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Chapter XII.
I then made an engagement with S. O. Wheeler for an Eastern tour, but sickness prevented my joining him until the twentieth of April when I did so at Providence, Rhode Island. I did not perform with him there but made my first performance on the twenty-third at Pawtucket also in the same state.
The company with Wheeler when I joined him were:
Harry Whitby, equestrian manager.
Nellie Whitby, rider. (Now Mrs. Richard Hemmings.)
Susie Whitby, rider.
Charles Monroe, clown.
Robert Williams, clown.
Jacob Showels, rider.
Mrs. Jacob Showels, rider.
Mrs. Wheeler, rider.
We that season made a tour of the following states; Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, showing in the below mentioned towns: Pautucket, Providence, Phoenix and Newport (Rhode Island); New Bedford, Taunton, North Bridgewater, South Boston, East Boston, Lynn, Salem, Gloucester, Haverhill, Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Westfield, Huntington, Hinsdale, Pittsfield, and North Stockbridge (Massachusetts), Portsmouth, Dover, Lebanon, Great Falls, Concord, Nashua, Manchester, Franklin, Laconia, Alton Bay, Rochester, Bethlehem, Gorham, Lancaster, Littleton, Woodville, Haverhill, (while showing there the news was on fire came to us that the city of Portland, Maine and likely to be almost completely destroyed,) Charleston, Hanover, Cornish, Claremont, Walpole, Keene and Winchester (New Hampshire); Biddeford, Portland, Brunswick, Lewiston, Winthrop, Augusta, Gardner, Bath, Waldeboro, Tonnels, Rockland, Belfast, Winterport, Bangor, Newport, Corinth, Dover, Dexter, Waterville, Skowhegan, Anson, Farmington, Livermore Falls and Dixfield (Maine); Chatham Four Corners, Coxsackie, Oak Hill, Gilbow, Stansford, Delhi, Oneonta, Unadilla, Franklin, Port Deposit, Binghampton, Union, Oswego and Waverly (New York); Towanda, Lacyville, Tunkhannock, Scranton, Pittston, Wilkesbarre, Shicshimnie, Berwick, Bloomburg, Danville, Louisburg Union, Williamsport, Jersey Shore, Lockhaven, Bellfontaine, Lewiston, Johnston, Indiana, Butler New Castle and Youngstown (Pennsylvania); Wooster, Akron, Canton, Massillon, Bellefontaine and Springfield (Ohio).
While in Pennsylvania this season, and travelling through the mining districts (where a number of Irish are employed) we performed to immense audiences, our tent being crowded every evening. The reason was one of the members of our company, Charles Monroe, (clown) used to sing nightly the well known song "The Wearing of the Green" and this drew the Irish people well. For the benefit of those of my readers who do not know the words of the song I give them", just as they were sung by Monroe.
"Oh Paddy dear did you hear the news that's going round,
The Shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish ground.
No more St. Patrick's Day we'll keep, our colors can't be seen.
For there is a bloody law against the wearing 'of the green.
I met with Nappy Tandy
And he took me by the hand,
And says, How's dear old Ireland
And how does she stand.
Oh she's the most distressful country
That ever yet was seen
For they're hanging men and women now
For the wearing of the green.
Then if the color we must wear be Eenland's cruel red
Can Ireland's sons e're forget the blood that they have shed.
You may take the shamrock from your hat
And cast it on the sod,
It will take root and flourish there,
Though under so 'tis trod.
And when the birds in summer time
Their feathers dare not show,
Then I will change the color boys
That I wear in my caubeen,
But until then, please God, I'll stick
To the wearing of the Green.
At Springfield we, closed our, season, having been twenty-seven weeks on the road and given performances in one hundred and seventeen different towns, being an average of over four towns a week.
After closing in Springfield I went on to Girard, Pennsylvania, where I remained resting all winter.
In March of 1867 I went to New York city and there made an engagement with Colonel Joseph Cushing to ride in a circus which he intended to start from Boston. Cushing was a man greatly respected and of all the managers whom I have served under I never thought so much of any one as I did of him. Cushing died on the third day of March, 1884, and I attended his funeral being the only showman present out of all whom he had favored in lifetime. Parker Spinney (whom I will afterwards refer to) sent a large and handsome pillar of flowers as a token of the great respect in which he had been held by him.
Cushing, previous to his death, had suffered from severe pecuniary losses all in the circus business.
If there was one other man among all the other circus proprietors, with whom I have been engaged, to whom I would compare Colonel Cushing it is to General Welch of the firm of Welch and Mann with whom I travelled from 1839 to 1847. They were very much alike, whole souled, generous men, both of them, and their generosity proved the ruin of each of them.
On reaching Boston I, on the recommendation of Cushing, went to stay at the Merrimac House, corner of Merrimac and Friend Streets, then and now kept by Parker Spinney. At that time if anyone had said to me that within three years all my supposed friends would desert me and that Mr. Spinney would step forward and befriend me in a manner which could not be expected from any man, I would hardly have credited it. Yet such was the case; he standing by the during sickness and reverse of fortune as no one ever did before. At the present time I am still with him now acting as clerk of the same hotel, in which position I have been since I left the ring, and I hope to serve with him as long as I live for a better or truer man can not be found.
Cushing went into partnership with Frank Howes and opened in Cambridgeport under the name of the United States Circus with the following company, including myself, on the twenty-second day of April:
Frank Howes, ringmaster.
Mary Anne Howes (formerly Mary Anne Whittaker), rider.
Williams and Mankin, acrobats.
George M. Clarke, clown.
Frederick Barclay, rider.
Arab Ali and his boy Willie, gymnasts and acrobats.
Frank White, negro delineator.
Our orchestra was occupied by Whittemore's celebrated band, (from Vermont.)
From Cambridgeport we went to Waltham, Quincy, Brockton, Taunton, New Bedford and Fall River, Massachusetts, then to Newport, Providence, Phoenix, Pautucket and Woonsocket, Rhode Island, then back to Massachusetts showing in Milford, Worcester, Natick, South Boston, East Boston, Charlestown, Chelsea, Lynn, Salem, Haverhill and Lawrence where we crossed over to New Hampshire, showing in that state in Great Falls and Dover, then into Maine to Biddeford, Portland Belfast, Winterport, Bangor, Bucksport, (we there showed in opposition to Stone and Murray's circus. It was friendly opposition) Cherryfield, Ellsworth, Machais Pembroke, Eastport and Calais.
From Calais we crossed the line into the British Provinces opening at St. Andrews, and then on to St. George St. John, Sussex, Monckton, Shadiac, Amos, River Phillip and Londonderry. At this place we only made an afternoon show, having to leave the town that evening on account of trouble between the townsmen and our baggagemen. The townspeople behaved shamefully stoning our party irrespective of sex. Colonel Cushing and his wife, thinking to escape the stoning, got on one of the mail coaches going through the town, but even the great V. R. of Victoria Regina did not stop the Canadians, for they stoned mail coach, driver, and its passengers. We travelled that night and reached Truo next morning (Saturday) and remained there all that day and all day Sunday. Late Sunday evening we again took the road this time for Halifax, where we remained one week showing afternoon and evening on the great parade ground in that city to immense audiences.
If we were treated badly in Londonderry we were treated just the reverse in Halifax, for it really seemed there as if the people could not do enough to make the time pass pleasantly for us. I do not believe that during the whole of my travels I ever showed in a town where a circus company were treated better than we were in Halifax the week we stayed there.
From Halifax we went to Chester making an all-night journey. In Chester a most peculiar custom is in vogue in the hotels there. You get your tea or coffee already sugared and milked, and your bread already buttered for you; no butter, sugar or milk being placed upon the table. I will leave my readers too determine why they do so, and at the same time I will give the opinion of one or two members of the company as to it.
One said it was to save the guests the unnecessary exertion of doing it themselves, and another of our members who was always hard on the Canadians after one of had given him a black eye in Londonderry, said it was because if they put butter, sugar or milk on the table when any of their own countrymen were their guests, that the proprietor would never again see his butter cooler, sugar basin or milk jug, for he said that the people in that country were so dishonest that they could not resist the temptation to put either one of those articles into their pockets and walk away with it.
My readers can determine if either of those reasons are correct, and if you can't agree as to which is correct why you are at liberty to choose some reason yourselves.
Leaving Chester (and glad we were to leave it) we went to Lunenburg where, during our evening performance a slight accident happened to one of the members of our company. It occurred as follows: Mrs. Howes and I used to do a joint act in the ring entitled "Shepherd and Shepherdess" and Fred Barclay acted the part of the mother of the Shepherdess. As the Shepherdess and I leave the ring, Barclay (as the mother) is supposed to follow a short distance behind. This night Barclay came too quick and ran against the legs of my mare at the entrance to the dressing-room. As soon as the mare felt the touch she kicked out but, as good luck had it, her hoof did not reach any part of Barclay as he was so close, or it would have most likely disabled him for life, the lower part of her hind leg struck him in the face and broke his nose. He carries the mark of that kick to the present day. Fred Barclay is still a member of the profession, and the last time I saw him (some three years ago, in 1882, with Cowle's Circus in Portland, Maine) he laughingly told me that he often wished that I had been in his place that night, for said he "You are so small and so thin that the mare would have missed you."
From Lunenburg we continued our tour of the provinces showing in Bridgeton, Liverpool, Annapolis, Dixby, Yarmouth, and McIntire's Hotel. At McIntire's Hotel our men once again quarrelled with the townspeople, the reason being that one of the townspeople, a big overgrown country bully, thought he could go around and abuse the circus people at his pleasure and that none of them dare resent it, but Yankee boys are made from different stuff than that and one of our boys took him in hand and whipped him badly. Then the townspeople took his part and thought that it would be an easy thing for them to thrash every one of the circus men, but they found out very different and greatly to their cost, for they got the worst of it.
Leaving the scene of our late triumph we went to Kentville, Truro, New Glasgow, Pictou, New Castle, Bayoutown, Fredericktown, Tilly's Half-way House and Woodstock all in the British Provinces. Then into the United States to Houlton in Maine and from that place we showed, through the northern part of Maine on our way to Lower Canada in Bridgeton and Presque Isle and then opened in Tepeke, Lower Canada, then to Grand Falls on our way to which place on the seventeenth of August, we had to get off our horses and run alongside of them to keep ourselves from freezing. From Grand Falls we went on to Jenkin's Half-way House, River de Loup and Camaraski. At Camaraski we managed to arrive there on their election day, and political differences there at last culminated in a riot between the French Canadians and the English or British portion of the population. We were advised not to open and that being Saturday it meant a big loss to us, but when Sunday came the priest of that place gave us permission to open our menagerie only but we charged twenty-five cents admission to that and just about realized enough to pay expenses. In journeying through that country one is at first very much surprised to see crucifixes set up along the road at distances apart of a mile or two, but after travelling around you become used to it. It of course seems strange to an American but the people over there are very devout catholics and that accounts for it.
From Camaraski we went to St. Anns, then Islette, Quebec, Point Levi, St. Nicholas, Inverness, Arthabaski, Richmond, Waterloo, St. Hyacinthe, Montreal, (where we showed in Gilbeaus Gardens under canvas for three days) St. Johns, North Farnsworth, Sweetsburg, Magog, Sherbrooke and Lennoxville. There we had another quarrel with some of the townsmen. The quarrel commenced in the bar room of the hotel and was fought out in the hall and our baggage men badly beat the townspeople.
While the quarrel was going on in the hotel hall Mrs. Jefferson Davis (who was staying there at that time with her two sons) stood at the top of the stairs leading from the hallway and advised the townsmen not to quarrel with "those Yanks, for" said she, "if you do you will get whipped, and that badly." They did quarrel and they got whipped which verified what Mrs. Davis said and I guess she is a pretty good authority on the subject of the prowess of the Yanks.
From Lennoxville we went to Coatacook and then to Stanstead Plain where we closed our Canadian tour, and crossing from there we passed through Canaan Woods (one of the worst driving roads I have ever passed over) on our way to Stewartstown, New Hampshire, where we arrived on September the third, having come from Grand Falls in nineteen days.
From Stewartstown we went to Coldbrook and then to North Stratford. At North Stratford the great Artemus Ward learnt his trade as printer, and while we were there we were shown the old building where he learnt it. At this place the hotel we stayed at was managed by I think the meanest man alive (not even excepting the hotel keeper at Cheater, British Provinces.) He took from our bed rooms the bed clothes, water pitcher, etc. and in fact everything moveable except the beds even taking the mattresses and leaving us the rope bottoms of the beds to lie on, and at the table he would not allow us to eat at the same table with his other guests, saying that showmen were no company for gentlemen. The present proprietor of that hotel is a far different man, in fact he is a thorough gentlemanly man. His name, I believe, is George, Hilliard. The name of the other man I cannot at present recollect.
From North Stratford we went to Northumberland, Plymouth, Lancaster, Littleton, Lisbon, Wells River, Pierremont, Laconia, Franklin, Concord, Manchester, and Nashua, all in New Hampshire.
Then leaving Nashua we went to Lowell, Massachusetts, and then to Lawrence where we broke up and drove into the city of Boston after a very successful tour of twenty-seven weeks.
I stayed at the Merrimac House for a couple of weeks to rest myself and then accepted I an offer from Blight and Mundy to join their circus at Louisville, Kentucky.
I opened with them about the tenth of December, 1867, and they then had the following people constituting their company.
Frank J. Howes, equestrian manager and performing with his trick horse, General Grant.
Mary Anne Howes, rider.
George De Lewis and wife, slack-wire, and trapeze performers.
Charles Bliss, Sr., Charles Bliss, Jr. and Albert and George Bliss, gymnasts.
Hiram Marks, clown.
William Forshay, clown.
Samuel Rhinehardt, leaper, tumbler and acrobat.
John Davenport, clown.
Frank Donnelson and son, acrobats.
Charles Howes, pony rider.
Signor Ferranti, contortionist.
I remained with that company until it disbanded in February of 1868, and then I left Louisville and went to New York City arriving there just at the time that Barnum's place on Broadway burned down, which event happened on the second day of March.
After leaving New York I went on to Boston and shortly after I entered into an engagement with Howes to travel with Howes' Trans Atlantic Circus and Risbeck's Menagerie. I joined them and we opened at Woburn, a few miles from Boston, on the twenty-second day of April with a company comprised of the following artists besides myself:
Frank Howes, equestrian manager.
John Gregory, Thomas Gregory, Arthur Gregory and Joseph Gregory, gymnasts.
Gertrude Gregory, performing with a troupe of trained dogs.
Bessie Gregory, singer.
Edwin Watson, rider.
George Seavey, gymnast.
John Wilcox, clown.
Sadee Jackson, rider.
George M. Clark, clown.
Madam Tomas Nobles, rider.
A troupe of Indians.
Mary Anne Howes, rider.
Edward O. Baldwin and James O. Connor, boxers.
This concern, though, nominally Howes, really belonged to and was managed by Lyman Hitchcock, but Howes being well known in the business, and supplying the necessary horses, his name was put over the concern.
After showing one day in Woburn we started for Waltham in a blinding snow storm and although it was hard travelling we managed to arrive without any damage. From Waltham we went to Quincy, Natick, North Bridgewater, Taunton, New Bedford and Fall River all in Massachusetts, and then after showing in Newport, Providence, Phoenix, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket, Rhode Island, we came back again into Massachusetts showing in the following towns on our way to New Hampshire: Milford, Worcester, Framingham, South Boston, East Boston, Charlestown, Chelsea, Lynn, Salem, Gloucester and Newburyport. We crossed into New Hampshire at Portsmouth and then showed in Dover, and Great Falls in the same state, previous to crossing into Biddeford, Maine, from which place we went to Lewiston, Winthrop, Augusta, Gardiner, Bath, Damiescota, Waldeboro, Commelson, Rockland, Belfast, Winterport, Bangor, Newport, Waterville, Farmington, Livermore Falls and Dixfield all in Maine, and then once more crossing in New Hampshire we showed in Bethel, Gorham, Lancaster and Littleton, previous to crossing to St. Johnsbury in the state of Vermont. After showing there for one day we went on to Cabbstville, Montpelier, St. Albans, Stowe (which was a great watering place) Fairfax and Sheldon. During this tour of Vermont we did no circus business of any description on account of the almost prohibitory license fee which in that state is eighteen hundred dollars for permission to show in any part of the state. Our manager would not pay this exorbitant license so therefore we only done gymnastic exercises and showed our menagerie while travelling through that state.
From Sheldon we crossed into New York State at Rouses Point and from there we went to Ellenwood, to Chataqua, Malone, Potsdam, Canton, and Ogdensburg and then crossed the line into Canada and opened at Prescott and then went on to Ottawa, Richmond, Perth, Smith Falls, Brockville and Kingston.
At Kingston Hitchcock disbanded the company. and took the stock etc. back to Cape Vincent, New York State. This was the end of a thirteen weeks' tour, and once again the management defrauded the company. Hitchcock owed to Howes one thousand dollars, to the Gregory family fifteen hundred dollars, five hundred dollars to me, and about five or six hundred dollars to the remaining members of the company. He also owed Parker Spinney of the Merrimac House over five hundred dollars for the board of the company from the time he engaged them until he opened on the twenty-second of April.
At Cape Vincent the members of the company attached the stock, canvas etc. belonging to Hitchcock, and Parker Spinney went bondsman for each member of the company as we were all non residents.
After placing our attachments on the concern we borrowed the tent, horses etc. one day and showed in Cape Vincent and another day in Watertown, the company dividing the profits among themselves, clearing about ten dollars each. We then went to Montreal, showed there, and then bringing the concern back from Montreal we surrendered it to the sheriff and he sold it out, clearing on the sale some five thousand five hundred dollars of which not one cent came to the members of the company, the whole amount being appropriated by the sheriff and the different lawyers for their fees.
Spinney also lost his five hundred dollars, not receiving a single cent, yet he never blamed any member of the company. And besides that amount he lost some eight or nine hundred dollars which he had expanded in journeys to Cape Vincent and in lawyer's fees.
On the menagerie Colonel Cashing hold a mortgage which he foreclosed and it was sold for nine thousand five hundred dollars to himself and he then sold it to John O'Brien.
One other little incident to show the meanness of Lyman Hitchcock. When in Kingston, Canada, previous to breaking up he promised the baggage men that he would pay them what he owed them, provided that they saw him safe over into New York State, and as soon as he landed foot in the States he quietly gave them what is generally called (to use a vulgarism) the cold shake, and the poor fellows had to go around begging to get a bit to eat, and to fish from the docks there, to catch a few fish to fry for their suppers. Hitchcock went to every hotel man in the place, and informed them that he would not be responsible for their board bills and advising them not to have anything to do with them. One of the men (the boss baggageman,) named, Archer Seals, however, got part of his money, for one day meeting Hitchcock while he, (Hitchcock) was driving through Cape Vincent, he jumped into the buggy alongside Hitchcock and pulling out his revolver, he threatened to blow out his brains if he did not pay him. Hitchcock said he had no money but he handed over to Seals the horse that he was driving and Seals sold it for eighty-five dollars.
If each member of the company had treated him in a similar manner or thrashed him within an inch of his life we would most likely have got part of what was due us, for he had plenty of money.
Hitchcock is dead now so we will let him rest in peace, but if he had been alive he would not have escaped a scathing denunciation in these pages.
After the whole concern had been sold out, finding that nothing was to be gained by staying at Cape Vincent I left there and came on to Boston, where I stayed at the Merrimac House resting until the spring of 1869.
On leaving Cape Vincent I had barely sufficient to pay my way to Boston, and therefore not having any money when I arrived there and seeing no chance of getting an engagement, I did not know what to do. It was then that again Parker Spinney stepped forward and stood by me in my hour of need, saying to me when I told him how I was situated, "Well, Johnny, you just stay here until you get an engagement, consider yourself at home and when you get the money, why you can pay me then." It is when a man is what is called "dead broke" that he values a friend, for then a "friend in need is a friend indeed."
In May of 1809 Colonel Cushing bought a large fish which had been caught off Eastport and he also bought a young orang outang and sent a person named Andrew Cullen (whom I will refer to hereafter) and myself out with it, to show it through the country. We also took with us striking, blowing and lifting machines, and travelling as far north as Bangor, Maine, (showing at a good many places between here and there) where we arrived about the beginning of July, and on the fifth I and Cullen left Bangor leaving the fish behind under the charge of the men, but bringing all the rest of the things back with us.
Arriving in Boston I again put up at the Merrimac House and finding nothing doing and making no money Mr. Spinney and I went on the first of August on a visit to Colonel Cushing to his farm at Dover, Now Hampshire, where we remained two days and then went to Mr. Spinney's farm between Milton Mills and Union, New Hampshire. Cushing loaned me a large canvas which I proposed to make into a tent up at Spinney's farm, as I intended to break in a horse which Mr. Spinney had promised to give to me to break for ring purposes. On our arrival at his farm Mr. Spinney offered me my choice from among several good horses which he had, and I chose a very good looking mare which, in my judgment, bid fair to become a good circus animal.
I then went to work and put up the canvas which Cushing had given me, and made a ring and commenced to break in the mare, continuing my work during the months of August and September under a broiling hot sun. I took no notice of the heat at that time but I suffered the consequences later.
After I had broke the mare in pretty well one day while I was putting her through the necessary business to fit her for the ring she slipped and fell, and on getting her up and taking her down to the barn, Mr. Spinney's father said, "Why, Johnny, the mare's leg is broken."
This rather took me aback as I had only thought that the mare had slightly sprained herself.
Mr. Spinney's father and I then put the mare in slings and put splints on her leg. While we were trying to care the mare Mr. Spinney gave me another horse and in December, just as I thought I had him ready for the ring, and as I was one day making him gallop around the pasture, he tried to jump a fence and failing,, he injured himself so severely that I had, to give up all hopes of perfecting him for the ring. Three days after I had given up hopes of making the horse fit for the ring I went into the stable to see the mare (who had begun to get almost well by that time) and I found her lying on the ground. On seeing me she tried to rise and come to me but with a low whinny she fell back and on going up to her to see what was the matter I found that by some cause or other she had again broken the same leg and just about three or four inches above the first break. On looking the matter over I found that the break was about incurable and I then killed her.
Before the horse hurt himself by trying to jump the wall, I gave a performance in my tent with him at the request of a gentleman named Free Stevens, who invited about 80 of his neighbors, and a more hearty audience I never rode before. Free Stevens is yet alive, and a trader at Milton Mills, New Hampshire.
After her death I returned to Boston, it then being almost the end of the year 1869 and almost the end of one of the unluckiest years of my life. I am not a believer in luck or fatalism, but to account for my bad fortune that year I cannot.
Shortly after my arrival in Boston I left for New York and from there I went on to Philadelphia, and after staying there only two or three days I returned to Boston where I was taken with a sudden sickness which soon developed into brain fever, caused, as the doctors said, by exposure to the extreme heat in the fall of 1869 [?]. In a few days I was completely delirious and Mr. Spinney, ever ready to do a good turn, engaged people to sit by and watch me night and day.
In a short time, as I seemed to have improved considerably, Mr. Spinney thought that a change of air and scene would do me good and he therefore sent me down to Dover to Colonel Cushing's farm. I had only been there three days when one night I rose from my bed, dressed myself quietly and taking my valise with me I secretly left the house and commenced to walk towards Dover, with the snow lying from two to three feet on the ground in most places. On my way go Dover I had to pass a graveyard and being at that time in a high state of delirium I took off all my clothes and threw myself down on top of the snow in the graveyard. After resting there a short time the cold slightly brought me to my senses and I got up and dressed myself all but my collar and necktie, and leaving my valise I continued my walk to Dover where, on my arrival, I went to the Kimball House and asked them could they give me a single room. They said "yes" but on taking me upstairs to my room I saw that it contained two beds, and on speaking to the clerk he promised that no one else should be put into that room me. In less than an hour another person was brought up and shown into the same room, and I immediately got up, dressed and went over to the American House where I engaged and was shown to a single room where I rested until early morning. On getting up in the morning I recollected that I had left my collar and necktie and valise in the graveyard and I started out to find them. When I reached the place where I had lain down the previous night I found my collar and necktie but could not find my valise, and up to the time of writing this (1885) I have not discovered what became of it. After finding those articles I went back to Dover and there took the train for Boston. When the train arrived in Boston, I was discovered on my knees praying in one of the cars and just as one of the brakemen had taken hold of me to put me out, thinking I was under the influence of liquor, another of the men who knew me stepped forward and told the man who had hold of me to let me go, saying that he knew me and I belonged to the Merrimac House. The Hotel is near the depot and a good many of the conductors etc. belonging to the Boston and Maine and other railroads reside there. I was allowed to leave the depot and I immediately took a carriage for the house where my doctor (Doctor Legrange) resided, and after seeing him, I commenced to walk back to the hotel.
Mr. Spinney, who had received a telegram saying that I had left Dover, and also having information that I had arrived in Boston, had sent people out to look for me and some of them finding me in Washington Street took me to the hotel. After placing me in my room they stepped out to see about something and I immediately slipped out, went down stairs and out of the house. It was two hours before I was again found and I this time they made sure of me for they took off my clothes, gave me a bath and put me to bed.
Mr. Spinney then engaged two of my old friends (showmen) to watch me night and day, as by that time I was completely insane. The people whom he engaged were Andrew Cullen, (who had been with me in 1869 [?] with the fish etc.) and Charles Gesset, formerly a circus man and now keeper of a liquor saloon in Blackstone St. Boston. Shortly after I had returned home and one day while my attendant was not keeping a strict watch on me (thinking I was asleep) I jumped out of bed and tried to spring through the window, head first. I did not succeed in going through the window but I did succeed in cutting my face and neck very badly. As soon as they heard the crash of the window glass two or three persons hurried into the room and helped the attendant to again place me in bed. The day after that occurrence the physicians whom Mr. Spinney had engaged to attend me told him that the best he could do would be to allow me to go to the asylum for a few weeks. Mr. Spinney did not like the idea of allowing me to go to an asylum but after a few days the doctors convinced him that it would be the best thing for me, and he then consented.
The day after his consent was given I was taken down to Taunton Insane Asylum and placed under the care of Doctor Choate who I believe was at that time Superintendent of the Asylum.
During the time that I remained there Mr. Spinney sent regularly three times a week to enquire after my welfare, and he also had me provided with everything that was necessary and conducive to my recovery. Mr. Spinneys messernger were sometimes his brothers, other times Gasset or Cullen and he came himself whenever his business would allow him to, in fact he came I believe once a week himself.
At expiration of five weeks I was discharged from the Asylum aAs perfectly cured, and taking the train I came to Boston, and then took a carriage for the Merrimac House. When I walked into the hotel it was just dinner time, and Mr. Spinney seeing me thought I might have escaped, but I soon convinced him, and others who knew me, and who had left their dinner as soon as they had heard of my arrival, that I was then perfectly sane. They were awfully glad all of them on learning of my complete recovery and Mr. Spinney insisted tnat I should go to bed and take a rest immediately after dinner.
The most curious part of all this is, that, during the whole of this illness, I myself, knew perfectly well what I was doing (even to the unstripping and lying down in the snow at Dover) but I did not seem to be able to control my actions in any way.
During the whole of this sickness it will have been noticed how Mr. Spinney stood by me, for which I once again thank him. And also let me add one word of grateful thanks to each and every one who acted the part of friend to me in that trying time, especially to Mr. Spinney, Andrew Cullen and Charles Gasset, and I sincerely hope that as they journey through life and meet with fortunes frowns that they may always have a good, true and tried friend to stand by them.
After my recovery Mr. Spinney insisted that I should stay and rest a short time, and I did until April the twentieth when I left Boston for Utica, New York State, to join Alexander Robinsons Circus, he having sent an engagement on for me to sign even while I was ill.
Alex Robinson I suppose is known to most of my readers, and to those who do not know him let me say that he is a brother of old John Robinson. That I believe is a sufficient guarantee of his ability as a manager of a Circus.
On the first day of May, 1870, the company then engaged with Robinson and which composed the following artists, commenced its summer tour:
Alexander Robinson, Manager.
Mary Jane Robinson, Rider.
Annie Robinson, Rider.
Clarence Burton, Gymnast.
Boyd Robinson, Clown and Leaper.
Frances Robinson, Rider.
Alec. Robinson, Jr. Rider.
William Biatt, (Master Tommy). One of the cleverest Acrobats I have seen, and a dwarf, being only four feet in height.
Sam Lathrop, Clown.
William Worell, (of Philadelphia) Clown.
Andrew Showers, Juggler and Plate Spinner.
Henry Jefferson, Clown and Negro deluisator.
Lida Showers, Jig Dancer.
William Ward, Clown and Comic Singer.
Walter Leonard and Nellie Morrell, Trapeze Artists.
That season I acted as Equestrian manager for the concern besides doing two riding acts each day. One being an Indian riding act and the other my bare backed sommersault act.
We opened for our first performance in Secoit, a few miles from Utica, and then showed in the following towns in New York State: Sankeyville, (where the great trotting mare, Flora Temple, was foaled) Hamilton, Courtlandt, Elmira and Olean, besides several other I towns of less note.
From New York State we crossed into Pennsylvania where we showed through Smithport, Canton, Emporium, Driftwood, Renova and Lockhaven. At this town while in the middle of our evening performance Robinson rushed into the dressing room and gave orders to close the performance as quick as possible, as it was commencing to blow heavy, and we might expect a severe storm shortly. We closed our performance as quick as we could and before the last of the audience had left, the performers, canvas men and baggagemen had commenced to pull down the canvas. We had hardly got it down when the storm broke over us in all its fury, and in a few moments there was not a dry person in our party. The performers were worse off than the rest, as they only had on their thin dresses which they had been wearing in the ring. Finding it was no use standing there we commenced to run towards our hotel but soon stopped running (for the night being, pitch dark we were constantly stumbling into pools of water from one foot to eighteen inches deep) and tried to carefully pick our way to the hotel, where we managed to arrive after a great deal of trouble and not much the worse except for a severe wetting which gave every member of that company a pretty good cold, and for the next week or two there was more sneezing around that tent or wherever the company was, than there would be if you dropped a barrel of snuff or a pound of cayenne pepper into a crowded ball room.
During all my travels, I do not think I ever saw it rain harder or blow worse, and the flashes of lightning, although splendid, were something terrible in their vividness.
From Lockhaven we continued our tour of Pennsylvania to Jersey Shore, Williamsport, Muncy, Northumberland, Sunbury, Danville, Bloomburg, Berwick, Wilkesbarre, (where a performer met and joined us whom I had not seen for a considerable time, named Hiram Day) Pittston, Scranton, Carbondale, Mount Washington, Hawley, Honesdale, Stroudsburg, Quakertown and Westchester.
From Westchester we crossed into the state of Delaware where we showed in Newcastle, Wilmington and Newark. From Newark I took a flying trip through to Baltimore where I called upon a sister of the Kincaids (named Margaret). She was then married and had two fine little children. It was then that I heard that all three of the boys were dead.
This has been my last visit to Baltimore, and I then. only stayed there one day.
I returned to Newark on the Sunday evening and on the Monday we again crossed into Pennsylvania, this time going up through the oil regions and showing in Mackinaw City, Allentown, Coatestown and Rea ding among other places.
During our first trip into Pennsylvania that season, and while showing in Canton, a storm came on which blew our canvas down and left us to walk to our hotel in our performing dresses, but as the distance to the hotel was not great we did not suffer much. Our canvas was not much damaged.
From this it will be seen that our tour of Pennsylvania at the beginning of this season was quite a stormy one.
Alter closing our tour of the oil regions of Pennsylvania we crossed into New York State and there, after showing in Binghampton, Witney Point, Georgetown and Log City, we broke up on the twelfth day of October, 1870, and drove from Log City into Utica where I took the train for Boston. On arriving at the Merrimac House I discovered that Mr. Spinney had leased it to a person named Stackpole, and gone up to reside on his farm near Milton Mills.
After resting one day in Boston I went down and saw Mr. Spinney, and he and all his family were glad to see me. He wished me to stay with him on the farm that winter but I declined his cordial offer, as I thought I would not be a further burden to him. I then made arrangements with Mr. Spinney as to a settlement of what I owed him, and he very generously agreed to take about one-third of what really was due to him, and then never charged me anything for the two horses which I had in the fall of 1869. Alter finishing my arrangements with Mr. Spinney I came back to Boston and remained there all winter.
During my stay in Boston that winter I kept door at a side show for old "Uncle John Sears" for six weeks, that being the only employment I had until I was engaged in the spring of 1871 by Alexander Robinson to again join him in Utica, as equestrian manager for his concern.
I arrived in Utica on the twenty-second day of April and on the first day of May we opened at Mohawk, New York State, with the following company:
Alec Robinson, manager.
Andy Showers, juggler and plate spinner.
Robert Clarke, clown.
Lida Showers, jig dancer.
William Worell, (of Philadelphia) clown.
William Biatt (Master Tommy) acrobat.
Annie Robinson, rider.
Clarence Burton, leaper and horizontal bar performer.
Marie J. Robinson, rider.
James Wallgrove, leaper, etc.
Sanford Hoegel, acrobat.
Hiram Day, clown.
Alec Robinson, Jr., rider.
Leaving Mohawk on the second day of May we went through almost the same towns as on our previous year's trip through New York State, and also showed in Cherry Valley. Cooperstown, Richfield Springs, Cobles Kill and Schoharie. After closing in New York State we passed over into Pennsylvania and there showed all through the oil regions, remaining in that state until the first of September, when we recrossed into New York State at Narrowsburg, then passing on to Downsville, New Berlin, Cooperstown, Cherry Valley, Richfield Springs, Mohawk and Clarkesville where we closed our season on the twelfth day of October and drove into Utica and diabanded.
From Utica I went by rail to Ipswich, Massachusetts, where Mr. Spinney was then keeping the Agawam House. I remained at Ipswich all that winter and having paid to Mr. Spinney the balance of the amount he had agreed to take I found myself free from indebtedness.
Shortly after my arrival at Ipswich, and one day while at the depot there, I met General Grant as he was on his way through. I stepped forward and spoke to America's Greatest General and he, smiling, put out his hand and said "Shake hands, don't be afraid." I had seen him several times previous to this but never had had the pleasure of speaking to him, and during the few minutes that I was with him then I found him to be a very quiet and gentlemanly man.
On the fifteenth of April, 1872, I for the third season went to Utica and joined Alexander Robinson, taking the same position (that of equestrian manager and rider) that I had held the two previous years.
Once more on the first day of May we left Utica, this time with the following company:
Annie Robinson, rider.
William Biatt (Master Tommy) rider and acrobat.
Alec Robinson, Jr., rider.
Maynard Brothers (Mark and Eugene) acrobats.
Clarence Burton, gymnast.
Charles Cavalla, clown.
Robert Clarke, clown.
Sanford Hoegel, acrobat,
Andy Showers, juggler and plate spinner.
Lida Showers, jig dancer.
From the first day of May when we left Utica, until the twentieth day of October when we broke up, we travelled through New York State and Pennsylvania over nearly the same road that we had traversed in the two preceding years.
The only nothworthy incident of our tour that season happened in Pennsylvania between Tyrone and Huntington, where a negro boy named Bob, who was connected with the concern was drowned while swimming in a creek which lies between those two points. His death cast a gloom over our party for some time. After we found his body we went ahead and left young Alec Robinson and Charles Cavalla behind to see to the poor boy's decent burial and the showmen made up a small purse among them which was sufficient to buy a plain but neat tombstone to place over the grave.
After breaking up at Mohawk in October I again went to Ipswich where I remained until April of 1878 when I once more went to Utica and took my old position, as equestrian manager and rider, with Alexander Robinson's company.
Our company that season was composed of the follwing artists:
Boyd Robinson, german clown and leaper.
Francis Robinson, rider.
William Biatt, (Master Tommy) rider and acrobat.
Henry Carey, acrobat.
Charles Cavala, clown.
Annie Robinson, rider.
Maynard Brothers, gymnasts.
Robert Clarke, clown and negro delineator.
Andy Showers, juggler and plate spinner.
Lida Showers, jig dancer.
This season we started up through New York State and after showing up as far as Champlain we crossed into Canada opening at Lacoe, then up St. John, Sweetburg, Magog, Somerset, Stanstead, Plata, Coatacoke, Lenoxville, Sherbrooke, Richmond, Danville, Arthabaski, Inverness Corners, St. Nichols, Point Levi, Quebec, Chandiere, Doucets, Three Rivers, Pembroke, Lancaster, Louisburg, Perth, Peterborough, Lakefield, Chambliss, Lindsay, St. Lin, St. Jerome and Kingston, from which place we crossed back to New York State to Cape Vincent, then showing down from there to Utica occupying about one week and reaching Utica, where we broke up on the twentieth of October.
After breaking up in Utica I went to Ipswich and stayed all that winter and until April of 1874 with Parker Spinney at the Agawam House.
In April I again went to Utica and joined Robinson, filling again the position of equestrian manager, and on the first day of May we opened there with the following company:
William Costello, ringmaster and plate spinner.
Henry Cary, acrobat.
Maynard Brothers, gymnasts.
Robert Clarke, clown and negro delineator.
Andy Showers, juggler and plate spinner.
Lida Showers, jig dancer.
J. J. Le Powell, clown.
Ellen Robinson, Wardrobe mistress.
William Biatt, (Master Tommy) rider and acrobat.
Leaving Utica on the first of May we again went up through New York State into Canada, this season showing in Prescott, St, Catherines, Pembroke, Louisburg, Lancaster, Peterborough, Lakefield, Lindsay, Kingston, Perth and Brockville, and leaving there crossed into Now York State to Ogdensburg, from which place we showed straight down, to Utica where we broke up in October.
At the commencement of this season and while showing in Avon Springs, my mare, while I was riding in the ring, slipped and fell, throwing me heavily to the ground. The fall hurt me so badly that I was laid up in bed for a month before I was again fit to go into the ring.
After breaking up in Utica in October I once again left for Ipswich where I remained all winter and until April of 1875 when I again joined Robinson at Utica in the same capacity as in previous years.
This year we opened at Newport, New York State on the twenty-second day of April with the following well selected company.
Clarence Burton and Tony Burton, (known as the Burton Brothers) acrobats and trapeze performers.
Maynard Brothers, gymnasts.
Henry Carey acrobat.
William Shedman, club swinger.
George Brooks, minstrel.
Robert Clarke, clown and negro delineator.
Hiram Day, clown.
John McGrew, minstrel.
Andy Showers, juggler and plate spinner.
Lida Showers, jig dancer.
William Biatt, (Master Tommy) rider and acrobat.
William Costello, globe performer and ringmaster.
Boyd Robinson, Dutch clown.
Frances Robinson, rider.
Marie J. Robinson, rider.
Leaving Newport on the twenty-third day of April we proceeded to show in the following places in New York State: Glens Falls, Fort Edward, Cambridge, Greenwich Schagticoke Point, Lansingburg, West Troy. Schnectady, Amsterdam, Fonda, Cananjoharie, Schoharie, Cherry Valley, Cooperstown and Cobleskill. From Cobleskill we crossed into Pennsylvania and showed through the oil regions taking in Titusville, Meadville, Oil Creek, Parkers Landing and Petroleum Centre. Then going back to New York State we remained for a few weeks in the lower part of the state and then passed back into Pennsylvania and again showed in the same towns of the oil region, when after showing in Petroleum Centre we crossed back into New York State and there showed in Norwich, New Berlin and Bridgewater, completing out season at that place and then driving into Utica we broke up on the fifteenth day of October, 1875.
On our arrival in Girardville, Pennsylvania this season, and just as we got ready to parade, we heard the news that the "Molly Maguires" (a secret organization then in full power in the mining district) had assassinated a mining boss and another man belonging to the mine. In spite of the excitement, we paraded and gave shows in town that day.
To Allen Pinkerton of Chicago (of the great detective organization) is due the credit of breaking up that fearful gang of desperadoes.
During the second of our periods in New York and while in arcade we showed with the rain coming down fearfully and the people had to wade through from six to eight inches of mud to get inside of the tent. Notwithstanding all these difficulties which we labored under that day, we yet had crowded houses at both of our performances.
Leaving Utica on the seventeenth of October I came on to Boston, Mr. Spinney having again taken charge of his old hotel, and I remained there until April, although on the first of January Mr. Spinney again leased his hotel, this time to a man named Frost who only kept it eight months when, Mr. Spinney finding that things were not going just as he wished it, he took the hotel back, and from that time to this he has managed the house himself.
While in Boston, and in March of 1876, an old showman called "Uncle John Tryon" (who had formerly been manager for several circuses) died, and Andrew Cullen, myself and my old friend Tom Williams attended and heard the funeral sermon preached over his body previous to its interment. The funeral proceedings were taken in charge by his oldest son Benjamin Tyron, who was treasurer of the Howard Athenaeum for sixteen years, and buried in Greenwood Cemetery, New York.
In April of that year I again went to Utica, and took my same position with Robinson's concern, and on the first day of May we started out from Utica with the following company:
Maynard Brothers, gymnasts.
Henry Carey, acrobat.
William Shedman, club swinger.
George Brooks, minstrel.
Robert Clarke, clown and negro delineator.
Hiram Day, clown.
John McGrew, minstrel.
Andy Showers, juggler and plate spinner.
Lida Showers, jig dancer.
William Biatt (Master Tommy) rider and acrobat.
William Costello, globe performer and ringmaster.
Boyd Robinson, Dutch clown.
Marie J. Robinson, rider.
Adam Ringler, minstrel.
Margaret Ringler, minstrel.
John Brandt, gymnast and modern hercules.
Starting on the first day of May we opened for our first performance at Riskin Falls. then on to Booneville, Lowville, Carthage, Evans Mills, Antwerp Gouverneur, Potsdam, Canton (at which place my trunk, containing almost all of my street clothes, a small amount of money, and some twenty yards of cloth for circus clothes, with several other little articles valued in all at about two hundred dollars, was stolen from the tent, and although I left a man there for two or three days to see about it, I never recovered it) Colton, Nicholsville, Brushes Mills and Hogansburg.
From Hogansburg we crossed to Trout River in Canada and then went to Huntington, West Dunham, St. John de Schockin and Hemingsport.
Leaving Canada we crossed over into N. Y. State at Rouse's Point, then to Plattsburg, Keesville, Sable Forks, Elizabeth, Marie, (the birthplace of the celebrated trotting horse driver and trainer, Pete McIntyre) Ticonderoga, Screwn Lake, Pottersville and Warren. At Warren Mrs. Alexander Robinson had stolen from the room in the hotel (where she was staying) one thousand dollars worth of diamonds while we were all at the evening performance, and although strenuous efforts were made by the police to discover the thief they were never able to do so.
From Warren we went to Lucerne, Glens Falls, Sandy Hill, Fort Edward, Cambridge, Salem, Fondy, Cananjoharie and Wooperstown.
Leaving Cooperstown we crossed into Pennsylvania and showing there in about seven or eight places we crossed back to New York State and showed there in Arcade, Perth, Ellicotville, Angelica, Gainesville, Perry Le Roy, Gowanda, Whites Corners, Aurora, Avon Springs, Batavia and Cortlandt.
At Cortlandt after the last performance was over was asked to step down to the hotel as I was wanted. I did not know what was wanted and on arriving there I was surprised to find that the members of the company had organized a dinner party in my honor. After dinner was over a gentleman of the town, deputised by the members of the company, rose and after a very nice speech presented me with a gold headed cane with the names of the subscribers engraved on a gold plate affixed to the cane.
Mrs. Brandt also presented me with a boquet of flowers. With singing and speech making we passed away the time until the early hours of the morning. While returning from where the dinner was to our own hotel with Mr. and Mrs. Brandt and one or two others, we met several roughs and one of them was insolent enough to insult Mrs. Brandt, and I christened my cane in a good cause by knocking the rough down with it.
From Cortlandt we went on to Lockport, Dansville, Corning, Gillet, Elmira, Horse Heads, Pine Valley, Havana, Stanley, Lyons, Weedsport, Syracuse, Caneostota, Rome and Vernon from which place we drove into Utica and broke up on the twelfth day of October.
This season there joined us while we were on the road William Nichols and Son, riders, at Aurora; J. J. Le Pawell, clown, at Perth; and Dave Castello at Cortlandt.
Chapter XV.
Leaving Utica I went on to Philadelphia and saw the exhibition, and after staying there for ten days I came to Boston and put up at the Merrimac House where I remained until April of 1877, when I again joined Robinson at Utica taking my old position.
On the second day of May we left Utica with the following company:
Boyd Robinson, Dutch clown.
William Biatt, (Master Tommy) rider and acrobat.
Maynard Brothers, gymnasts.
Clarence Burton, acrobat.
Hiram Day, clown.
J. Le Powell, clown.
William Costello, ringmaster and globe performer.
Andy Showers, plate spinner and juggler.
Lida Showers, jig dancer.
Robert Clarke, clown.
Alexander Robinson Jr., rider. (He having just returned from a five year's voyage around the world in a sailing vessel. This also was the last season he remained in the ring and he now, I believe, is captain of a vessel on Lake Erie.)
Marie J. Robinson, rider.
We travelled this year through almost the same towns and in October broke up, and since that time I have never rode in a ring, that closing my forty-two years and three months travelling.
And now readers farewell, hoping that a recital of my slight experiences expressed in the foregoing language have allowed you to pass a few pleasant hours. I am (as previously stated) at the Merrimac House, in Boston and if any of the old showmen will call, I shall be glad to see them. [Note: At this point in the publication, Glenroy included a list the the places he performed on the 4th of July, New Years Day and Christmas Day of each year. This information, 1836-1877 is not included.]
List of managers with whom I served and who are now dead:
"General" Rufus Welch.
"Colonel" Alva Mann.
"Major" C. A. Delevan.
Joseph D Palmer.
Frank J. Howes.
Aaron Tuaner [sic].
"Colonel" Joseph Cushing.
Abner Pell.
Jerry Maybee.
Lyman Hitchcock.
Jonas Bartlett.
Harry Whitbeck.
Commodore G. R. Spaulding.
W. B. Van Orden.
William Stone.
Charles Bacon.
Uriah Hopkins.
Richard Sands.
Horace Norton.
"Docter" Genung.
William Lake.
Caleb Weeks.
Girard Quich.
John Tryon.
Thanking my readers one and all for the kindness in reading the whole of this narrative, I remain, John H. Glenroy. One of the old-time circus men.
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Last modified November 2005.
without written permission of the Circus Historical Society, Inc.
