stout performer's trunks, painted red) we passed the stone foundation of what was once the horse training barn, further up in the lane, we came to the bull barn. The sign on the door read "Entrance, Robinson's elephants." There were still a few bull rings embedded in the floor, it was the typical stone foundation, wooden topped, whitewashed interior, type of building.

Continuing on our way, I saw the old monkey house, and what appeared to be a stone foundation of another old winter quarters building. At this point I was shown where the world famous elephant "Tillie" lies buried in an old well. Coming back towards the house, I was shown the big wooden piano that "Tillie" played on in her performance. Also here was another of those stone foundations, quite a long one this time.

Arriving back at the house and in the back yard, I saw the tombstone from "Tillie's" grave, it having been removed from the grave. There is 18 acres of this farm, but is being cut up for home building purposes, so probably in a few more years the last trace of that once great circus will be gone forever. All in all, I would certainly recommend to any circus fan ever in the vicinity to visit the old quarters, as there is still enough there to make the trip interesting and they will not have to run up a $5.00 cab bill getting out there either, as there is a bus that goes right by the place, and the farm is just off the paved highway for those who would drive there own cars out.

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With Buffalo Bill in Europe

I was with the Barnum & Bailey, Greatest Show on Earth, during its tour in Europe. We were showing Bordeaux, France, May 21 to 28, 1902. During the engagement, Mr. Bailey called me in his office, told me the show was going to America at the close of the season. But, he said, Buffalo Bill is coming over with his cow boys and Indians. Will use the Barnum & Bailey equipment, and cover the same territory.

He wanted a boss hostler for the Buffalo Bill show, said, he had four applications for the job, but, he had decided to give me the job, providing I wanted it. I told him I would be happy to take the job. The Barnum & Bailey had three hundred and twenty baggage horses. He told me to pick out one hundred and forty-two horses, harness, and all accessories, which belonged to them.

The Barnum & Bailey show closed its tour in Europe in Dunquerque, France, October 26, 1902, sailed on the S. S. Minneapolis with ring stock, menagerie, and 84 baggage horses, for Bridgeport, Conn.

I remained in Dunquerque two weeks waiting for the S. S. Michigan to return from South Africa, where it had taken a load of soldiers. The Michigan was the only ship with hatches large enough to load the flat cars below deck. The stock cars and coaches were lashed on upper deck. Several times I thought they would be swept overboard. The boat made two trips to Tillbury docks in London, where it was loaded for Stoke-on-Trent winter quarters.

Buffalo Bill Wild West Show opened Dec. 26, 1902, in the Olympia, London, England; closed April 4, 1903.

It opened the summer tour under canvas, Easter Monday, April 13, 1903. Closed May 2, went to Liverpool for three weeks. During the opening performance, Buffalo Bill fell from his horse, and during the balance of the engagement, he appeared in a carriage. The season closed in Burton-on-Trent, England, Oct. 23, went into winter-quarters in Stoke-on-Trent.

The 1904 season opened in Stoke-on-Trent April 25th.

We had a social and beneficial society with the show called the Benevolent and Protective Order of Tigers. If we wanted to hold a meeting, the 24 hour man would make arrangements with a tavern man, in the Sunday town; we would meet, transact business of the society, have refreshments and a good time in general. I was the president. One day Buffalo Bill told me to call a meeting for the following Sunday, as he had some special business to put before the club. The meeting was held, and we had a good time after business was finished. Buffalo Bill asked for permission of the floor, and he presented me with a silver tea service set. On the tray was the inscription, "To Jacob Posey, a man with a heart; from the members of the Brother Tigers, with Buffalo Bill's Wild West, Glossop, England, October 16, 1904." The season closed Oct. 21, in Hanley, England, wintered in Stoke-on-Trent, England.

The 1905 season was opened in Paris, France, April 2nd to June 4th. The lot was at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, enclosed with a high fence. A large building was errected on the grounds, which was leased to a prominent caterer, who operated a large cafe and restaurant. There were two side shows; the Indians and soldiers of the various countries were in tents. The gates were opened at 10 a.m. The admission ticket was good for admission to park, also to the matinee or night performance.

September 11, we showed Kings Lynn, England, where I pulled the side out of a "Pub" with the 40-horse team, when making parade in that town, with Barnum & Bailey. I took a stroll down to see how the place looked. After it was repaired, he called it the "Forty Horse Inn." His name was James Bailey. When I went in the "Pub" Mrs. Bailey was behind the bar. I asked for Mr. Bailey and was told he is ill. When I introduced myself, Mrs. Bailey took me in a rear room, where Mr. Bailey was propped up in a chair with his feet on a pillow on another chair, suffering with the "Gout." He gave me a very warm greeting. Told me I had made him a rich man, as the tourists came to see the place, and hear him tell the story.

The lot in Paris was located directly opposite the Eiffel Tower. There were ten ticket booths, no standing in line for tickets. There were so many American visitors who asked to see Col. Cody, I was detailed at front entrance to escort those who were fortunate enough to be granted the request, to the Colonel's tent. Very often the party would say, we are going to see the sights of Paris tonight and invite me to accompany them. So, it was a very pleasant engagement for me.

October 21-22, 1905, we showed Bezieres, France, close to the Spanish border. The Spaniards did not like the Americans. They come over in large numbers, with the intention of wrecking the show. When the cook-house and stables went to the train, early in the evening, the Spaniards stoned the drivers. I reported to the Colonel, he told me to hold all the wagons until the show was over, and he would give me an escort for the drivers. When the show was over, 252 mounted men, were waiting for orders. When the Col. drove off the lot in his carriage, a rock went whizz [unreadable text] head. He gave the order to "charge." 252 men on horseback rode the crowd down. There was a cemetery opposite the lot, a deep ditch was next to the cemetery, and a number of the crowd fell in the ditch. We heard later, when they investigated the ground, there were two who were unable to get out. The local paper said it was too bad the Buffalo Bill Show could not come more often.

The wild west "Broncs" had the "Glanders" among them. The chief cowboy, gave a horse that had the glanders to a farmer. He was so delighted he told everyone he had a horse from Buffalo Bill. One day, a veterinary was driving by, he saw the man in [unreadable text] he stopped, asked the farmer about the horse. The farmer said yes, there is the horse. The vet got out, looked the horse over, discovered glanders. It was only a few days until we were quarantined, and 40 horses shot. We closed Nov. 12, 1905, wintered on the lot. Buffalo Bill and his Indians went to America. Mr. Bailey ordered all Wild West horses and equipment destroyed. After the order was issued, the French government wanted the horses turned over to them for experimenting, but Mr. Bailey said he had enough trouble. The sad duty fell on me. I took 12 horses to the incinerator, 10 miles out of town, each day. They were killed and the bodies burned. During the winter, they rounded up a bunch of Broncs, six mules for the stage coach, and equipment, to take the place of that burned. They arrived in Marseilles for the opening, and they were the toughest looking horses I ever saw. Some were so weak they had to be hauled to the lot. But, by the time the show opened, they looked fairly well. We opened March 4, 1906. We showed France, Italy, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Luxemburg, and Belgium. Show closed in Ghent, Belgium, Sept. 21st. Went to London and sailed for home. Arrived in New York. Baggage stock went to Pennsylvania, turned out on pasture. Remainder of the show went to Bridgeport, Conn. After a two weeks vacation I returned to winter quarters, took charge of the harness shop, where we repaired 480 sets of harness. Tom Lynch, in charge of Barnum & Bailey, horses in charge of the lot or grounds. I remained with Buffalo Bill through the season 1907.

When Ringling Brothers bought the Barnum & Bailey, Greatest Show on Earth, which also included the Buffalo Bill title, nearing the close of the 1907 season, one of the Ringling Brothers came on to the show and informed all the bosses that Ringling Brothers had bought the show and would take charge at the close of the season, and would like to retain all Barnum bosses, who desired to remain, but could not afford to pay Barnum salaries. I told him to get another "boy" for my place, and went home to Cincinnati.

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Official Route, Season 1937 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus

Howard Y. Barry - Owner and Manager
Bill Moore - Legal Adjuster
Al Martin - Front Door Side Show
George Davis - Commissary Department
Joe Binkered - In charge of Boiler Wagon
Blackie Diller - Boss Hostler
Cheerful Gardner - Boss Elephant Man
Terrell Jacobs - Cat Act

At Flint, Michigan on July 5th that year, this show day and dated "Cole Bros." then owned by Jess Adkins and Jack Terrill. Both shows enjoyed fairly good business.

M. G. M. motion pictures came on with a beautiful white car attached to rear of train for several weeks to film a movie, title to be "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow." Bill Moore, the adjuster, said "Old Lizz," one of the elephants, was a big feature in this movie. But the writer understands this movie was never released.

The show closed in Austin, Texas, and returned to Peru, Ind.

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