Bandwagon, April-May 1954

Bandwagon, Vol. 4, April-May, 1954. 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.

Newspaper Story Places John Robinson on Raymond & Wahring Show of 1839

The "myth" of the founding in 1824 of the John Robinson show was explored by Richard E. Conover in the June, 1953, issue of the Bandwagon. On the basis of careful examination of several facts, the author drew the conclusion that the earliest date of the show's existence was 1840. One of these facts was a newspaper account, cited by Colonel Sturtevant in a letter to Conover, which placed Robinson on the Raymond and Wahring's circus in 1839, but the source of the Colonel's information was not known.

The Indianapolis Evening News of January 6, 1870, contained the following article credited to the Cincinnati Chronicle which apparently originally printed the story to which Colonel Sturtevant had reference.

A CIRCUS REMINISCENCE

An Event of Thirty Years Ago The Elephant Columbus on the Rampage - Race for Life - Three Men and a Dozen Animals Killed

(From the Cincinnati Chronicle)

Thirty years ago today, on the 31st of December, 1839, the famous rampage of the elephant Columbus occurred near New Orleans, and as the only living witnesses of the affair are residents of Cincinnati at present, we will give a short account of the elephantine tear. Raymond & Wahring's circus and menagerie, which had been showing separately in the center of Louisiana, were ordered by the proprietors to rendezvous at a point three miles above Algiers - which town is directly opposite New Orleans - on the last day of the year, in order that the combination, which was the largest that has ever appeared in the South, might march into the Crescent City on New Year's day.

With one branch of the show was the elephant Columbus, and with the other, Hannibal, both of whom achieved national fame afterward. The junction had been formed and the procession was nearly in readiness to move, when, unfortunately, the two elephants were brought together, and they immediately proceeded to test their pugilistic accomplishments. Their keepers interferred, and succeeded in parting them, and Hannibal quieted down, but Columbus was not to be so easily satisfied. He stood glaring around for a few minutes, and then struck his keeper's horse a tearful blow with its trunk, and followed it up by thrusting his immense tusks (over six feet long) through the animal's body.

The keeper, William Crum, fell with his horse, and the elephant next attacked him, picking him up in his trunk and dashing him against the ground with such force as to break half the bones in his body, and cause instant death. Columbus then marched along the line until he reached the llama cage, which he upset and demolished, killing the llama. His next movement was to make a dive for John Robinson and Arthur Crippen, both of this city, who were connected with the service, but these gentlemen being on horseback, succeeded, although with great trouble and danger, in escaping.

Columbus now passed the caravan at a run, and soon met a drayman driving two mules, both of which fell victim to his rage, as did also the driver, who attempted to escape by running, but was overtaken. Passing through Algiers, the elephant soon came across a negro sitting on the fence, and tore down the fence to get to him, and then tore him piece-meal. The negro was a slave, and Columbus' owners were required to Pay $1,800 for killing him.

Further on about nine miles from his starting point, the elephant met a Frenchman and a party of negroes, whom he attempted to demoralize also, but here he met his match, and after a combat of nearly an hour he gave up and was chained, having first received three bullets from a rifle, just below the right eye. The wounds occasioned no inconvenience, however, beyond producing running sores, which lasted until Columbus' death, which was caused by his falling through a bridge at North Adams, Mass., in 1854, and breaking his neck.

In his rampage the elephant killed nearly a dozen horses, mules, cows and calves, for which his owners were compelled to pay about $20,000. The circus and menagerie company was composed of one hundred and eight men, of whom but three are known to be living at present, they being John Robinson, circus man, and Arthur Crippen, watchman at the Indianapolis and Cincinnati depot, in this city, and Louis Lipman, dry goods merchant at Laurel, Ind., all three of whom witnessed the disaster, and were compelled to observe extreme caution to preserve their own lives. Mr. Crippen subsequently had both his arms broken by Columbus while assisting in shipping him in Philadelphia.

The (Indianapolis) Evening News, January 6, 1870

Although this article confirms the presence of John Robinson on a non-Robinson show in 1839, it raises two other questions.

First, what is the correct spelling of this show title? The article in the (Indianapolis) Evening News has it as Raymond & Wahring, but advertisements found by Conover have it as Waring. (Editor's note: Maybe the Southerners drawled it out with the added "h").

Second, did Columbus (the elephant) die as the result of falling through a bridge at North Adams, Mass., in 1854, as stated in the article quoted above? Or did it die as the result of falling through a bridge at Pittsfield, Mass., earlier than 1854? The latter claim, Conover has found, is made in the New York Clipper of January 7, 1893, in a death notice and obituary of James E. Kelly. The Clipper adds that four elephants were owned by James Raymond and that they were used as a hitch of four on a bandwagon. These elephants were Columbus, Hannibal, Siam, and Virginus. Siam subsequently fell through a bridge in Zanesville, Ohio, and Virginus drowned in the Delaware River while trying to swim from Camden to Philadelphia. Hannibal was sold to Hyatt Frost and James E. Kelly in the early 1850's (about the time they started the VanAmburgh show). Hannibal also appeared in the Dayton, Ohio, area in 1855, as a part of the Signor Charini's Italian Circus with the Raymond & Waring Menagerie.

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1954 SEASON - 15th Anniversary Tour Mills Bros. Circus

Produced by Mr. Jake Mills
Equestrian Director, Paul Nelson
Choreography by Peggy Baker
Musical Director, Joseph Rossi
Wardrobe by Jay Goody

Each performance preceded by a center ring concert by Rossi's Silver Star Band

OFFICIAL PROGRAM

1 - A lavish and lively 15th Anniversary Season inaugural pageant, "Birthday in Spangleland," featuring Maria Luisa Gonzales and a host of dancing birthday belles.

2 - Dashing introduction of America's newest frontier film favorite, Black Diamond Rider.

3 - Juggling Bakers, England - Antonetts, Bavarian Teeterboard Champions - Droguetts, Chilean Jugglers

4 - Military Ponies, Capt. Mahlon Campbell - Luvas Dogs - Military Ponies, Count Sandor Beketow

5 - "SAILING IN THE SKY" - dozens of international sailorettes on lofty swing ladders surrounding:
Looping the Loop - Sanchez, Trapeze Sensation - Looping the Loop

6 - Mills Bros. College of Educated Canines; presented by: Jinx Adams - Edith Beketow

7 - Get ready to laugh - first avalanche of fun from the combined American and European congress of clowns.

8 - The Antonett Family, Risley Stars - The Virginias, Belgian Flying Trampoline Thrillers - The Internationalists, Bounding Comedy

9 - A salute to the Western Plains - Black Diamond Rider and his Frontier Congress.

10 - Sweden's Master of Dressage, Count Sandor Beketow and his Blue Ribbon Dancing Champion Duke.

11 - Another Mirth Quake - the Clowns are Loose Again!

12 - An International Assembly of Speed Acrobatics and Foot Juggling: Millets Girls, English Tumblers - Seven Hungarians, Continental Risley Champions - The Schmitz Boys, Hand Balancing

13 - The Arena is Surrendered Once Again to the Mirth Makers.

14 - Mills Bros. Famous Waltzing Liberty Horses presented by: Count Sandor Beketow - Paul Nelson - Jinx Adams

15 - The Belgians, Equilibristic Stars - Mauricio, Speed Juggling - Les Lindners, Acrobatics

16 - Another Glimpse of the Old West.

17 - Ray Goody, The Drunk on the Tightwire

18 - "THE FRENCH DARLINGS OF THE AIR" - Pretty Precision Performers High Over the Hippodrome on the Swaying Spanish Webs, Surrounding the Center Ring Aerial Perch Feats of the Valentinos.

19 - The Greatest Bout of the Century - For the Laughweight Championship of the World.

20 - The World's Foremost Lady Rider, MISS JINX ADAMS, Riding the Spectacular 10-Horse Hitch Roman Standing Style.

21 -Rebecca, Barrel Kicking - Senorita Sanchez, Bounding Rope - Three Dubskys, Acrobatics

22 - The Luvas Sisters, Tiptoeing on Air

23 - A Terrifying Slide For Life by the Great Randolpho.

24 - High Spirited Menage and High Jumping Horses Ridden by an International Assembly of male and female riding champions.

25 - The Namedils, High Pole Precisionists

26 - A final, frenzied outburst of fun by the two continent clown congress.

27 - Mills Bros. world famous 40-ton herd of performing elephants, featuring the celebrated Miss Burma and presented by Capt. Virgil Sagraves and Co.

Acts listed, and the continuity of same, subject to change without notice.

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Official Route, John Robinson 10 Big Shows, Season 1911

Winter quarters, Terrace Park, Ohio. Last year the show was owned and operated by the Robinson family. John G. Robinson was General Manager 1911 season.

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Circus Chronology, 1953

APRIL

CONNECTICUT CFA members protested a bill which would have placed prohibitive license charges on shows. The bill was defeated.

RING BROS. AND ODYSON circuses, the latter in Canada, were among the new shows opening.

STATE DEPARTMENT began a more realistic interpretation of the new immigration act which concerned importation of performers. Showmen also were concerned about an overly restrictive law governing aerial acts in New York State.

RINGLING-BARNUM opened in New York on April 1, featuring Mister Mistin Jr., child xylo player.

ALICE, elephant formerly belonging to Sells Floto Circus and one of the few to calve in captivity, died at the Salt Lake City zoo.

CLYDE BEATTY CIRCUS opened April 1 and moved to Los Angeles the next day. King-Cristiani opened at Macon, Ga., (4).

DIANO BROS. was doing well in Texas.

BILLY ASHE, the acrobat who hired Joe E. Brown as a youth, died at Toledo.

NORMA DAVENPORT, widow of Albert (Stick) Davenport, riders, died in Chicago.

HUNT BROS. began its 61st season in Maryland.

MILLS BROS.' CIRCUS opened in a snow storm at Greenville, O., (18).

MAY

MOST SHOWS were hit by unusually rainy and cool spring weather, with business suffering as a result.

RINGLING-BARNUM tightened up the performance, with Mister Mistin Jr. being allotted less time for his xylophone playing.

DIANO BROS. was hit by a blowdown at Benton, Ark.

KING-CRISTIANI'S second balloon was burned at Johnson City, Tenn., and the feature was discontinued.

AB JOHNSON, veteran clown, died in Chicago.

HARRY ATWELL, circus photog, moved his operation to Sarasota, Fla.

PAUL HOROMPO completed 50 years with the Ringling-Barnum show.

JOSEPH G. FERARI, veteran animal trainer and circus performer, who pioneered American carnival business, died in New York.

WEATHER STAGGERED the Hagan-Wallace Circus in Pennsylvania, with several matinees lost, trucks wrecked and night shows delayed.

WALLACE & CLARK was doing well in Kentucky.

DIANO BROS.' business was poor in Missouri.

HIGH WIND damaged some canvas of the Clyde Beatty show at Santa Maria, Calif., (10).

CISCO KID AND PANCHO were featured at Cole Bros.' Chicago date and were being booked elsewhere by Tom Packs.

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