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Preface
As it is usual for every book, no matter of what sort, to commence with a preface, I suppose that it would not be considered proper for me to give this book to my readers without one; but one chance is left to me, therefore and that is, to make this as short as I can, and that chance I eagerly seize, (for a good reason), because I have never been able to write long orations.
In this preface I must simply ask my readers not to criticise me too severely after they have finished reading this short History.
The whole of this book (or narrative I may better call it) will be found to be written in the first person, as I have simply written it as it was narrated to me by Mr. Glenroy himself, and I have to urge in his favor; (if any errors should be discovered) that the whole of it is from memory, he never having kept a diary or memorandum of any description during the whole forty-two years he spent in the ring.
One word more, and I will close. Mr. Glenroy is now clerk at the Merrimac House, Boston, (Proprietor, Parker Spinney) and can personally vouch for the truthfulness of the whole of the following history.
Now, as I have promised to make this short, and as I have no doubt my readers are about tired already, I shall have to come to an abrupt termination, so as not to try their patience too much ere they begin to read the book itself, asking only that my readers will bear a little with the writer, as it is his first attempt at a literary production.
I remain, the obedient servant of my readers, Stephen Stanley Stanford.
I was born in the year 1828, in the City of Washington, D. C., but when only two years old, having lost both my parents, I was removed to Baltimore, and adopted by a lady, named Hannah Murdock, an aunt of the celebrated tragedian, James B. Murdock.
After attaining the age of four, I commenced to show a great liking for horses, and also for all kinds of acrobatic exercise. which grew stronger as I continued to grow older.
In 1832 I first was taken to see a circus, and I must now mention a remarkable coincidence - that is, that the first man who rode a horse that evening with Wilde's circus was the man whom, in a few years, I was to become apprenticed to, and serve more than twelve years under.
When about five years of age I came very near terminating my earthly career, as one day, while playing with William Kincaid (another boy who afterwards joined the circus) at a place called Pells Point; I accidentally fell into the water, while trying to cross over to a mud. boat, and was just about sinking for the third time when a young man named McDougall, who had been attracted by the commotion, managed to get a boat out in time and catch me by the hair just as I was sinking. Had it not been for his timely arrival, my readers would never have had the pain (or pleasure) of reading this narrative.
In July, of 1835, while I was playing in the streets of Baltimore, and astonishing some of my companions by doing several small acrobatic feats, I was accosted by a gentleman who asked me would I like to join a circus; and I answering " yes," he enquired where I lived, and I offering to show him, he and I went together to the house.
After he had been some time in conversation with Mrs. Murdock, she came and told me that I could go with the gentleman to the circus, and stay there. I of course was delighted, thinking, like all young people, that circus life is a life of pleasure, where every day is sunshine, with never a cloud.
On, arriving at the circus, which was Joseph D. Palmer's, then showing in Baltimore, I discovered that the gentleman to whom I had been handed over was George J. Cadwalader, a principal rider for Palmer. Thus, at the age of seven years and four months I commenced a career in a circus which did not terminate until October of 1877, when I had got to the respectable age of forty-nine years and seven months, having travelled in the same business for forty-two years and three months.
Between the years of 1834 and 1835 there also left Baltimore to join the profession, William and George Archer, James and George Buckley, and William and Edward Kincaid, all playmates of mine, their ages varying from five to ten years. Out of the seven playmates who thus joined the circus profession, I am the only one alive at the present time, the others having died at the following times, to the best of my knowledge:
William Archer, in 1850, at Matanzas, from an attack of yellow fever.
George Archer, about the year 1865 or 1866.
James Buckley, in 1849, at New Albany, Indiana, of cholera.
George Buckley, in England, about 1854.
William Kincaid, in 1868, at Baltimore, of consumption; and Edward Kincaid, I have heard, was killed in Caracas; South America, about the year 1862.
On the fifth of July, 1835. I left Baltimore with the members of Palmer's circus, and next day arrived in Little York, Pennsylvania, I having travelled the distance of forty-eight miles in a canvas wagon. I might as well say now that for a number of years from that time, every circus travelled from town to town by road or water, (as no railways were then built) and the members of the various companies had to either ride their own horses or drive others. Even for years after railways had been opened, very little circus carrying was done by them, as it was less expense to move the circus over the road than to send it by rail.
In Little York, I took my first lesson, standing on Mr. Cadwalader's shoulders as he rode around the ring on horseback, and in one week from my arrival in Little York I made my first public appearance. For a period of nine months I continued to do the same act (that of standing on Mr. Cadwalader's shoulders while he rode around the ring on horses) at every performance given by the circus.
The members of the company in 1835 were as follows:
George J. Cadwalader, rider.
Edwin Derious, vaulter and rider.
John Whittaker, vaulter and rider.
William Archer, rider.
James Connor, acrobat.
James Stoker, one of the best slack-rope Vaulter that the world ever had.
George Downes, scenic rider.
Joseph Cloveau, comical clown.
Louis Harrington, acrobat.
Benjamin Millett, breaker of horses for trick performances.
Sofia Buckley, rider and singer.
Marie Harvey, actress in pantomime piece
Sylvanus Spencer, Indian rider and acrobat.
Sarah Spencer, tight-rope walker.
Fred. Garson, ringmaster.
Madame Mary Garson, actress in pantomime.
Barney Burns, rider and clown.
Wilson Manning, ringmaster.
The whole of the above stayed with Palmer until he disbanded for the season in February, 1830, and he re-formed in March with the following company, including myself (as I had by that time attained the dignity of a member of the profession, drawing a regular salary).
George J. Cadwalader, two-horse rider.
Robert Miles, acrobat.
George Downes, scenic rider.
Fred Garson, ringmaster.
William Stone, rider and acrobat.
William Archer, rider.
Captain J. DeCamp, modern Hercules.
William B. Carroll, rider and acrobat.
Thomas McFarlane. He joined us on the road at Wheeling, Virginia, where he made his first appearance in the ring an a vaulter, and he so far succeeded, that, in Charleston, South Carolina, (within five months from the time he joined us) he turned twenty-one continuous somersaults from the vaulting board.
Alec Jackson, clown.
John Green, modern Sampson.
Benjamin Millet, breaker of trick horses.
Moses Lipman, rider and somersault thrower.
Thomas Graven, acrobat.
Sofia Buckley, rider and singer.
Mrs. George Nichols, rider and juggler.
Louis Harrington, acrobat,
Isaac Aston, ringmaster.
Barney Burns, rider and clown.
In March, of 1836, 1 first made my appearance in the ring, riding alone, in Norfolk, Virginia, simply doing a plain riding act. After leaving Norfolk we made a three months' tour of Virginia, and it was while showing in Wheeling that we picked up McFarlane.
On July 4, 1836, just twelve months from the time that I joined the circus, we drove into Baltimore, and showed there that day, and for three weeks after the fourth. I was billed greatly in Baltimore, Cadwalader insisting that I was the cleverest rider at my age that he had ever seen.
Leaving Baltimore at the expiration of three weeks we made a one-month tour of Maryland, and from there crossing into Pennsylvania, where we showed in the following towns: Uniontown, Brownville, Washington and Pittsburg. At Washington, where we showed four days, I first turned a backward somersault, and this is how I accomplished it: Mr. Cadwalader took me into a barn near where our canvas was, and making me get up on to one of the beams, be then placed a quantity of hay on the ground and ordered me to throw a back somersault, or he would flog me with his whip. After a little hesitation, I managed to do it, and he kept me doing that all the spare time I had in Washington. After the first or second time I found it easy enough, and used to go and do it myself, without his ordering me to do so.
After we had finished showing in Pittsburg, and tent and everything packed, we sent horses and wagons overland to Wheeling, Virginia, while the company took the boat and went down the Ohio River. It took us two days to got down by boat, and the horses and wagons did not arrive until the following day.
After remaining in Wheeling for one week, we crossed over into Ohio and opened at Blairsville.
At this place we were compelled to set our canvas up in a grave-yard, that being the only available piece of ground in the town. I cannot describe the feelings of the performers during the time we showed there, but I can assure you that we were all glad when the order came, to strike tents and move on.
From Blairsville we went to Greenville, and while showing there a slight accident happened to Mr. Cadwalader.
As all my readers know, who have ever visited a circus, (and who, among us all, has not done so at some period of their lives) there is done what is called by us, a countryman act; that is, the ringmaster offers a certain sum of money to whoever among the audience can ride a horse that is then in the ring. A supposed countryman takes the offer and steps into the ring, and after some bantering between the clown and himself, commences to undress, taking off at least one dozen vests, and then proceeds to take off his trousers (after he has ridden the horse) when he is discovered to be in full ring costume. Well, to proceed about the accident: this night the man who was to do this act got drunk, and Mr. Cadwalader offered to do it in his place, and while riding around the ring he slipped from the horse, and in falling he struck the side of his head against the knee of one of the audience, and severely injured his (Cadwalader's) jaw, through which he had to lay up for about two weeks.
Travelling from Greenville by easy stages, and showing in towns of any distinction on the way, we reached Cincinnati in about three weeks.
Cincinnati closed our Ohio tour for that season by showing there one week.
From Ohio we crossed into Kentucky, and in that state, commencing our tour in a little place named Pin Hook, we passed through Georgetown, Lexington, Frankfort, Bowling Green and Franklin, closing there previous to passing into Tennessee.
In Tennessee we only showed in two towns, Nashville and Chattanooga, and then started out for Huntsville, Alabama, a distance of over one hundred miles. We accomplished this task in just four days, and then showed there for one week, thence driving through to Triana in the same state, where, while performing, a severe accident happened to me, the cause of it being, our ring - a boarded one - which was built on a slope, thus making one side higher than the other, which necessitated careful riding on the part of the performers; but I, while riding, being carried away somewhat by the applause of the audience, forgot about the slope, and on my horse reaching the lower side, the sudden swerve threw me heavily on to the boards. On being picked up it was at first supposed that I had been killed, but after remaining unconscious for over one hour, I rallied a little, and the doctor who had been called in pronounced me out of danger, only ordering perfect quietness. The excitement among the audience after the accident was intense, and was only allayed after repeated assurances from the management that I had received no serious injury. The performance had in the meanwhile kept right along, as those sort of accidents do not interfere with the ordinary routine of a circus, for the simple reason that hardly a week passes but what some member of the circus is injured to a greater or less extent.
From Triana we drove to Tuscaloosa, also in Alabama, and after showing there for one week we commenced the arduous task of driving through to Montgomery, a distance which occupied just five days in getting over.
After showing there for one week, we closed our tour of Alabama and started out for Columbus, Georgia, to commence our Georgian tour, driving through the Creek Indian nation at the time that the United States Government were driving the Creeks into Florida. It took five days for us to reach Columbus. as the roads we had to travel, were in a fearful condition. After showing in Columbus for one week we folded our tents, and continuing through Georgia we showed in Tolburton, Macon, Milledgeville, Sparta, Warrenton, Augusta and Savannah. After showing for one month, we closed our Georgian tour. While showing in Savannah, I, for the first time, rode a horse bare-backed, doing a simple riding act. This at the present time does not seem a great feat, but at that time it was considered one, (especially for a boy not ten years old) as very few of the oldest performers at time would take in hand to ride a horse without the pad.
While showing in Augusta, a gentleman of that, town made me a present of a fine pony, which I kept for a number of years.
From Savannah we went by boat to Charleston, South Carolina, where, about the end of our stay, we were joined by the celebrated Ravell family of pantomimists.
For the two months that we stayed in Charleston we showed in the old Queen Street Circus, and at that place in April of 1837, we broke up our company after thirteen months of very successful business in nine different states of the Union, beginning in Maryland and closing in South Carolina.
During the period of 1835 to 1837 the performers had then, according to contract, to help put up the canvas and to make the ring whenever it was necessary to do so.
It was about the latter end of April 1837, that Palmer formed a new company, which comprised the following persons:
G. J. Cadwalader, and myself, riders.
Edwin Derious, vaulter and rider.
Thomas McFarlane, vaulter.
John Green, modern Sampson.
Alec Jackson, clown.
Joseph Cloveau, clown.
Captain Decamp, ringmaster and modern Hercules.
Benjamin Millett, breaker of trick horses.
Frederic Doncaster, interpreter.
Marie Doncaster, rider.
Sofia Buckley, rider and singer.
George Downs, scenic rider.
George Yakers, acrobat.
Joseph Thompson, advertising agent.
Signor Vivalla, plate spinner.
James P. O'Connell, the great tattooed man, tattooed on the Caroline islands by the savages.
John Underwood, rider.
Thomas Hutchinson, manager.
And on the fifth day of May we sailed from Charleston on board of the brig Pegasus. (Captain Joy) for Havana, Cuba.
We arrived In Havana on May 16, after a passage of eleven days. Havana is one of the finest seaports to disembark at that I have ever been to. We landed our horses on the wharf, and the views of the city from the harbor were most magnificent.
After resting in Havana for a couple of weeks, we opened on the first day of June for our first performance, (on the outskirts of the city) and remained there for a period of two months, performing three times a week, Sunday being our best day. During our stay in Havana we were daily visited by the elite of that city and the surrounding country, who came principally to see our horses, and also, perhaps, to see what we looked like when off duty. While in Havana most of our company were attacked by yellow fever, but all of the them recovered at the time we left there, and were able to go along with us with the single exception of Mr. Cadwalader, whom we had to leave behind, but he soon recovered sufficiently to be able to join us at Matanzas.
After finishing our performances in Havana, Palmer engaged the steamboat General Tacon, to carry us and our horses, baggage, &c., to Matanzas. This port is not like Havana, as at Matanzas they did not even: have' lighters by which we could take our horses to the shore, and we were compelled to lower our horses into the water and make them swim ashore.
While showing in Matanzas most of our company were again taken down with yellow fever, and, most singular to relate, (although I attended to them while they were ill and slept in the room with Thompson the whole of the time he was sick) I never took the disease.
We performed in Matanzas three times a week for about two months, when we packed up and commenced a tour of the following inland towns, which lasted until the latter part of October, 1837: Los Palos, Madruga, Hamm, Jaquani, San Antonio Los binos, Regulas, besides several others of lesser note.
Leaving Regulas we entered Havana for the second time in the beginning of November, and we continued showing in Havana and in a few towns a short distance from Havana, until May, of 1838.
In the month of February, in Cuba, on one their feast days, we saw some peculiar incidents, one of them being as follows: a turkey is hung up by the legs to a wire which stretches across from one pole to another, and just high enough to be barely within reach of a horseman riding under it. A number of horsemen then ride at a gallop under the wire, and as they pass under the turkey they reach up and try to pull its head off. The one who succeeds receives four and a half dollars for his efficiency.
Another of their peculiar fashions is: a rooster is buried in the ground, alive, all but his head and neck, and men are blind-folded; and then armed with a sword they attempt to cut of that rooster's head, the one doing so getting the rooster as a reward of his proficiency.
In March, of 1838, and while we were showing in Havana, Mr. Cadwalader discovered that a conspiracy had been formed between Mr. Palmer and Captain Joy, of the brig Pegasus, to enable Palmer to get possession of me. It seems that Joy, when he left Havana, in September, of 1837, had instructions from Palmer to go to Baltimore and try and obtain from Mrs. Murdock (my foster mother) papers necessary and sufficient to enable Palmer to take me from Cadwalader; but as fate would have it Captain Joy and his crew were lost by the wrecking of the brig in a fearful gale which took place while they were in the Gulf of Mexico.
As soon as Cadwalader discovered what Palmer was trying to do, he at once placed me under the protection of the celebrated Spanish Nobleman, the Marquis de Cardenas, with whom I remained for about three weeks, and even after I left his house, he still kept both Cadwalader and myself under his protection, and it was well he done so, as Palmer tried every means in his power to get possession of me, he even going so far in the month of April as to have Cadwalader arrested on a frivolous charge, thinking he could keep him there until we left Havana; but as soon as Cadwalader was arrested, I immediately hurried to the Marquis de Cardenas' house, and informed him of the occurrence.
He hurriedly called his coachman, and, on his carriage being ready, he put me in, and getting in himself he ordered the coachman to drive to the Alcalde's, (as they call their mayor) office, who, after a few minute's conversation with the Marquis, immediately signed an order for the release of Mr. Cadwalader.
From that time until we left Havana, which we did on the fifth of April, Palmer did not trouble us much, but he got ample revenge on Cadwalader by defrauding him out of nearly a whole year's salary, by taking advantage of a flaw in Cadwalader's agreement. We parted company with Palmer in Havana, and Cadwalader and I took passage on a brigantine that was then ready to sail for Charleston, South Carolina. We arrived in Charleston the night after the great fire, which had destroyed more than one-half of the city. The night before our arrival in Charleston, our captain called us up from below to see the sky, which was perfectly lurid. On asking him what he thought caused it, he said that from the look of it he would not be surprised if, when we arrived off Charleston, we found that most of the city had been destroyed by fire; and just as he said, we found it.
After laying up in Charleston for a rest of a month, Cadwalader and myself took passage on the steamer Georgia for Norfolk, Virginia, where we expected to join Bacon and Derious' circus. The steamer did not take us up to Norfolk, but landed us at Old Point Comfort, where we had to take the ferryboat to Norfolk, there joining Bacon and Derious, who had then the following company ready for the road:
Charles Bacon, rider and acrobat.
Edwin Derious, vaulter and rider.
Marie Bacon, rider.
Oliver Bacon, rider and acrobat.
Joseph Bacon, rider.
H. P. Madigan, rider and leaper.
John Robinson, four-horse rider.
James Burt, celebrated acrobat.
Alec Rockwell, clown.
James Robinson, (afterwards known as "The Great James Hernandez") rider.
Enam Dickinson, comic singer.
Thomas McFarlane, vaulter.
Harvey Whitlock, acrobat and bare-back rider.
Peter Morris, juggler and plate spinner.
Sam Phillips, ringmaster.
Henry Palmer, rider.
John Roberts, juggler and plate spinner.
We started out from Norfolk on the first of June, and showed through Virginia in the following towns: Suffolk, Yorktown, Richmond, Charlottesville, Cullpepper Court House, Orange Court House, Leesburg, where we showed on the 4th of July, and then closed our Virginia tour in Harpers Ferry, preparatory to commencing a tour of Maryland.
In Maryland we showed in Frederick City, Hagerstown, Clear Springs, Hancock, Flinstone, Cumberland and Frostburg, occupying only two weeks in our tour of those seven towns. After showing in Frostburg, we packed up and crossed over into Pennsylvania, and, opening in Petersburg, we showed in the following towns of Pennsylvania: Uniontown, Brownsville, Little Washington and Pittsburg, making a three weeks' tour.
After our three weeks' tour of Pennsylvania we made a long trip of sixty miles to Wheeling, Virginia, where, after showing for one week, we crossed over into Kentucky, where we opened in Maysville, that being another long trip, and taking us two days in transit.
This season seemed to be to us a season of long jouneys, as, after showing in Maysville, we went to Cincinnati, Ohio, that trip occupying three days. After showing in Cincinnati for one week, we went over to Indiana, where we showed for two weeks, taking in the following towns during that time: Rising Sun, Madison, Charleston. Jefferson City and New Albany.
From Indiana we commenced a southern journey, opening in Kentucky, and showing there in Louisville, Glasgow, Bowling Green and Franklin.
Leaving Franklin we continued our journey south, showing in Nashville, Tennessee for two weeks, and then took a fearful long journey of over one hundred miles to Huntsville, Alabama, where, after showing four days, finding that business was exceptionally dull, we crossed over to Rome, Georgia. At that place, I, for the second time, saw Indians driven from their ground by the Government; this time it was the famous Cherokees who were suffering that indignity at the hands of this boasted free Government. Continuing our tour of Georgia, we showed in Forsythe, Macon, Milledgeville, Sparta, Warrenton, and Augusta, winding up the year 1838 in that city, and beginning the year 1839 in the same place.
In December, of 1838, while showing in Georgia, we, for the first time, travelled by rail, some of the company riding from Forsythe to Macon on a road then just opened, and which had its terminus at Augusta, also in Georgia.
Beginning the year 1839 with a new chapter, and in Augusta, we remained showing there until the middle of January, when we made another long trip of over one hundred miles, this time going from Augusta, Georgia, to Charleston, South Carolina, the company doing the entire distance on horseback, that occupying just five days.
In Charleston we opened in the Queen-Street circus building, and after showing there for one month, we all took passage for Savannah by boat.
A number of my readers I have no doubt have travelled through the Southern states, and in doing so have observed the appearance of the alligators in the rivers there. To those who have not travelled through there or seen any alligators during their lifetime, I may mention that when on a journey up (for example take) the Savannah river, you observe lying in the stream what seems to you at first sight to be logs of timber, but on a closer inspection, and as soon as the boat comes near them, you see those supposed logs quietly paddle off, and then, for the first time, you are aware that what you supposed to be a log of timber, was in reality an alligator.
On arriving in Savannah we opened in the old Diorama building, and after showing there for one month we closed up previous to our return to Charleston.
In Savannah I was made an especial pet of by the ladies and gentlemen, the mayor of that city (McAllister) having me at his house about all my spare time, their house being almost opposite to our circus. Another gentleman of that city, named Law, made me a present one night of twenty dollars, and it was a daily occurrence for me to dine out, or go boating, or have some other enjoyment; in fact, I was very often placed in a peculiar predicament - that of not knowing whose invitation to accept.
After showing for one mouth in Savannah, we took the boat back to Charleston, playing there for two weeks, at the expiration of which period we took a passage on the steamer Georgia for Norfolk, Virginia. During this run from Charleston to Norfolk we experienced one of the most severe gales it has been my lot to encounter during the whole period of my life. The gale commenced on our second day out from Charleston, and soon assumed such violent proportions that we had to transfer our horses from the deck to the engine room, it not being safe for any living being to remain on deck. The gale moderated considerably after about twelve hours' blow, and in a short time the sea commenced to fall off, and we knew we were safe, for that time at least,
On the fourth day after leaving Charleston we landed in Norfolk, and on the fifth day we opened there and performed in that town for upwards of three weeks, our company then being composed of the following people:
G. J. Cadwalader, and myself, riders.
Charles Bacon, rider and acrobat.
Marie Bacon, rider.
Edwin Derious, vaulter and rider.
Alec Rockwell, clown.
Sam Phillips, ringmaster.
Joseph and Oliver Bacon, riders.
Thomas McFarlane, vaulter.
Alec Coate, acrobat.
Henry Palmer, rider.
Sam Richardson, negro minstrel.
Leaving Norfolk we went to Portsmouth and showed there three weeks. We took passage on a steamboat for Petersburg. going up the James river.
The day we started, and while the whole of the company were seated at dinner, a sudden crash came, the steamer stopped, and then, talk of indescribable confusion. It was for a few moments "confusion worse confounded." On enqiry we found that the steamer had broken her shaft, and therefore could not proceed.
They landed us from the boat, and also landed our horses and baggage, and we finished our journey to Petersburg by rail. Railroads at that time were a novelty, and many a time in a country place (where I have been between the years 1838 and 1845) have I seen the countrymen stand open-mouthed, looking at an engine and cars going past, and wondering what kind of an animal it was.
From Petersburg, after showing about three weeks, we went to Richmond, where we pitched our canvas on the main street of the town, upon the spot where the Eagle Hotel used to stand, but which at that time had been burnt down. We showed on that spot for three weeks, the company all boarding at a very good hotel just opposite, under the management then of Alexander North.
In Richmond the company had to breakup. Cadwalader, who had a mortgage on the stock, wagons, &c., finding that he could not receive back from Bacon and Derious the money he had advanced, or even get what salary was due him, foreclosed his mortgage, and the whole concern was bought by Welch & Bartlett, of New York, who had sent on to Richmond for that purpose, a Mr. Hopkins.
The company was then re-formed, and we ran from that time under the name of Welch & Bartlett's circus, manager, Mr. Hopkins, opening for our first performance under the new management in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where we pitched our canvas in the old prison yard. We showed in Fredericksburg until the fourth day of July, and on a Friday evening of that week we commenced one of the longest horse-back rides that I have ever undertaken: namely, from Fredericksburg to New York City. The course we took was as follows: leaving Fredericksburg, we rode to the boat landing and took the steamer for Washington, arriving there on Saturday morning, and breakfasting in the city. After breakfast we mounted our horses and had other horses harnessed to our wagons and rode all that day, arriving in the city of Baltimore that evening, having made a journey of forty-two miles. We put up in Baltimore at the Three Tuns Tavern, and as soon as my foster mother, Mrs. Murdock, heard of my arrival, she came round and took me up to her house, where I remained until Sunday afternoon at three o'clock, when her son Thomas took me back to the tavern and waited there until he saw the start, which was commenced immediately after my arrival. We continued travelling until ten o'clock that night, when our horses commencing to tire, (and the riders also being about tired out) we put up at a way-side inn until morning. After breakfast we once more harnessed up and reached Philadelphia at five o'clock that afternoon. That being a pretty long distance for the horses to have come, and they still having over one hundred miles to go, we stayed in Philadelphia until Tuesday, and after breakfast we started out and arrived in New York City at six o'clock Wednesday evening, pretty well tired out, we having travelled the distance of three hundred miles in five days, and doing two hundred and fifty of that on horse-back.
The company put up at the old North American Hotel, (now called the New England Hotel) corner of Bayard Street and Bowery, and after two days' rest we crossed over to Brooklyn and pitched our tents on a then vacant lot (where the city hall stands now.) After showing for ten days in Brooklyn, we were ordered to pack up and get ready for a summer tour.
We started by taking the boat, John W. Richmond, from New York for Providence, Rhode Island, where, after showing for three days, we packed up and went to Woonsocket Falls. At this place we received an addition to our circus, in the form of several cages of animals, among them being a Giraffe - the first one that had ever been exhibited in the United States - which was imported by Clayton for Welch & Bartlett, and for the remainder of the season the circus and menagerie remained combined. After showing in several other small places in Rhode Island, we crossed into Massachusetts, showing in the following towns among others: Palmer's Depot, West Springfield and Westfield. From Massachusetts we went over into New York state, and showed there in the following towns: Nassau, Albany, Troy, Lansingburg, Mechanicsville, Schagticoke Point, Hoosac Falls, Ballston Springs, Saratoga Springs, Sandy Hill, Glens Falls, Whitehall, Fort Edward, Cambridge, Granville Four Corners, Greenwich, Schuylerville, Queemans Landing, Coxsackie Landing, Catskill, Hudson, Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Newburg. At Newburg we showed in opposition to Sam Nichols' circus, and although they had a splendid company, they had a very bad day, we completely knocking them out. I may here mention a few of the members of Nichols' company, as they are well worth mentioning: being the great Matt Buckley, his son Henry and his pupil, Thomas McCollom, Johnny Aymar, George R. Knapp, the great clown, William Nichols, one of the greatest riders of that time, and E. M. Dickinson, the great comic singer. Although we had showed in opposition in Newburg, there was no hard feelings between the members of either company, and next morning both companies crossed the Hudson on board of the same boat, at the same time, they being on their way to Fishkill, and we going to Peekskill.
From Peekskill we continued our tour over the state, and showed in Sing Sing, that being the last show we made in the state that tour.
At Sing Sing that time they were just laying down the pipes of the great Croton aqueduct.
After closing up at Sing Sing we left New York state and crossed over to New Jersey, showing for the first time in Jersey City, and then we commenced a short tour of New Jersey, showing at Hackensac, Norristown an several other small towns. From Jersey we crossed over to Pennsylvania, opening at Easton, and showing at Allerton, Cootstown, Reading and Westchester, then to Philadelphia, from which town we re-crossed to New Jersey, where we showed in the following towns, and also closed our season: Camden, Bordentown, Trenton, Princeton, New Brunswick, Rahway and Elizabeth. Leaving Elizabeth we started by road for Newark, and while travelling along, our Giraffe fell and broke its neck, dying almost immediately. We showed in Newark for nine days. Then closing our summer tour, we packed up and started for Now York City, where we opened on a then vacant piece of ground (where the St Nicholas Hotel stood in after years, and where stores and offices are built at the present time) on Broadway. We built a circus on that ground as we intended to stay there all winter, the sides of that circus being of boards and the roof being canvas.
The circus was called "Welch Bartlett's Broadway Circus," and after receiving an acquisition of the following members, we opened in November, and played there until the end of March, 1840. Broadway company were as follows:
G. J. Cadwalader and myself, riders.
Edwin Derious, vaulter and rider.
Al Rockwell, clown.
Thomas McFarlane, vaulter.
Marie Bacon, rider.
Alec Downey, rider.
Sylvnaus Spencer, rider and acrobat
James McFarlane, acrobat.
John Aymar, rider and acrobat (broke his neck at Isle of Wight, England, while performing in 1843).
Walter Aymar, acrobat (about nine years old).
Charles Bacon, and pupils, riders.
W. W. Cole, contortionist (father of the circus proprietor of the present day).
John Wells and family, pantomime artists.
William Mulligan, celebrated vaulter.
Joseph Sweeney, original banjoist.
William Whitlock, the second banjo player in the states, and pupil of Sweeney.
John Diamond, negro delineator; pupil of the great P. T. Barnum.
Charles J. Rogers, the greatest scenic rider that Amerlea ever had.
William O. Dale, rider and vaulter, at that time the greatest somersault thrower, he having thrown fifty-six consecutive somersaults.
Elias Hood, wire dancer.
Madame Hood rider and dancer.
Madame Gullin, rider.
John Gossin, clown.
John Smith, negro dancer, - the composer of "Old Bob Ridley."
Thomas Coleman, pupil of Smith. He went to England in 1840, and they christened him there, Picinniny Coleman."
Richard Pelham, minstrel.
Henry Ruggles, acrobat and slack-rope performer.
Joseph Nobles, acrobat and vaulter.
Harvey Leach, man monkey.
James Sanford, Ethiopian dancer.
George Hoyt, impersonator of negress dancer.
Benjamin Jennings, ringmaster and juggler.
E. M. Dickinson, comic singer.
Also, in, the latter part of our stay in New York, Colonel Mann came and showed with us with a troupe of Indians, staying there until we closed up, at about the end of March.
From New York we crossed over, to Brooklyn, where we opened at a place then termed the Military Gardens. After showing in Brooklyn for one week, we packed up our traps and went across to New York, when we again shipped on the John W. Richmond, for Providence, Rhode Island. After showing there for three days, we crossed into Massachusetts, opening at Fall River. From Fall River we continued our tour of Massachusetts, showing in Now Bedford, Taunton, Plymouth, Hingham, Hanover, Milton Mills, and thence to Boston, where we pitched our tents on Milk Street, just below the Old South Church. At that time, when showing in Boston, the Puritanical Laws were so strict that it was impossible for a circus or any other entertainment to show after four o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, the law at that time being that all places of amusement should be closed previous to half past four on that day, so, as not to violate in anyway the observance of the Sabbath.
After we had closed our five weeks' show in Boston, we continued our tour of Massachusetts, taking in Watertown, Waltham, Bolton, Lancaster, Concord, Fitchburg, Leominster, Deerfield, Peru, (away up on the top of a high bill) Hinsdale and Pittsfield.
From Massachusetts we crossed into New York state, where we opened at Lebanon Springs, from there crossing to Sand Lake, at which place we lost one of our best people, Albert A. Brown, our band-wagon driver, who, while bathing his horses in the lake at Sand Lake, was drowned. The cause of his being drowned was as follows, (as near as I can recollect): Brown never having been around those parts before, drove his horses into the lake, thinking that a shelving bottom ran out for a considerable distance, but after he had got about twenty-five feet from shore his horse was seen to sink suddenly under him, and, on the horse rising, (although he was somehow turned homewards) it was seen that Brown was not on his back. It is therefore surmised that on the horse finding that be had no bottom to stand on, he struck out, and Brown having slipped off in the immersion, was struck by the horse's hoof while he was sinking, and thereby sustained an injury which caused his death, because, when we found him you could clearly decipher the imprint of a horse's shoe on his forehead.
From Sand Lake we went to Albany, (showing there on the Fourth of July) Troy, Waterford, Mechanicsville, Schuylerville, Cambridge, Fort Edward, Whitehall, Glens Falls, Sandyhill, Saratoga Springs, Ballston Springs, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Fondy, Fort Plains, Cooperstown, Cherry Valley, Berlin, New Berlin, Sharon, Hamilton, Waterville, Utica, Vernon, (where the Oneida Indians used to be situated) Rome, Cantastota, Cazenovia, Manlius, Syracuse, Auburn, Port Byron, Clyde, Lyons, Newark, Palmyra, Pittsford, Rochester, Churchville, Honey Falls, Mad Hollow, Canandaigua, Penn Yan, Dundee, Havana, Union, Ithaca, Owego, Uniontown and Binghampton. At Binghampton we were joined by one of the cleverest riders of that time, Mons. Le Tort, who, as described in our circus bills at that time, "will actually ride around the ring on the reverse side of the circle, mounted on his fleetest steed, and leap over a variety of lofty objects. I was also at that time described as follows: "Master Glenroy on his darting steed will perform a series of truly wonderful and courageous feats with a precision that compels continued rounds of applause."
Note. - Allow me, as author, here to say a few words. I am indebted to Mr. Howard, correspondent of the Boston Herald, for the above two extracts, Mr. Glenroy not having (as I have previously stated) a particle of written or printed memoranda, all the bills which he bad in his possession be having sent to the Editor of the N.Y. Clipper, he therefore has to rely on his memory for every item contained in this book, and my readers must agree with me, that a more thoughtful memory never existed. It seems remarkable that any man at his present age (fifty-seven years) could have such a clear recollection. Let me once again thank Mr. Howard for those two small extracts. - Stephen S. Stanford.
From Binghampton we passed on through the state, showing in Harpersville, Bainbridge, Unadalla, Franklin, Walton, Delhi, Stamford, Osborneville, Prattsville, Cairo, Catskill, Coxsackie, Albany (second time), Troy (third time), Hudson; at Hudson we were joined by James F. O'Connell, the great tattooed man who had been tattooed by natives of the Caroline Islands, while a prisoner among them, he also being the first man that I ever saw do clog dancing; Cleremont, Rhinebeck, Poughkeepsie, Newburg, Peekskill, (where we were joined by William Chestnut, jig dancer) and then into Sing Sing, where we closed our tour of New York state, and also at the same time closed our Summer tour.
After packing up at Sing Sing, I remained with the circus and drove into New York city with them, where, after a week or so of rest, Welch & Bartlett formed (at that time, or received as additions during the winter), the following company for a winter stay in New York city:
Richard Sands, two and four horse rider.
Henry Gardner, George Smith, Benjamin Burnice, acrobats.
Edwin Derious, rider and vaulter.
Mons Le Tort, the great French bare-back rider.
William O. Dale. the great somersault thrower - he that winter throwing fifty-nine consecutive somersaults.
Herr Otto Motte, great horse-back juggler and cannon ball performer.
T. V. Turner, pad rider and somersault thrower.
G. J. Cadwalader, rider; he only played about three weeks with us, when, his eye-sight becoming very bad, in fact he was almost blind), he had to leave us and take a rest for the remainder of the winter.
Sylvanus Spencer, acrobat and rider.
Alec Downey, Spanish summersault thrower.
William Mulligan, acrobat
Alexander Rockwell, clown.
John Wells, the great English clown. (I must again be indebted to Mr, Howard for the following, extract from one of the bills of that date) "Mr. John Wells, the great antipodean artist will give a solo on the trumpet while, standing on his head on a pole twenty feet high."
Mrs. Wells, Columbine in pantomime.
Louisa, Emily and Mary Anne Wells, who performed with Mr. Cadwalader while he was with us in an act entitled "Sprites of the Silver Showers," and after Cadwalader's illness they performed the same act with Levi J. North.
Levi J. North, who, at the time he joined us, had just returned from a two-years' tour of England and the continent of Europe. He was one of the most celebrated of riders.
Charles Aston, clown.
Mrs. Charles Aston, she being the first who performed in conjunction with Levi J. North the act entitled "Shepherd and Shepherdess."
Henry Ruggles, the great slack wire performer of that time.
William Gates, great low comedian of New York at that time.
Thomas Barry, stage manager and manager of the production of our spectacular plays that winter.
Mr. Mason. an actor of considerable merit, and the finest impersonator of "Napoleon I." that I think has ever been seen.
Mr. Davis, harlequin in pantomime of "Dame Trot and her Cat," I playing the Cat, Mulligan playing Dame Trot.
We opened at the Old Bowery Theatre, then owned by Thomas Hamblin, the then celebrated actor, who had that year been playing in "Jane Shore."
Just after the beginning of the year 1841, Welch left the concern, selling out to Bartlett, he (Welch) joining Colonel Mann, and between them forming a circus and starting out for New Orleans. Welch & Bartlett were the gentlemen for whom the first giraffe was imported to this country; and which was bought, as I have previously stated, by Welch & Bartlett.
On opening in New York that winter, and during the whole of our stay, we used to give about one and one-half hours ring show and about two and one-half hours stage show every evening.
In New York that winter we produced two historical spectacles and four melo-dramas, the greatest of them being the "Battle of Waterloo," which was staged at an enormous expense, Mr Mason playing the title-role of Napoleon. The battle occupied the whole stage, and while we ran it, it brought full houses and appreciative audiences, "the pit and gallery being lost in wonder, praise and awe." We also produced "Napoleon Crossing the Alps," another splendid success, Mr. Thomas Barry that time being in the title-role and I playing a French drummer boy in each piece. The melodramas were the Secret Nine, the Forty Thieves. El Hidae and Edwin Deriaus as Mazeppa, each of them drawing well.
For the first three or four weeks our entry was Sons of Freedom, a grand equestrian turn out of over thirty people, which was always well received.
On New Years' day of 1841 we gave a grand performance, and it was something magnificent, the house being packed full, and the performers all being in the best of spirits. The performance that evening lasted over six hours.
After a very good winter showing we broke up our company in New York about the end of March, 1841, and then Bartlett engaged the following people to take on to Philadelphia with him to open at the National Theatre, corner of Ninth and Chestnut streets.
Edward Derious, rider and vaulter.
Mary Ann Lee, the great dancer.
Sam Thrift, slack rope performer.
Fred Garson, ring-master.
Wells and Family, general performers.
Alec Rockwell, clown.
Barney Burns, assistant ring-master.
E. M. Dickinson, comic singer.
Joseph Foster, stage manager.
And myself, rider.
We showed in Philadelphia one month during that time, doing nothing but stage spectacular pieces. At the expiration of our month in Philadelphia we went to Baltimore and there opened at the Front-street Theatre, where, during a stay of a month, we were joined by William O. Dale, Levi J. North, Charles J. Foster, Joe Sweeney and his pupil, and Mr. Cadwalader, who had entirely recovered from his attack of blindness.
Leaving Baltimore, we went to Washington, D. C., commencing our summer tour without Miss Lee, she having left us at Baltimore. From Washington on to Georgetown, then by boat up the Potomac to Fredericksburg, Virginia, and continuing through Virginia, showing in Port Royal, Bowling Green and Richmond. At Richmond General Welch and Mann bought out the concern from Bartlett, and from that time the circus was run under their management. This arrangement was completed on the fifth day of July, and we left Richmond next day for Petersburg, then to Norfolk and Portsmouth, from which place we went down the Chesapeake Bay by boat to Baltimore. Staying there one week, we had our wagons completely overhauled, and then recommenced our tour, opening at Little York, Pennsylvania. On the way to Little York by road we were overtaken by a severe thunder storm, and during its continuance one of the flashes of lightning so startled my horse that he plunged and fell, throwing me heavily to the ground. By that period of my life I had become so hard from rough travelling that I was not hurt much by this fall. From Little York to Lancaster, thence to Reading, where Levi J. North was compelled to leave us on account of illness, he having hurt his chest while practicing. From Reading to Hamburg, Pottsville, Dansville, Muncy, Williamsport, Iron Run, Blossburg and Lawrence, closing our tour of Pennsylvania, and then crossing to New York State, where we that season showed in the following places: Painted Post, Corning, Elmira, Mecklenburg, Ithaca, Batavia, Clarence Hollow, Leroy, Pikeville, Angelica, Ellicotville, Havana, Dundee, Penn Yan, Rushville, Geneva, Waterloo, Seneca Falls, Auburn, Syracuse, Cazanovia, Rome, Utica, Little Falls, Herkimer, Fort Plains, Fondy, America, Schnectady, Albany and Troy. After finishing at Troy we took the steamer, "Napoleon" at four o'clock on a Sunday morning and arrived in New York city at six o'clock Monday morning and on Monday evening opened at the Old Bowery Amphitheatre, and after showing there for two weeks we went on to Philadelphia and opened there for our winter season of 1841-1842, about the twentieth day of October, at the Walnut-street Circus.
During our winter stay in Philadelphia, Benjamin Caunt, champion of England, and Charles Owens, American champion, showed with us in a series of boxing matches, and we had on exhibition the belt won by Caunt in England. Caunt was the man who took Charles Freeman, the American giant, to England, where Freeman beat the then celebrated fighter, the Tipton Slasher. During this winter season we also had engaged with us Harvey Leach, the great man monkey. He was a curious being, being covered with long hair all over. In riding he used to ride on his hands and feet, monkey fashion. This is the same party whom Barnum exhibited a short time afterward as "What Is It."
We closed our winter season in Philadelphia in March of 1842, and started out for the summer, opening in Baltimore with the following company:
George J. Cadwalader, rider (two and four horses).
Matt Buckley, vaulter and slack rope performer.
Henry Buckley, rider.
Thomas McCollain, of Mat Buckley the finest 2 horse trick rider in the world.
John Wells, clown.
Wells Family, riders and dancers.
Levi J. North, rider.
John Smith, Negro minstrel.
Mrs. John Smith, rider.
Thomas Coleman, dancer.
William Chestnut, dancer.
Robert Williams, clown.
Charles Bacon, rider and acrobat.
Mrs. Marie Bacon, rider.
Benjamin Jennings, ring-master and juggler.
Richard Risley and Son, contortionists and acrobats.
George Sweet, tight rope performer.
Philip Charriskie slack rope performer.
At Baltimore we opened at the Front-street Theatre for a two weeks run, and while showing there Charriskie one night fell from his slack rope a distance of some sixty feet, breaking his leg in three places and also fracturing his thigh. I understand that the doctors amputated his leg, but he died about two weeks after we had left Baltimore. From Baltimore we returned to Philadelphia, and showed there for two weeks, when we started out for New York city by rail, and on arriving there we opened at the Old Bowery Amphitheatre, where we received the following additions to our company:
Charles J. Rogers, rider (the best scenic rider that ever was in the States).
Washington Chambers, contortionist.
Walter Howard, rider.
Madame Louise Howard, best female rider of those days in the country.
After showing for two weeks in New York we closed and commenced our summer tour, and went through about the same towns in New York State as we had done in our tour of the year previous. At Troy, New York, Levi J. North, who had left our company at New York city, came up and gave his last performance previous to going to Europe. He done this as a favor to the people of Albany and Troy, as they were anxious to see him ride. From New York State we crossed over into Pennsylvania, in which State we showed in the following towns: Lawrence, Covington, Blossburg, Block House (at this place we discovered that we were the first circus that had ever been there, and, strange to say, we drew two good audiences that day), Bloomsbury, Berwick, Mauch Chunk, Lehigh, Reading, Pottsville, Hamburg (at which place we were joined by Henry Naegels, acrobat), Harrisburg, Wommelsdorf, Hummelsburg, closing our Pennsylvania tour at Little York.
From Little York we went to Baltimore for one week, showing in the old Front-street Theatre. At this place part of company left us through a disagreement with the managers, who wished to reduce the salaries. The members of the company who left us were: John Wells and family, Robert Williams, John Smith and wife, and we received an addition in Barney Carroll.
After our one week's stay in Baltimore we went to Washington, D. C., then to Georgetown, Booneville and Hagerstown, in Maryland, and then to Pennsylvania, where we showed in the following among other towns: Greencastle, Chambersburg, Carlisle, Mechanicsville and Harrisburg; (at this place we were joined by John Gossin, and also there showed in opposition to Nat Howe's cirucs, both canvases being placed within five yards of each other on Capitol Hill. (It is peculiar that, no matter what amount of rivalry may be between showmen and managers of rival companies no, bad feeling seems to be kept up except in rare cases;) also showing then in Duncan's Island, Mount Joy and Lebanon; then across to Trenton, New Jersey for one day, and then back to to Bristol, Pennsylvania, where we broke up. Most of the members of our former company then took the boat to Philadelphia, and also some of the members whom Welch & Mann had re-engaged for the winter went by boat, but the remainder, including myself (that is, of those who had been re-engaged), had to ride horse- back to Philadelphia, a short distance, it only being about sixteen miles, so that on starting from Bristol after breakfast we reached Philadelphia in time for dinner the same day.
In Philadelphia we opened in the National Theatre on the first day of October, under the name of Welch & Mann's National Circus, with the following company.
George J. Cadwalader, two and four horse rider.
Charles J. Rogers, rider.
Walter Howard, Indian rider.
Madame Louise Howard, rider.
John Gossin, clown.
John Wells, clown.
Wells Family, riders.
John Risley and Son, contortionists.
Thomas McFarlane, vaulter.
Lucinda Gossin, rider.
Washington Chambers, contortionist.
George Sergeant, rider.
James Sergeant, acrobat.
George Hoyt and wife, stage performers.
Louisa Wagstaff, rider.
Henry Palmer, ring hand, who afterwards married Louisa Wagstaff.
Charles Parsello, leader and manager of comic ballet troupe.
Emma Ince, dancer.
Louis Harrington, Wm. Harrington, contortionists.
There also joined us in Philadelphia during our stay:
John J. Nathan, two and four horse rider.
William Kincaid, Edward Kincaid, riders and tumblers. (Both boys, who had left Baltimore after I had, and who were at this time apprentices with Nathan. This was the first time I had seen them since I had left Baltimore in 1835).
Monsieur Le Tort, great French rider.
We closed our stay in Philadelphia in January, of 1843, and went on to New York city, opening at the Old Park Theatre, just across from where the post office now stands, and at that place consolidated with Rockwell & Stone's circus. The members of this company were as follows:
Henry Rockwell, rider.
Oscar R. Stone, Indian rider.
Hiram Franklin, one of the best performers of that time.
Burnell Runnells, general performer.
Benjamin Stevens, rider and acrobat.
Harry Needham ringmaster.
John Diamond, jig dancer.
Dan Emmet (violin), Frank Brower (Bones), Billy Whitlock (banjo) Richard Pelham (tamborine), the first members of the minstrel troupe, Benjamin Hunnington, clown and ringmaster.
So that with the two companies we had a formidable array of talent, and were entitled to the immense audience who visited us during our stay of five weeks. At the expiration of our stay in New York, Rockwell'& Stone's company went out on the road, and we took our own company, with the exception of Thomas McFarlane, Walter Howard, John Gossin, Lucinda Gossin, John Risley & Son, Washington Chambers, Louis Harrington and William Harrington, to Philadelphia, and engaged Charles Bacon, the great Equestrian, and his wife, and John Whittaker, rider and clown, (brother to "Pop" Whittaker). We were to show in Philadelphia for one month, and at the expiration of three weeks we were there joined by the celebrated clown, John May, who showed with us for the remainder of that season.
From Philadelphia to Baltimore for a three weeks' show at the Front-street Theatre, and then back to the National Theatre at Philadelphia, where, after showing for three weeks, the company broke up.
After breaking up in April, 1843, Cadwalader, myself, several members of the old company, and the apprentices, went on to New York with Welch & Mann, where they fitted out two companies for the season, one under Welch, for the Mediterranean ports, and the other under Mann, for the United States. Welch's company was composed of the following people:
John J. Nathan, two and four-horse rider.
Edward Kincaid, William Kincaid, riders and acrobats.
Henry Ruggles, slack-rope performer and acrobat.
James Runnells, acrobat, gymnast and tumbler.
Charles J. Rogers, best scenic rider of the world at that time.
Walter Howard, rider.
Madame Louise Howard, rider
Henry Palmer, ringmaster.
Louisa Palmer, (nee Wagstaff) rider.
John May, celebrated American clown.
They set sail on the brig Francis Amy, in May, of 1843 and Mann opened in New York at the Bowery Amphitheatre, in June, with the following people:
George J. Cadwalader, and myself, riders.
James Nixon, acrobat.
Edward Woods, and wife, general performers.
John Gossin, clown.
Lucinda Gossin, rider.
William B. Carroll, rider and acrobat.
William Hobbs, rider.
Ebner Perry, rider.
John Shay, ringmaster.
Jennings & Son, acrobats and jugglers.
Louis Lipman, rider.
Francis, (commonly called "Pop" Whittaker) ring-master.
Washington Chambers, rider.
Steve Miller, acrobat.
Harry Mestayer, acrobat.
Geo. Batchellers, great leapper.
John Wells, clown.
Wells family, riders.
Black Jack, slack-rope walker.
Wilson Manning, ringmaster.
We showed in New York until the 6th day of July, but on the 4th and 5th of July we divided our company one-half, showing for those two days under canvas, corner of Eighth Street and Broadway, the other half remaining at the Amphitheatre.
On the 6th of July we crossed over to Brooklyn and showed for one week at the Military Gardens, and then left for Boston under the management of Louis B. Lent and William A. Delavan (who had made an arrangement with Colonel Mann while we were in Brooklyn, whereby they took entire control and became responsible for the circus for a five weeks' trip).
We showed in Boston for five weeks, having engaged Edward and James Kendall's celebrated band for our orchestra. The band comprised twenty-two pieces.
After showing in Boston for five weeks, we returned to New York, where the circus passed to the control of John Tryon, who had made the necessary arrangements with Colonel Mann while we were on our trip at Boston. We opened at the Bowery Amphitheatre and showed there nightly until the first day of October, and on the twelfth day of October the following company set sail on the Lawrence H. Adams, a brigantine for Dutch Guiana, South America, arriving in Surinam after a severe and tempestuous passage of thirty days. G. J. Cadwalader, John Wells and family, Edward Woods and wife, William Hobbs. Washington Chambers, Peter Coate, "Pop" Whittaker, Steve Miller, Harry Mestayer and Louis Lipman - William McCabe (who used to pull against two horses and used to break inch rope).
At Surinam Bay every foreign vessel is supposed to cast anchor at quarantine until permission is given by the authorities, allowing it to pass up to the city. Our captain not knowing this, (and the pilot and custom authorities who bad boarded us lower down the bay not having mentioned anything about it) we kept sailing on past quarantine, when suddenly we heard the report of a gun, and a shot dropped in the water just ahead of our vessel, and before the captain could get over his surprise and give any orders, another shot passed through our foresail. The captain at once ordered that the anchor be let go, and then we were informed (by the pilot) of the reason why the shots had been fired. We lay at anchor all that day, and next morning (which was Sunday morning) the doctor came on board, and after inspecting our Bill of Health, and seeing that things were all right, he gave us the necessary permission to sail up to the city, at the same time informing us that the commander of the Fort would certainly have fired a shot into the vessel itself if we had not dropped anchor as quick as we did. A sail of twelve miles up the river brought us to the city of Surinam, and we lay there until Monday afternoon, when we commenced to land our horses and baggage. There being no wharf, pier or lighter by, or at which we could discharge our horses, we were compelled to lower them into the water and swim them ashore, and this was particularly risky, as there are a quantity of sharks in the river.
The Negroes and Indians of that country do not expend any considerable amount on clothes or boots, as they simply wear a breech cloth containing about a half yard of cloth, and no boots or any covering whatever on their feet.
Three days after we had landed we opened in the city under canvas, and played there for two weeks to exceedingly good business.
The weather there is very warm, and the quantity or quality of the mosquitos there, I have never since seen equalled, not even in New Jersey; but I perhaps may make one exception, and that in favor of Berbice, a few miles above Surinam, where we went on leaving Surinam.
While showing in Berbice we had to live on board of the ship, as it was utterly impossible for any of us to remain and sleep ashore, on account of the mosquitos, we even having to dress for our performances on board of the vessel, and some of the company used to climb up to the fore and main top to sleep; but even all our precautions could not keep them away from us. We showed there only three days, and my readers can rest assured that people were never so glad to get out of any place as we were when we left Berbice and the mosquitos.
From Berbice we went to Demerrara, where we showed for three weeks, and then about the end of December, 1843, we set sail on board the same vessel for Trinidad, one of the West India Islands.
Our New Years' day was -spent at sea, and our first performance for the year 1844 was given in Trinidad.
After showing for one week in Trinidad, we sailed for Grenada, another of those islands, and Colonel Mann, through his endeavor to save time, very nearly sent us all to eternity.
There are three channels or passes through which you can reach Grenada from Trinidad, the central or grand pass being the safest, but longest way. Colonel Mann ordered our captain to endeavor to get the vessel through one of the smaller passes, that being the shortest route. The captain tried to persuade Mann that it would be a reckless piece of work to try and get through, because if the wind should drop before we had sailed through, the current would carry us upon the rocks, and if we struck there, there would be no help for men, women or horses. Mann insisted, saying that there was no danger, as a good wind was blowing, and by going that way we could save considerable time. The captain, therefore, had to obey him, and at eleven o'clock that evening what the captain had feared came to pass. The wind dropped, not a movement of the sails being discernible, and the vessel commenced to drift slowly but surely towards the rocks. The captain ordered the boat to be lowered, and sent two sailors into it, fastening one end of a hawser to the stern of the small boat, and the other end to the bow of the ship. The sailors were told to pull as hard as they could to keep the vessel into the centre of the channel; but they needed no telling, for they and every one else on board knew, that unless the wind arose unexpectedly, on their efforts depended the fate of every person and living thing on board of the ship. The men done their work well, but still slowly the vessel kept drifting nearer and nearer to those fatal rocks. By this time every one had been ordered on deck, and arrangements were made so that whatever chance there was of being saved, could be taken advantage of. The captain stood forward, (close to where the hawser was made fast) axe in hand, ready to cut the rope as soon as the vessel struck, but, at twelve o'clock, and after a whole hour of fearful suspense and agony, a slight breeze sprang up (in fact it was so slight that the vessel had barely steering way) and the ship was saved. The captain, who was very much moved, exclaimed, "Thank God we are saved;" and Colonel Mann (who up to that time had been exerting himself in looking after the others and keeping up the spirit of men and women) immediately swooned away, and remained unconscious for over an hour. From that time until we arrived in Grenada (three days afterwards) we had very pleasant weather, but the men never recovered their good spirits for some time, and even at this day when I think of it and, looking back see how near we all seemed to a death by drowning, I shudder. Colonel Mann could never bear to hear it referred to, as it affected him greatly, as. of course, it was through his sheer obstinacy that we were placed in the predicament we were.
We showed in Grenada four days, and on the last day of our stay there I had my first experience with an earthquake. We were on board of the vessel when it took place, and most of us were on deck. Everything around was calm, the sea being as level as a sheet of glass, when suddenly, without any warning, the sea arose and the vessel rocked fearful every minute, the captain expecting that the chain would part by which we were fastened to the wharf. This lasted ten minutes with us, and when it was over we discovered that, through the vessel was striking against the wharf, we had sprung a leak.
The damage on the island itself was serious. Our captain considered the leak of such slight importance that we set sail next day for Barbadoes, but after running for a few hours, the water was gaining so that the pumps were started and kept going until our arrival at Barbadoes, at which place the vessel was put into dock, and her bottom completely caulked. We stayed at Barbadoes for one week, and by that time our vessel was ready for sea again. We then sailed for St. Vincent, and after arriving, showed there for four days. The second day of our stay there the English Consul invited Mr. Cadwalader and myself to dinner, and when we got to his place, instead of finding a small dinner party, we found that the Consul had invited a quantity of the best people of the island to meet us. At that dinner one of the guests, an English gentleman, made me a present of a very handsome silver-topped riding whip.
From St. Vincent we went to St. Lucia, showing on ground there opposite to the Catholic church. To the priest of that church we were under a great obligation. Not being able to obtain lumber there to make our seats, the priest graciously offered us the use of the seats from the church, which we accepted.
From St. Lucia we sailed for Antigua, where we performed for one week. At the time we lay in the harbor a fearful gale sprung up, whereby three vessels lying in the bay were wrecked, and four others dragged their anchors. Our vessel escaped without damage, but our canvas was blown down and considerable damage done to it.
From Antigua we went to St. Thomas, another of the West India islands belonging to Denmark. It took four days for us to reach St. Thomas, and on that voyage we saw a curious freak of nature. About forty miles this side of St. Thomas, on looking towards the island, you see what you suppose to be a full rigged ship under sail; but when you come near to it (as you do in about an hour from the time you see it) you discover that it is simply a rock set up in the sea, having the appearance at a distance of a full-rigged ship. We remained at St. Thomas for one week, showing there on the Queen's Wharf. One day while there a gentleman called on Colonel Mann (from whom he had bought a ring horse the year previous) and asked Mann to try and see if the horse had forgot his ring time. I took him and put him in the ring, and I must say that I never knew a horse go better after an absence of twelve months from a ring. The gentleman was so pleased with the horse, and also with my riding, that he made me a handsome present.
From St. Thomas we sailed to St. Croix, showing there one week, when we passed to another Portorico island, where we also showed a week.
At this place we were again visited by an earthquake. This time it done us no material damage, nor, in fact, did it do much damage to any part of the island; but an amusing incident happened through it. Frank (Pop) Whittaker never liked sleeping on board the ship, so when we were showing at any place Frank used to make a bed on the table in the dressing room, and this night, when the earthquake came along, it rolled poor Frank from the table on to the floor. Frank was so frightened (as the whole place was shaking) that he never slept on shore again while we were in the West Indies.
Mayagues was the last place we showed in in the West Indies, and we sailed from there for New York about the middle of April, 1844, and after a rough passage of fourteen days, we once more set foot on "America's Shore."
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Last modified November 2005.
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