Circus Historical Society
From: With the Circus. A Route Book of Ringling Bros. World’s Greatest Railroad Shows, Seasons of 1895 and 1896, St. Louis: Great Western Printing Co. By Alf T. Ringling. Lists of staff in all departments, performers, program, and detailed day-by-day route. Not included here are some articles, some of the text, many photographs. Permission to place the information from this route book on the Circus Historical Society website has been provided by Feld Entertainment, Inc.™, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey™. Circus World Museum's Parkinson Library provided the photocopy of this route book. All information should be checked with additional sources. There will be spelling and typographical errors.
(By the author, with apologies to Flavius Josephus)
And it came to pass that in the land of the setting sun there grew up a great nation and its people were exceeding prosperous and had many broad acres of fertile land which thousands of husbandmen tilled diligently. And the husbandmen saved of barley and of flax and of wheat and planted corn and cotton and of all those things that furnish food for man and raiment for him and sustenance for beasts did they plant the seeds thereof in the ground. And behold the waters came down and watered the lands and the sun shone upon the fields with friendly warmth, so that the earth produced abundantly of everything and all the people of this land were cheered and comforted. And the people said unto one another and unto their rulers, "Our land shall be an asylum unto the oppressed and downtrodden of other lands, even unto the Franks and the Gauls, and the Teutons, and the Romans, the Greeks and the Israelites, the Norsemen and the Danes and the Scots and the Anglicans and the Erinites and unto all the peoples and tribes of all the earth."
And the people of other lands came to the shores of this people and lived among them and many of the sons of this people took unto themselves wives from among the daughters of the strangers and the young men that came among the strangers did many of them marry the daughters of this people, and behold they waxed fat in the land and multiplied and became one people until in the reign of one Grover, successor to Benjamin the Harrisonite, there were more than seventy millions in the land, and there were besides the broad fields many pastures in which grazed asses and sheep, and kine and horses.
Now as the people waxed strong they also wrought in mines and brought forth from the bowels of the earth precious metals, even gold and silver and iron and copper; and coal wherewith to feed the blasts, where thousands of busy workers prepared the metals for the artificers, who fashioned them into curious shapes and designs, and the work shops resounded with the ring of the anvil and the spindles of the weavers made music with the hum of their weaving, and the ships of commerce plied upon the lakes and rivers and into foreign seas, and the marts of trade were busy with the hum of traffic and barter and exchange.
So when the people became prosperous and had accumulated of the bounties of nature by the fruits of their industry, they said unto one another: "It is not well that man should work and strive without repose and diversion lest by his travail he become a burden unto himself and laguisheth for amusement and recreation." So there arose among the people men and women who performed many strange and curious feats of strength and daring and all man ner of jugglery even to leaping in the air and the turning of somersaults and divers feats upon horses, the while they were clad in raiment of exquisite beauty and of exceeding brevity. Now among these people was one Daniel, who was a teller of jokes and a spinner of yarns and a very witty man withal, so that when he moved about from tribe to tribe with his caravan thousands flocked to partake of the felicity of his sayings and to indulge in merry laughter at his jokes and witty repartee. But Daniel went into the houses of brewers and indulged in a certain strong drink which was distilled from the kernel of the rye, of the oat and of the corn, so that he began to wane in popularity and the people saw that he was not the Daniel of old, and they murmured against him because he no more furnished the skilled vaulters and various performers of feats as formerly.
And at this time there were many others who traveled about with caravans and sought to gain public favor in this way and among these was one Phinnius and another who was called Adam. Now Adam gathered together all the fore-paughed beasts of the forest and field and of the jungle, as did likewise Phinnius, and among these two there was great rivalry as to who should have the most curious cattle and camels, and asses, and horses, and fierce lions, and tigers, and the greatest performers of feats, and in their rivalry they waxed and grew strong, and their caravans became large and the names thereof were great in the land and when tho servants and hirelings preceded these caravans with pictures and characters on parchment, which they fastened to the graineries and stables of the husbandmen, the people shouted, "Behold ,the great Adam is coming," and "Behold the great Phinnius is coming," and there was much rejoicing.
Now, there was also one James, an Erinite, and he also had a caravan, and he aspired to do likewise as Adam and Phinnius had done that the people might shout with much rejoicing, "The great James is coming." But when he went out among the different tribes with his caravan he was set upon by the hirelings of Phinnius so that his coffers were soon empty, and he went unto Phinnius and said: "I will be thy slave and will do thy bidding if thou but take me and my caravan in with thine own, for thy power is too great and thy fame too well known throughout the land, and who am I that I should dare to hope from the people the loud acclaims and rejoicings that thy great name awoke, oh Phinnius?" And he humbled himself into the dust, and Phinnius took compassion on him and told him to arise and to cleanse himself. And when James had bathed in the river he returned unto Phinnius with all his chattels and said: "Behold, oh, master, I have returned to do thy bidding." And Phinnius gave him his commands and James obeyed them and became as one of the household.
Now James began to study the habits of the animals in the caravan and soon learned the cunning of the fox, the rapacity of the lion, the cruelty of the tiger, the fawning of the leopard, and the stealthy ways of the puma, but of the goat's whiskers he would have none, but parted his own auburn beard in the middle that it might flow to each side.
And when Phinnius began to wax weary with the weight of years, James went unto him and said: "Behold, master, have I not been a good and faithful servant unto thine house?" And Phinnius said: "Thou hast done my bidding." And James answered him and said: "Behold, master, four-score years have passed over thy head and who will keep thy name before the people when thou art gone to thy fathers?" And Phinnius harkened unto James and made a compact with him and did covenant and agree that James should be his successor.
Now Adam was also growing old and he fell ill and died, and then Phinnius also died and James said to himself, in the quiet of his chamber: "I will be both Phinnius and Adam and will send out hirelings in one direction to say, "Behold, Phinnius cometh," and in another direction will I send hirelings to say, "Adam cometh." Then will I send after them the caravans and the people will rejoice and fill my tents and think indeed "it is Adam" or "it is Phinnius." And James laughed inwardly and rubbed his hands together because he was full with anticipation over the pieces of gold and the shekels of silver that he might gather from the people.
But in all the knowledge he had learned from the beasts there was nothing to show him that when the spirit departed from man he becometh a memory and that his skill no longer availeth the living, and so it came to pass that when the caravans went forth and the people gathered under his tents they murmured and said: "It hath the name of Phinnius" and "It hath the name of Adam, but a peculiar smell," and thereupon James rent his garments and tore his beard and cried, "Woe is me, woe is me." And he ceased to part his beard in the middle.
Now there had grown into prominence five young men whom James and his hirelings had in derision called the bugaboo brothers because that they came from the tribe of Baraboo, a very hardy race, and were all of them brothers. And James and his hirelings cried out against them unto the people because these brothers had also a caravan of many camels and many horses and many elephants and dens of fierce lions and tigers and other beasts and birds and such wonders of men and women in feats of skill and daring as to put to shame the caravan of James, and to cover James with confusion. And James caused his hirelings and posters of parchment pictures, his scribes and retainers to meet in conflict with the hirelings and posters of parchment pictures, the scribes and retainers of the brothers from the land of the Baraboos, even in the city of many breweries, which is watered by a great water and is called Milwaukee. And when the great caravan of the Baraboo Brothers arrived in this city and passed through the streets of the city and the people saw that it was great, they passed into the tents of the brothers by thousands until there was not room for more and many could not enter; and so great were the feats of skill and daring and so many the wonders and strange sights and so skillfully shown unto the people, that they all shouted, "Adam was great in his time and Phinnius was great in his time, but lo, these are indeed greater."
Then when James came with his caravan the people would have none of him nor his, but murmured angrily, "Who is this James that he setteth himself up as the successor of Phinnius?" For the people had learned these things from their scribes and were impatient that James and his ancient caravan should move forth from the walls of the city lest the morals of the young might be corrupted.
And James was covered with confusion and he rent his garments and tore his beard. And in the same year did he meet the brothers from Baraboo in conflict many times and they were ever ready for him and smote him until he cried out aloud, but the brothers from Baraboo waxed stronger and stronger and added more and more to their many dens of beasts, to their great tents and to their number of skilled men and women, so that in time they became so great and their fame so wondrous that James was mostly remembered in forgetfulness.
And the caravan of Adam, which James had caused to move about the land, ceased to be and many of its animals perished and others were sold by James that he might provide funds to carry on the caravan of Phinnius, and the tents were grown old and fell apart, and James did barter such of the horses and wagons and other things as remained unto a wild man from the West of the land and consoled himself with the thought that he might still carry on the caravan of Phinnius.
Now there had been for some time three brothers from a tribe, which it is not lawful to set down (lest they should fly unto the elders of a city and make complaint at law) who also had a caravan, even Peter and Ephraim and Lewis, who had been barterers of clothing and cried out their wares to the people. In all of which they were very skillful, barter and exchange being in their nature because of the tribe of which they came. But on account of their nature and habits in early life they sought to please the people with such things as were called "cast off" and had seen their days of usefulness with other caravans, and the people did not rejoice when they moved from tribe to tribe, and so Ephraim and Lewis and Peter sought to gain the favor of the people by offering to take them under their tent for one-half the silver others demanded; but the people murmured and said, "This is like unto the tricks of Einstein and of Blovinsky when they have raiment to sell and no one purchased at the price the same is reduced because the garment is inferior." And Ephraim and Lewis and Peter fell each upon the other's neck and wept bitterly.
Then went they unto James and lamented, "Behold, oh, James, we are in sore distress: the people will not have us even at half-price. The 'cast-off' chattels of other caravans no longer catch the unwary, the shekels of the husbandmen no longer fill our coffers, our kine cry in vain for bran, corn is wanting for our horses, mildew hath eaten into our tents; there is no meat to appease the old lion's hunger; woe is us! woe is us!" And they humbled themselves to James and fell at his feet in the dust before him. And James bade them rise and come into his house and together they talked of their troubles and they all consoled each other that their troubles were caused by the brothers from Baraboo, who had made them degenerate and passe by giving unto the people too great a fullness of amusement until everywhere the people called them the Kings of Recreation and avoided the tents of James and the three brothers, even Peter and Lewis and Ephraim.
And James was at this time full of much bitterness toward the brothers of Baraboo for they had gone with their caravan into the city of James and had there shown to the multitude the wonders of their caravan until the people of the city of James cried out with much rejoicing that new rulers had been found to lead on to greatness the work begun by Phinnius, and the scribes of James' city wrote the same, as did also the scribes in all the cities of that part of the land wherein James resided, until James was very wrothy and swore a terrible swear and went unto the magistrate of a city wherein the caravan of the brothers from Baraboo was and demanded that they be made to give unto him one hundred thousand pieces of silver for that they had supplanted him in public favor. But when the magistrates and elders of this city were come together to consider these things and other matters of law, James held his peace and said naught and appeared not before them lest he might be made to pay the costs of the council.
Of all these things did James and Ephraim and Peter and Lewis hold converse and James said unto Peter: "Lo, thou hast been mine enemy and I have been thine enemy these many years. Thou hast not only called me daft, but hast taunted me with the obscure name which I had hoped to conceal forever and I have assailed thee in all possible ways when thy caravan has crossed my path and made thee put to flight, but this thing that thou doest now in letting the people beneath thy tent at half the silver that has been a custom with the tribes has distressed me sorely for I, too, must soon do likewise and then only the Baraboo brothers will receive full fare, for they are strong with the people." And Peter answered him and said: "This thing of which thou speakest also distressed me and mine for low as is the price the people come not under our tents so plainly do they see the snare. Thou art great in craft, oh James, lead us out into the light that we may again rejoice, for we have come to tell thee that we will do thy bidding."
Then James drew from beneath his garment a mask of Phinnius and put it before him so that it hid his face and showed the likeness of Phinnius, and Peter and Lewis and Ephraim were troubled to know the riddle and fell upon their knees before James until he removed the mask. Then James drew forth another mask, which was in the likeness of Adam, and held it before the faces of Ephraim and Lewis and Peter, so that they were afraid and trembled. And James laughed in their beards and bade them take the mask and hold it before them even as he held the mask of Phinnius. Then did James barter with them over the mask of Adam and made with them a covenant that they were to give him a certain part of the shekels received by them from the people and to receive into their caravan certain of the servants of James that these servants might give unto Ephraim and Peter and Lewis instructions as to wearing the mask and orders in the conduct of their business. And when they had agreed to these things they fell into each others arms and said many soothing words to cover up the bitterness of their past enmity, but upon the heads of the Baraboo brothers they called down a deep blue curse and had their scribes go forth to proclaim in writing that James had made a compact with Peter and Ephraim and Lewis and that the brothers from Baraboo were to be soon driven forth from the face of the earth.
But these were undaunted by the threats of their enemies and went forth with their caravan unto a great city, even the city of Chicago, as was their wont. And here they presented such divers feats of skill and daring and all manner of trained beast displays and show of wild animals as to make their fame still greater in the land. And all the people, who came by thousands to witness these things, applauded and the scribes of the city set down in writing that it was the "greatest ever"; and Peter came and saw it and was much depressed in spirit as were also the servants of James, who came and saw. Then went Peter back to his brethren and said: "Sore indeed is our distress, oh Ephraim and Lewis, and great is our affliction. The vile ramshackle, the accursed barn, called Tattersall's, which is defiled by the presence of the Baraboo Brothers and their hosts, resoundeth with the merry laughter and loud applause of the thousands who twice daily fill its ample walls, and the mask of Adam availeth not against such odds as they present in strange wild beasts and rich clad, wonder-working people. How can we meet in conflict such a host and pay the tribute that James exacteth?" Then were they much wrothy at James for that he had made them covenant to wear the mask of Adam and was about to send them out to do battle with the Barabooites and to do his bidding that he might enjoy peace and tranquility in another part of the land. Then said they, "We are indeed undone and our names shall he heard in the land not again forevermore." But in as much as they had covenanted with James to do these things were they compelled to go forth to battle, and wherever they met with their caravan the caravan of the brothers from Baraboo were they made sorry and put to shame and to much grief and covered with confusion in that the people would not enter their tents, but said, "This is indeed but Sells-er water, but the glory of the caravan of the Baraboo Brothers is like unto rare wine." And they fled and hasted to the West through a great wilderness and stopped not until they came to a great ocean, even the Pacific. And when they could no longer flee, they turned about that they might bring back the old lion and the lame camel to their home.
And as they traveled back toward the land of their nativity they again encountered the forces of the Baraboo Brothers even among the white fields of Texas, and where they were again put to flight and dealt with severely by the people for having claimed to be the one thing when they were the other and they were so sorely distressed because the people would not welcome them that Peter went unto his brother and said, "Yea verily, Lewis, we are undone, yet again and no one deigneth to come near our caravan and the mask of Adam availeth not for they are true believers down here in the South and chase not after false gods, but take everything straight even to the beverages which they drink. Now inasmuch as we can not entice them at a price, let us invite them to feast free with us." And thereupon Lewis and Peter retired to the privacy of their chamber and did write upon parchment honeyed words and soft phrases to the growers of cotton and to all the husbandmen, telling them how that they loved them and theirs and were come to serve them and admonishing them to beware of the wiles of the Baraboo Brothers lest they become possessed of the evil intention of visiting the caravan of the Barabooites. And these things did they say upon parchment, copies of which were sent by thousands and tens of thousands throughout the land. And these pieces of parchment did they promise to redeem at the entrance of their tents by admitting all who brought them, free and without price.
Now the tents of the Baraboo Brothers were packed with people when they came with their caravan and all cheerfully paid, that they might enter, and were much cheered and astonished by the wonders which they saw; but when the caravan of Ephraim and Peter and Lewis came a few (a very few) of those who had been given the parchment promises entered into the caravan of these three. And they murmured and said that their neighbors who did use the pieces of parchment to kindle the fires of their hearths did profit more thereby than they who had gone through the heat of the day to see the old lion and the lame camel. But Lewis and Peter and Ephraim looked at the dejected few who came and shouted with loud voices, "This is indeed a multitude! O, great is the glory of Lewis and of Peter and of Ephraim!"
Now it so happened that at about this time James sought to dignify himself by taking his caravan into the city of the Barabooites, even the city of Chicago, that he might there gain the plaudits of the multitude and surfeit them with amusement and thus compass the efforts of the Barbooites when they should again appear.
And he set up his caravan in a great building on the outskirts of the city and had his scribes say many flattering things about the caravan, and his hirelings caused the mask of Phinnius to be displayed throughout the city and James went forth unto the multitude and shouted in a loud voice so that all the people could hear: "Lo, am I not a holy man? List ye unto me - O, ye Chicagoans, for no man shall see of my cattle nor of my asses, nor of my camels or other animals and wonders on the Sabbath day, like as the Barabooites have done." And while James was saying these pious words was he directing that Peter and Ephraim and Lewis should show these things in another city on the Sabbath day, even in the city of New Orleans. And the people weighed his piety at its true worth and his caravan at its true worth and came not to see it on the Sabbath day nor on any other day that has as yet been heard of, but said: "We will await the coming of the Ringlings." And James shivered, for it was a terrible frost. And James departed from the city to his own home, and Ephraim and Lewis and Peter did likewise, to spend the winter in prayerful meditation and penitent reflection.
The circus dressing room is a sealed book to the average individual. It is the magic repository beyond the colored curtain which is raised for the entrance of an equestrian or other performer and again lowered, shutting from view the hidden treasurers of the circus. Few people ever penetrate its confines and among those who do very few learn its life and character. A circus dressing room is as cosmopolitan as a midway. Almost every language of the civilized globe is spoken here, for, while the Ringling Brothers’ show is strictly an American institution, it does not confine itself to the American arenic product alone, but draws its supply of talent from every quarter of the world. Here the Japanese and the German, the Frenchman and Swede, the Englishman and the Turk are liberally sprinkled among the simon-pure Americans, all on terms of equality and good fellowship.
There is no individual quicker to respond to the suffering or misfortune of his fellows than the circus performer and none more adverse to accepting the bounty of his friends than he. But that is neither here nor there. The business of this sketch is to briefly say a few words about the dressing room.
The dressing room is divided into three compartments. One for the ladies and another for the gentlemen while a third, which corresponds to the green room of a theater, both sexes use on their way to the ring. In this compartment also the ring horses and trained animals are kept during the performance. Here the rider mounts his horse, the charioteer climbs into his rumbling car and all the performers await the shrill whistle of the equestrian director which summons them into the rings. Here are kept the trappings for the horses and here is formed the brilliant spectacle which, on the opening of the big show, fills in kaleidoscopic splendor the huge race course, the three rings and the elevated stages.
In the men’s dressing room, as well as in the ladies’, there is a sameness preserved which makes them appear each day just like every other day in the year. Each trunk has its particular number and occupies the same relative position day after day. In the dressing rooms these trunks from long rows like blocks in a city with aisle-ways like streets between, which in the dressing room parlance receive their names. In the men’s dressing room this season there were a Broadway and a Bowery, a Halsted street and a Paradise alley, besides several other streets of national fame.
A dressing room is arranged more for convenience than for beauty. There are no large French plate mirrors, but little pieces of silvered glass upon stakes as high as the average individual, with a small table not over a foot in diameter stuck upon the top. On these little tables are kept rouge, grease paints, combs, brushes, clown-white and all the various necessities of the circus actor’s toilette, and here with scarcely elbow rooma half dozen will congregate and make-up in the best good nature and tolerance.
Besides these rooms there is what is known as the wardrobe tent. Here all of the wardrobe owned by the show is kept, for performers are only required to furnish the wardrobe used in the presentation of their acts, the costumes used in parade, during the entries, etc., being furnished by the show entirely.
A circus without horses would be like a kite without a tail. The noble horse is an adjunct as absolutely necessary to the show as the rudder is to a ship. It is indeed doubtful if there would have ever been a circus had there never been a horse. Even as far back as the time when Rome sat proudly on her seven hills and ruled the world the horse occupied an important place in the gala-day events that look place between her Colloseum walls, and today, after the lapse of several thousand years, with steam and electricity as the principal motive power of the age, the horse is still loved as of old. Everyone admires a handsome horse, from the toddling infant, with his fiery rocking steed of wood, to the millionaire, who counts the choicest strains of equine blood in his aristocratic string.
With the circus the horse is a necessity in every department. He pulls the heavy wagons and cages from the cars to the grounds, even helps in unloading them, gallops about the circus rings with riders exploiting upon his back, and with suitable training becomes a star actor in the ring, furnishes the most exciting contests of the hippodrome races, prances in the parade like a peacock at a county fair, and even helps to put up the tents - in his way. With the Ringling Brothers’ show there are over four hundred horses embracing all sizes, colors and breeds, and put to a multitude of uses. There are great big Normans weighing a ton apiece, and little Shetlands hardly tipping the scales at one hundred pounds, noble trotters and fiery thoroughbred runners.
The most important of all the horses with the show are the ring stock or bareback horses, in the vernacular of the circus called the resin-backs. A way might be devised for transporting the show from the railroad cars to the grounds; horseless vehicles might be contrived to do this work in this horseless age. A parade might be made without the horse and he could be dispensed with in many respects where he seems by habit and custom indispensable, but no contrivance run by steam, electricity or naptha could be invented to take the place of the live white horse running around the circus ring with the rider on his back. The old-time cry of the clown. “Bring out another horse,” could hardly be paraphrased into, “Bring out another motor-cycle,” with any degree of satisfaction, even if the rider could do his tricks upon some such horseless horse.
The horses with the World’s Greatest show are under the charge of Mr. Spencer Alexander, more familiarly known among the circus fraternity as “Delevan.” Mr. Alexander knows as much about horses as Gomez does about fighting the Spanish and is just as much of a general in his way. He buys all the horses owned by the show, matches them into teams, with keen discrimination appoints certain men to drive and take care of certain horses, specifies just how much oats, hay, corn, bran and ground feed each horse is to have and at what times his food is to be changed, and, in short, is general superintendent of this entire department. Of course a number of assistants are necessary and among these are Robert Meek, on baggage stock, and Rhoda Royal, who has charge of all the ring and hippodrome horses and is superintendent of this special department.
The way the horses are handled on the cars is of the utmost importance to keeping them in order. The cars are specially built for the Ringling Brothers and are so arranged that during a long run the animals may be watered and fed without unloading them. For the ring stock and other trained horses and ponies are certain cars divided into stalls. The cars are from fifty to sixty feet in length and hold from twenty to twenty-five head. All of the baggage horses are loaded with the harness on. This prevents them from lying down in the cars. Just why this is so it is hard to understand, but it is nevertheless a fact that a horse will lie down in a car only if he is stripped of his harness. The manner in which the horses are loaded is very simple. A runway with a railing on each side is carried beneath each stock car and is placed from the ground to the double doorway of the car. The horses readily come by this means from the car to the ground and vice versa.
The baggage stock is given as much care, so far as grooming is concerned, as the ring stock. Every six or eight-horse driver is given an assistant to help him in his work. Every horse is each day curried, brushed and rubbed until his coat fairly shines. The horses all receive a sponge-bath each day. It is this excellent care and intelligent watchfulness on the part of Mr. Alexander that makes the horses carried by the Ringling Brothers look so fine, coupled with the fact that the very best horses available are bought, regardless of price, to keep up the reputation of the stock as being the finest collection in America. The ring stock is, of course, more carefully handled than the baggage stock, for in this collection are animals worth thousands of dollars. The cars for transporting are divided into comfortable stalls, separate tents are used on the show grounds and the ring horses do no work in harness. The resin-backs, or those horses used for bareback acts, have the resin, which is sifted upon the back in powder at each performance, carefully removed once each week. For this purpose pipe-clay is rubbed upon the back of the horse to help dissolve the resin and then the whole washed away with soap and water.
It requires years of patient training to develop a first-class bareback horse. In the Ringling Brothers’ winter-quarters these are being worked all winter long. A ring barn specially built for this purpose and for training trick horses, elephants and other animals, is a necessary adjunct of the winter-quarters. The amount of hay and grain consumed each day on the road by the horses and ponies carried with the Ringling Brothers’ show would supply a regiment of cavalry. The daily requirements are: 380 bushels of oats, 50 bushels of corn, 1,000 pounds of bran, 1,500 pounds of ground feed, four tons of hay and two of straw. From this amount the elephant and animal men also draw their supplies.
With the number of people carried by a big show like the World’s Greatest, comprising a population of a thousand souls, the question of feeding and lodging such an army is of the utmost importance. The lodging is accomplished by using a train of sleeping cars arranged with upper and lower folding berths. As compactness is a necessity here, as well as in every department, the people are necessarily “laid out” two to each berth and are assigned to their respective places on the opening day and occupy the same berths throughout the season.
Some of the cars are arranged with berths three high, thus giving them a capacity of over one hundred occupants.
There are two distinct dining departments. One being under canvas on the show lot and the other a regular dining car service. In the dining car only the performers, band and officials are served. Two meals are provided here, breakfast and dinner, luncheon being taken in the dining tent specially run in connection with the cooking department on the lot for this purpose. The dining car Olympus is a handsomely furnished hotel on wheels with a commodious dining room and thoroughly equipped cuisine, all under the superintendency of Mr. Harry Abbott, whose varied experience as a caterer enables him to present a bill of fare that would tickle the palate of an epicure. The force under Mr. Abbott’s direction consists of a half dozen competent cooks and about double that number of waiters, besides other necessary help. . . .
The service on the show grounds is under the management of Mr. E. Haley and comprises two large dining tents, a portable kitchen, two water wagons, a refrigerator wagon, two baggage wagons, and a camp-fire department. The water wagons are always filled on the night preceding so that when the show arrives in the morning there will be no delay in getting breakfast. The refrigerator wagon is always well supplied with meats, so that the first meal of the day is never dependent upon the local contract supply. Four and five beaves, besides a great quantity of mutton, hams, bacon and other meats are often carried. In the morning when the show arrives, among the first vehicles to be unloaded and conveyed to the lot are the cook house wagons, and it is not an exception but the rule that a steaming breakfast awaits the hungry employes within an hour of the arrival of the show, so carefully and systematically is everything planned and carried out in the saving of the precious minutes and even seconds.
As soon as the wagons arrive the preparation of breakfast begins. At once iron caldrons for boiling the coffee are unloaded, filled from the water wagons, and fires started under them. At the same time the kitchen is being erected and a moment later the large steel ranges are in place and fires started in them. While these things have been done the butcher and assistants have thrown their little tent over the refrigerator wagon and are busy cutting up steaks and chops ready for the cooks, while the waiters are erecting the dining tents and placing tables and seats and arranging the dishes. There is little to wonder at in the fact that scarcely more than a half hour’s time is required to transform a small patch of meadow land into a well equipped hotel and that hotel serving meals to hundreds, when the accurate care to detail and the reduction of wasted time to a minimum are taken into consideration.
On an average there are consumed daily in the two dining departments 2,500 pounds of meat, 250 gallons of coffee, 175 gallons of tea, 40 gallons of milk, besides vegetables and other supplies, and when the baker makes his delivery each morning his bread stacks up more like hay than anything else in the provision line.
William F. Weldon, General Musical Director
Robert Taylor, Superintendent of Transportation
Charles Brown, Assistant Superintendent of Transportation
John H. Snellen, Superintendent of Canvas
Henry Hobbels, 1st Assistant Superintendent of Canvas
Wm. Butcher, 2nd Assistant Superintendent of Canvas
J. Phelfingerber, Superintendent of Menagerie Canvas
Spencer Alexander (“Delevan”), Gen. Supt. of Stock
Rhoda Royal, Superintendent of Ring Stock
S. Alexander, Superintendent of Baggage Stock
Robert Meek, Assistant Supt. of Baggage Stock
James Rafferty, Superintendent of Menagerie
Pearl Souders, Superintendent of Elephants
Albert Parsons, Superintendent of Candy Stands
Charles Miller, Superintendent of Properties
O. B. Austin, Assistant Superintendent of Properties
W. W. Rees, Superintendent of Wardrobe
Miss Ida LaRue, Superintendent of Ladies’ Wardrobe
Chas. W. Roy, Superintendent of Lights
Joe Brown, Assistant Superintendent of Lights
C. F. Ryan, Superintendent of Pinkerton Detectives
Henry Ringling, Superintendent of Privileges
Fred Madison, Superintendent Reserved Seats
Chas. Andres, Superintendent of Side Shows
Financial Staff
Otto Ringling, General Treasurer
William Vogt, Treasurer
Warren A. Patrick, Book-keeper
Advance and Advertising Departments
John Ringling, Router and Railroad Contractor
Charles Ringling, General Advertising Agent
Dick Hunter, General Contracting Agent
B. M. Drake, Contracting Agent
Alf. T. Ringling, General Press Agent
W. D. Coxey, Press Agent
Frank L. Perley, Special Press Agent
H. B. Hanmore, Special Press Agent
I. V. Strebig, Excursion Agent
Charles F. Miller, Special Agent
J. and H. Mayer, Managers Advertising Program
Advertising Cars
Car No. 1: A. G. Ringling, Manager. Wm. Shea, Superintendent of Paper; Wash. Haskins, Assistant Superintendent of Paper; J. Harrington, Lithographer; John Lawrence, Lithographer; Oscar Kaser, Programer. Bill posters: Wm. Delly, Chas. Treager, C. M. Connor, T. K. Titus, Chas. Ross, T. Cushing, Frank Ward, O. M. Ballard, Chas. Snowhill, B. G. Scanlan, Dick St. John, Fred. Kettler, John Graves. E. J. Bishop, Porter.
Car No. 2: George H. Hartford, manager. J. J. Benzinger, Superintendent of Paper; W. H. Wilkins, Assistant Superintendent of Paper; R. W. Davis, Lithographer; J. Kelley, Programmer; G. H. Allen, Lithograph Boards; George Carothers, Lithograph Boards; George Choffin, Banners; Tom Brown, Banners. Bill Posters: H. B. Malone, Chas. Moselles, J. K. Karst, Ben Deschane, Wm. Hart, Geo. Fisher, H. W. Bothwell, Wm. Franklin, J. R. Wheeler, L. L. Nelson. J. L. Neil, Porter.
Car No. 3: Tom Dailey, Manager; Joe Brown, Superintendent of Paper. Excursion Men: John Sylvester, Jerry Diehl, Jno. St. Clair, Jas. Adkins, Warner Willey, T. Sprague, H. P. Cushing, E. J. Altweis, Chas. Kress, Chas. Adkins, E. Wentworth, C. R. Miller, Theo. Wellinghurst, Harry Trenton, Geo. Clarke, Louis Knob.
Car No. 4: Wm. H. Horton, Manager; Fred. Dilker; Superintendent of Paper; Sam Hammant, Lithographer; Joseph Gregg, Lithographer. Bill Posters: Chas. Diggins, Chas. Brown, D. H. Rinderknecht, O. V. Moore, Joe Miller, David Shane.
Ticket Department
Otto Ringling, General Superintendent
William Vogt, Assistant
Mike Nibbe, City Ticket Agent
Big Show Door Tenders
Henry Ringling, General Superintendent. Ticket Takers: Henry Ringling, Entrance No. 1; John White, Entrance No. 2; Fred Madison, Entrance No. 3; M. Ryan, Entrance No. 4.
Reserved Seat Ticket Sellers: Fred Madison, Superintendent; William Vogt, In Charge of Tickets; Mike Nibbe; Ed. Nibbe; Fred. Madison.
Concert Ticket Sellers: Fred Madison, Mike Nibbe, Ed. Nibbe, Clarence Clark. Frank Blake, Ticket Taker.
Ushers
Walter Curts, In Charge. Fred. McKenzie, H. Evans, Aug. Jungelett, Walter King, S. J. Maitland, Martin Frahn, John Cendren, John Miller, W. D. Farr, Fred. Gibson.
Railroad Department
Robert Taylor, Superintendent
Chas. Brown, Assistant Superintendent
Henry Schade, Car Repairer
John Powers, Watchman, Train No. 1
Ed. Farley, Watchman, Train No. 2
John Richards, Watchman, Train No. 3
Trainmen: John Powers, Lewis Strong, Wm. King, Wm. Herrington, H. J. Shepherd, Chas. Rolks, P. Brown, Geo. Hoffman, Paul Spuring, John Welsh, Chas. Stout, Wm. Tuttle, Hiram Phillips, Geo. Kent, Chas. Clark, Wm. Schultz.
Sleeping Car Department: Paul Cunningham, Superintendent and Porter Sleeper “Trilby;” W. F. Hickley, Porter Sleeper “Alvena;” Wm. Rooney, Porter Sleeper “Arcadia;” H. J. Piel, Porter Sleeper “Caledonia;” Otto Langer, Porter Sleeper “Wellington;” Harry Lauer, Porter Sleeper “Columbia;” Harry Taylor, Porter Sleeper “Gallia;” Pat. Murphy, Porter Sleeper “Hibernia;” Steve Brannan, Porter Sleeper “Maximus.”
Department of Properties
Chas. O. Miller, Superintendent; O. B. Austin, Assistant.
Property Men: Fred. Urson, Gilbert Parkheiser, Wm. Hull, Wm. Grier, Ed. Long, Geo. Watson, Michael Haely, Geo. Allen, Wm. Miller, John Gee, Geo. Brown, Fred. Moore, Wm. Hines, John Conway, John Payne, Wm. Smith, Jerry Sullivan, James Crawford, Geo. Barringer, Chas. Brunner, Frank Toran.
Canvas Department
John H. Snellen, Superintendent
Henry Hobbels, First Assistant
Wm. Butcher, Second Assistant
Al. Sanders, G. Ely, M. Hathaway, Frank Smith, J. S. Stretsman, James Hackett, H. Tounser, H. Evans, L. A. Gilbert, J. C. Moore, Mike Lovett, Fred. McKenzie, Martin Frahn, J. M. Bateman, John Miller, John Condren, E. Austin, S. J. Maitland, J. O’Neill, J. H. Johnson, James Brace, Geo. Wetzell, Henry Merbock, Wm. Bell, Isaac Cox, Geo. Mayes, Nick Carter, C. Drinkwater, A. Macauley, Sam Tuckhorn, John Travis, E. Rodgers, Chas. Ray, C. Sylvester, Al. Hastings, M. Brady, Walter Curtis, W. D. Farr, C. G. Peiffer, Thos. Hilyer, Fred. Gibson, P. Bailey, Wm. Johnson, W. H. Cox, Wm. Taylor, A. Brown, R. McCaffery, Fred. Chady, Jos. Adair, J. McGlue, J. Wilson, E. Metrose, J. Peterson, C. Walter, Aug. Jungelett, Sam Wells, A. H. Warneke, W. Brecklin, E. J. Meedins, J. Rust, W. W. Sphar, H. Clapper, J. Cobb, J. Taylor, R. Bradford, Walter King, Wm. Andress, John McKnight, Olaf Berg, John Lane, Ed. Hill, Henry Newland, John Phelps, Thos. McCandless, John Boone, R. Buckner, Jas. Sullivan, H. McDonald, James Fields, J. Dryden, Thos. Day, Jake Parnell, Dan O’Brien, Thos. Bennett, A. Jilson, J. McCabe, Wm. Kelley, M. Leonard, G. Watson, Wm. Lakeman.
Big Top Men
John H. Snellen, Superintendent
Henry Hobbels, First Assistant
Wm. Butcher, Second Assistant
Jas. Adair, Al. Anders, G. Ely, J. M. Batemen, J. C. Moore, J. O’Neill, J. Wilson, Thoms. McCandless, H. Tounser, John Boone, J. Sullivan, Wm. Kelley, James Fields, J. Dryden, Mike Lovett, Wm. Lakeman, H. Copper, J. Taylor, Dan O’Brien, Wm. Johnson, Fred. Cross, J. McCabe, H. McDonald, M. Leonard, Geo. Watson, Geo. Wetzell, Henry Merbock, Frank Smith, R. McCaffery, Fred. Chady, Thos. Hilyer, John Travis, Olof Berg, J. Lane, J. McGlue, Ed. Hill, Henry Newland, James Phillips, Martin Frahn, E. Melrose, C. J. Peiffer, W. Brechin, W. H. Cox, J. Cobb, Wm. Bell, A. Brown, Isaac Cox, Nick Carter, Aug. Jungelett, C. Sylvester, Al. Hastings, A. H. Warneke, Jas. Brace, Wm. Taylor, R. Bradford, Charles Ray, C. Rodgers, John Parmell, C. Drinkwater, A. McCauley, Sam Tuckhorn, S. J. Maitland, Wm. Andress.
Menagerie Top Men
John Pheiffingerger, Superintendent. Thomas Hathaway, Sam Wells, H. Evans, E. J. Meckins, J. Rust, Geo. Mayes, J. Peterson, W. D. Farr, Fred Gibson, L. A. Gilbert, W. W. Sphar, R. Buckner, John Brady, Chas. Walton, J. S. Stretsman, P. Bailey, A. Jilson, J. H. Johnson, James Hackett, John Miller, John Condren, E. Austin, Walter King, John McNnight.
Side Show Top Men
James Cavanaugh, Superintendent. James Barnett, John Rankin, Miles Freeman, Wm. Williamson, Eph. Graham, Mike Tebeau, John Davis, Richard Fallar, Jerry Moore.
Seat Men, etc.
E. Melrose, Reserves
G. Ely, Toes
Al. Sanders, Blue Seats
C. Sylvester, Centers
R. McCaffery, Toes
Al. Hastings, Ring Maker
Fred. Chady, Asssistant Ring Maker
James Adair, Big Top Stake Wagon No. 68
Charles Walton, Stake Wagon No. 5
James Hackett, Rigger
W. D. Farr, Rigger
Thos. Hathaway, Police No. 1
J. Peterson, Police No. 2
John Brady, Police No. 3
Dressing Room Tent
C. O. Miller, Superintendent, with ten assistants.
Wardrobe Tent
W. W. Rees, Superintendent
Miss Ida LaRue, Superintendent Robes de Ballet.
Six Assistants.
Dimensions of Canvass, 1895
Big Top - Round Top, 190 feet; five 50-foot middle pieces. Total length, 440 feet.
Menagerie Tent - Round Top, 100 feet; six 40-foot middle pieces. Total length, 340 feet.
Side Show Tent - Round Top, 80 feet; one 40-foot middle piece. Total length, 120 feet.
Dressing Room Tent - Round Top, 70 feet; two 30-foot middle pieces. Total length, 130 feet.
Horse Tents - Seven Horse Tents, 40x84 feet, Total length of horse tents, 588 feet.
Workingmen’s Dining Tent - 60x80 feet.
Performer’s Luncheon Tent - 40x72 feet.
Wardrobe Tent - 50-foot round top.
Harness and Repair Tent - Round top, 40 feet.
Blacksmith Shop Tent - Round top, 40 feet.
Grand total length of Ringling Bros.’ Grand City of White Tents, 1,900 feet.
Chandelier Department
Charles W. Roy, Superintendent
Joe Brown, Assistant
Wm. Snowhill, Henry Todd, Alf. Moore, Dan Cunningham, Ben Teaming, Wm. Dean.
Daily Supply - Gasoline, 4 barrels; coal oil, 25 gallons.
Big Top Lights - 24 stars, or 1,000 gas jets.
Menagerie - 14 stars, or 1,000 gas jets.
Side Show - 4 stars, or 96 gas jets.
Dressing Room and Wardrobe - 3 stars, or 72 gas jets.
Total number of gas jets inside, 1, 614.
Outside Lights - Beacons, 12; Torches, 85; Lanterns, 17.
Zoological Department
James Rafferty, Superintendent
Pearl Souders, Superintendent of Elephants
Dens:
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Cage 1. Giant Giraffe
Cage 2. Hippopotamus Cage 3. Pair Axis Deer; Pair Fallow Deer Cage 4. Two Lionesses and Seven Cubs Cage 5. Five African Lions Cage 6. Australian Emus Cage 7. Monkeys Cage 8. Polar Bears Cage 9. Hyenas Cage 10. Silver Lions Cage 11. Royal Bengal Tigers Cage 12. Leopards |
Cage 13. Pair Besa Antelopes
Cage 14. Horned Horse, or Gnu Cage 15. Zebra Africanus Cage 16. Four Specimens of the Tapir Cage 17. Family Australian Kangaroos Cage 18. Pair India Antelope; Pair Himalayan Chamois Cage 19. Ibex; Albino Deer; Gazelle Cage 20. Yak Cage 21. Llamas, Guanicas; Alpacas Cage 22. Tropical Birds Cage 23. Sea Lions Cage 24. Rhinoceros |
Animal Men
George Winners, Martin Snow, Tom Anderson, Robert Penn, Warren Godfrey, Aug. Radel, George Schultz, Sam Height, John Williams, Billie Maxwell, Daniel Ford, Cecil Nelson, Clarence Dodd, Max. Meyer, Chas. Davis, Mike McGuire, Chas. Dunham, Peter Gerten, Abe Green, Tom Baxter.
Names of Elephants
Babe, Jule, Fannie, Lou, Fanchon, Prince Duke, Sultan, Abdallah, Babylon, Corsair, Emperor, Pasha, Hortense. Baby elephant, Trilby.
Other Led Animals
Eight Camels, Two Reindeer, Six Sacred Cattle, Water Buffalo, Two Elk, Hairless Horse. Prince Chaldean, long-maned horse.
Horse Department
Spencer Alexander (Delevan), General Superintendent
Rhoda Royal, Superintendent, Ring Stock
Grooms: Joe Langer, Sam Curtin, Archie McCannon, Robt. Pitkins, George Carter, Wm. Rineberg, S. Smith, Geo. White, Geo. Ryley, Mike Edwards, John Phelps, Ed. Montgomery, Harry Campbell, John Murphy, Henry Folker, E. D. Bucker, Dave McGraw, L. Dyer, John Burns, Edward McGowan, John Harrison, Will Reynolds, Frank Miller, Frank Mitchell.
Pony Boys: Ed. Raymond, John Witsell, Chas. Ross, Wm. Bowers, Sam Lowry, Harry Mildern.
Trapping Men and Leaders of Stock: Frank Wingate, E. Stevens, F. Miller.
Jockeys: Frank Jones, John Slater, John Ingell, W. A. Elson, Fred. Cone.
Baggage Stock
S. Alexander, Superintendent
Robert Meek, Assistant
Fred Turner, Blacksmith
George Hall, Blacksmith
Harry Scott, Blacksmith
Edward Ihler, Wagon Repairer
Dave Miller, Harness Maker
Frank Eddie, Greaser
Ed. Farley, Watchman
John Richards, Watchman
Eight-Horse Drivers: Robert Meek, Harry Moran, Byron Wilson, Joe Hanna, Dave Shane, James Clary.
Six-Horse Drivers: Roy Dunbar, Peter Simmons, Wm. Hill, Chas. Baldwin, John Peterson, Sam Woodman, Robt. Milford, Pony Wilson, Wm. Allen, Nick Stevens, Leonard Barnes.
Four-Horse Drivers: Chas. Lindsay, Edward Pope, Tom Dorsey, John Burn, Wm. Hanlon, Otto Ziegler, Joe Blaze, Ed. Lawrence, Ed. Louis, Mike Kelley, Cal. Nordyar, George Robinson, John Carlson, Geo. Smith, Frank Burst, Carl Cushing, Frank Bross, Ed. Feldon, John Roney, Frank Evans, Doc Conners, Milton Gilpatrick.
Helpers: J. Anderson, Omer Crontz, John Davis, Victor Tuttle, John Shcler, Tom Pope, Henry Lee, Geo. Wright, John Sanders, Joe Luth, Henry Larkins, Geo. Ryan.
Pull-up Team Men: George Williams, Albert Crandell, Ed. Laysey, L. Purves, Archie Phillips.
Stable Men: Wm. Crosby, Hamilton Brown, John Bishop, Sherman Pennington, Sam Smith, Isaac Duell, Ed. Jones, Harry Clapper, Wm. Vangarder, Geo. Ryland.
Dining Department
Hotel de Ringling:
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E. C. Haley, Proprietor
T. J. Haley, Manager H. L. Haley, Steward Ed Johnson, Chef Fred. Biddle, First Assistant Cook Fred. King, Second Assistant Cook |
Ed. Shellady, Third Assistant Cook
Wm. McCrossin, Pastry Cook W. B. Moffitt, Camp Fire Fred. Lang, Assistant Camp Fire L. Keenan, Butcher Paul Rich, Assistant Butcher |
Performer’s Luncheon Tent: Frank Robbins, Head Waiter. T. Casey, Jas. Conway, Jas. Murray, Ed. Morris, Jas. Smith, Sam Jones, J. L. Decker, C. Gardner, Eli savage, Jas. Berned, J. Fisher, Geo. Watson.
Workingmen’s Dining Tent: John Colliton, Head Waiter. John O”Hare, Jas. Haggin, Thos. Lewis, Jas. Ryan, J. Shea, Ben Pratt, C. Gething, Geo. Britton, H. G. Webb, C. Heath, E. C. Hunting, Wm. Jones, H. Whittaker, Thos. Brennan, F. Warner, Jas. Tracy, G. Street, Joe. Robinson, F. Kelly.
Dining Car Olympus:
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Ringling Bros., proprietors
Wm. H. Fay, Superintendent James Woods, First Cook Adolph Herr, Second Cook L. M. Warren, Pastry Cook Wm. T. Haley, Head Waiter |
Wm. Callahan, Waiter
Burt Tenny, Waiter Adam Bird, Waiter Wm. Lawrence, Waiter Fred Southworth, Waiter |
Refreshment Department:
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A. E. Parsons, Superintendent
Frank Parsons, Outside Stand No. 1 Arthur Parsons, Outside Stand No. 2 James Grow, Side Show Stand |
Ike Cohen, Menagerie Stand No. 1
Geo. Stott, Menagerie Stand No. 2 Frank Nettle, Menagerie Stand No. 3 |
Salesmen (Butchers): Geo. H. Proctor, R. H. Smith, J. Waterman, Dick Clark, J. Crane, James Hawkins.
Grand Musee and Theatre
Ringling Bros., Proprietors
Chas. Andress, Superintendent
George R. Corcoran, Outside Orator
J. Steve Schreiber, Outside Orator
“Uncle” John Hamilton, In Charge of Door
Samuel Putter, Manager for “Jo-Jo”
Curiosities and Performers
Frank B. Hubin, Lecturer and Magician
Major N. G. W. Winner, midget
Betra, Serpent Queen
Allilab's Rooster Orchestra, manipulated by Christiani Italo and Augusto Covichini
Performing Birds, Performed by Prof. Andress
Unzie, Aboriginal Wonder
“Daisy,” Acting Monkey, Performed by Prof. Andress
Jo-Jo, Original Dog-Face Boy
Mind Reader, Mrs. Chas. Andress
Ellen B. Leffler and Joseph Leffler, Albino Children
Prince Chaldean, Long-Maned Horse
Bird, Hairless Horse
Wm. H. Montgomery, attendant
Gray's Royal Marionettes, manipulated by Barry and Ella Gray
Punch and Judy, Prof. Hubin
Side Show Band
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Guy Reposz, Leader
Guy Reposz, Bb Cornet Ben Bergman, Bb Cornet Otto Brown, Bb Cornet Chas. DeWitt, First Alto Will Holmes, Second Alto |
E. Johnson, First Trombone
James Duncan, Second Trombone Shell P. Davis, Baritone Geo. Jones, Tuba Harry Throop, Drums |
Grand Vaudeville Show
Ringling Bros., Proprietors
Fred Madison, Director
Pantomime - “Flanders:”
Alf. Miaco, Clown
Steve Miaco, Pantaloon
Jno. Taylor, Sailor
Geo. Zammert, Peasant
Mrs. Miaco, Village Girl
Olio:
Fred. Madison, Comedian
Julian and Valetta Ty Bell, Impalement Act
Greta LeRoy, Banjo, Song and Dance
Allie Anderson, Ballad Selections
Dunham Sisters, Song and Dance
May Anderson, Jig Dancing
Mike and Ed. Nibble, Knock-about Comedians
Liberati’s Grand Military Concert Band
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Sig. Alessandra Liberati, Director
Wm. F. Weldon, Manager F. A. Maginell, Librarian Sig. Leopardi, Piccolo Sig. Dragoni, Flute A. L. Matthews, Eb Clarionet Sig. Degregori, Eb Clarionet Sig. Ouristi, Solo Bb Clarionet Sig. Giammatteo, Solo Bb Clarionet Geo. Gray, First Clarionet F. Schultz, First Clarionet Sig. DeCanio, First Clarionet E. Davidson, Second Clarionet Paul Smith, Second Clarionet M. Rael, Second Clarionet G. F. Mitchell, Third Clarionet Otto Miller, Third Clarionet Chris Espausen, Third Clarionet De Nardi, Oboe Lew Jones, Bassoon Victor Burdett, Bassoon G. Jones, Bass Clarionet Reschke, Baritone Saxophone E. Lefebre, Alto Saxophone F. A. Maginell, Alto Saxophone P. Nielson, Solo Cornet |
M. Vuolo, Solo Cornet
Clayton Alexander, First Bb Cornet F. Schavonni, First Bb Cornet W. N. Walter, Second Bb Cornet Frank York, Third Bb Cornet A. Babee, First Horn M. Vieson, Second Horn Oscar Puckett, Third Horn Bert Buchanan, Fourth Horn M. Bibel, First Trombone F. Keeble, Second Trombone Steve Norton, Third Trombone James Durham, Fourth Trombone M. Giannouni, Euphonium M. Grangalia, First Baritone M. Santuci, Second Baritone Tuzzetti, BBb Bass Rossetti, BBb Bass DiSalli, BBb Bass M. Petterson, Eb Bass Fred York, Eb Bass M. Van Cleve, Eb Tuba Jeff Seabrook, Typanies and Trap Drum Angelo Budente, Bass Drum Sid Lantz, Cymbals |
Soloists: Sig. A. Liberati, Cornet; Sig. E. A. Lefebre, Saxaphone; Sig. Gianuonni, Euphonium; sig. Leopardi, Flute.
Ringling Bros.’ Grand Circus Band
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Prof. Wm. F. Weldon, Director
A. Matthews, Eb Clarionet George Gray, Solo Bb Clarionet G. F. Mitchell, Solo Bb Clarionet Sig. DeCanio, First Bb Clarionet Sig. Giammatheo, First Bb Clarionet M. Davidson, Second Bb Clarionet Chris. Espansen, Second Bb Clarionet W. N. Walter, Solo Cornet Frank York, Solo Cornet Clate Alexander, First Cornet Hugh Compton, First Cornet Frank Schavonni, Second Cornet |
Oscar Puckett, First Alto
W. Cleveland, Second Alto B. Buchanan, Third Alto Chas. Gibons, First Trombone Henry Hopp, Second Trombone J. Abbott, Baritone Sig. Grangalia, Baritone Sig. Rossetti, BBb Bass M. Vancleve, Tuba M. Petterson, Tuba Sid Lantz, Bass Drum Leon peterson, Small Drum |
Performers:
Al Ringling, Equestrian Director
Nelson Family (Nine in number), Acrobats
Brothers Murilla, Aerial Bars
LaMotte and Maynard, Aerial Bars
Nelson Sisters, Contortionists
Eddy Family (Four in number), Acrobats
LaRule Brothers, Acrobats
Brothers Ardean, Acrobats
Akimotos Troupe of Royal Japanese, Nine in number
Elena Ryland, Principal Equestrienne
Julia Lowande, Principal Equestrienne
Edward Shipp, Rider
Mike Rooney, Principal Somersault Rider
Orrin Hollis, Principal Somersault Rider
Cecil Lowande, Whirlwind Hurdle Rider
Joe Lewis, Contortionist and Equilibrist
Wm. DeVan, Principal Double Somersault Leaper
Arthur and Mlle. Adair, Perch Act
Julian and Valetta Ty Bell, Breakaway Ladder and Impalement Acts
John Rooney, Dancing Rope
Dacomas (Three in number), Aerial Return and Throwing Act
Landauer Troupe (Nine in number), Statue Act
Jessie Leon, High Wire
Anna West, High Wire
Prof. Tyler, Performing Dogs
Wm. Howe, Performing Ponies
Dan Leon, Educated Horses
Chas. and Marie Neville, Revolving Statuary Artists
Chris. Sweden, Gymnast and Leaper
Miss Ida Miaco, Contortionist
Mrs. I. Miaco, Aerialist
Mons. Natalie, Porcine Circus
Ella Cook, Performing Goats
Prof. D’Alma, Performing Monkeys and Dogs
Achille Philion, Rolling Globe
Dennis Speedy, High Diver
Clowns: Pico Adams, Jules Turnour, Geo. Zammert, S. Miaco, I. West, Fred Davis, Alf. Miaco, Arthur Adair, Mons. Natalie.
Ringmasters: Dan Leon, Wm. DeVan, Frank Jones, Edward Shipp.
Four-Horse Chariot Drivers: Al. Ringling, Starter. Rhoda Royal, Fred Cone, Johnny Rooney, Miss Rose Stickney.
Roman Standing Races: Wm DeVan, J. Engel, J. H. Levis.
Lady Jockeys: Miss J. Leon, Miss J. West, Miss R. Stickney.
Gentlemen Jockeys: Frank Jones, Tim Foley, John Chena, John Slater, John Rooney.
Runners: Clate Alexander, Fred Cone.
Clown Sulky Race Riders: J. Turnour, J. West, Alf. Miaco.
Al. Ringling, Equestrian Director
Sig. A. Liberati, Director of Military Concert Band
Prof. W. F. Weldon, Director of Circus Band
Grand Preliminary Musical Festival - One Hour of Concert Music Prior to Every Regular Performance, by Liberati’s Famous Military Band, under the personal direction of Sig. A. Liberati, the World-famous Bandmaster and Cornet Virtuoso, assisted by a corps of high-class soloists. The most novel and artistic musical entertainment ever given under canvas. Glorious descriptive overtures, different selections from grand opera, potpourries of popular airs, and instrumental solos by the World’s Greatest artists. A distinct departure, and the most expensive feature ever introduced by any circus management in the world.
Display No. 1. Grand opening tournament in the triple rings and upon the hippodrome track, introducing the principal arenic resources of the World’s Greatest Shows, concluding with a series of artistic grouping on a revolving pedestal by Chas. and Marie Neville.
Display No. 2.
Arena No. 1 - Unique Japanese Ladder Specialties, Akimoto and Son.
Stage No. 1 - Novel Oriental Perch Act, Fizo and Tam.
Arena No. 2 - Oriental Originalities in High-class Contortion, Kataso.
Stage No. 2 - Perilous Ascent of Razor-edged Swords on Japanese Pyramidal Ladder, Okeo.
Arena No. 3 - Wonderful Exhibit of Foot-Balancing Ladders, Oudora and Kickamonte.
Thrilling Slide for Life from the Dome of the Amphitheatre, Yosomite.
On the Hippodrome Track, Comic Stilt Acts by Miaco and West and Adair and Tournour.
Display No. 3.
Arena No. 1 - Expert Exhibition on the Aerial Bars, Brothers Murilla.
Stage No. 1 - England’s Greatest Acrobatic Novelty, The Eddy Family.
Arena No. 2 - Pleasing and Difficut Evolutions on the Flying Rings, Miss Adair.
Arena No. 3 - Aerial Bar Performance Par Excellence, LaMothe and Maynard.
Display No. 4.
Arena No. 1 - Artistic Principal Bareback Riding Act by the Queen of Equestriennes, Mlle. Elena.
Ringmaster, Dan Leon.
Arena No. 3 - Principal Riding Act by Spain’s Favorite Equestrienne, Senora Julia Lowande.
Clowns - A. F. Miaco, S. Miaco, Jules Turnour, J. West, Arthur Adair.
Display No. 5.
Arena No. 1 - Original and Graceful Pedestal Contortion, Nelson Sisters.
Arena No. 2 - Unique Serpentine Posing by the Human Enigma, Joe Lewis.
Arena No. 3 - Novel and Difficult Feats of Finished Contortion by Miss Ida Miaco and Geo. Zammert.
Display No. 6.
Grand Long-distance and Somersault Leaping over Elephants, Camels and other obstacles, by an especially selected company of Leapers. Acrobats, Athletes and Clowns; introducing single and double somersaults, difficult twisting somersaults, and laughable clown diversements.
Display No. 7.
Arena No. 1 - Extraordinary display of Equine Intelligence by high-bred Educated Horses, Exhibited by M. Rooney.
Arena No. 2 - Surprising Exhibition of Porcine Intelligence by Marvelously Trained, mirth-producing Pigs. Trained and Presented by Mons. Natalie.
Arena No. 3 - Display of Remarkably Trained Horses in New Tricks and Equine Novelties. Exhibited by Dan Leon.
Display No. 8.
Arena No. 1 - Interesting Exhibit of Difficult Acrobatism, Brothers La Rule.
Arena No. 2 - The Absolute Perfection of High Class Acrobats - nine in number. The sensation of Europe, and the most finished acrobatic act ever presented to an American audience. The Great Nelson Family.
Arena No. 3 - Ingenious and Startling Acrobatic Feats, Brothers Ardean.
Display No. 9.
Arena No. 1 - Dexterous Exhibition on the Floating Perch, Arthur and M’lle Adair.
Stage No. 1 - Feats of Skill and Agility on the Dancing Rope, John Rooney.
Arena No. 2 - Graceful and Difficult Balancing on Lofty Ladders, Julian and Valetta Ty-Bell.
Stage No. 2 - Wonderful Exhibit of Foot-Balancing Ladders, Ondaro and Kickamonte.
Arena No. 3 - Phenomenal Display of Grace, Daring and Agility on Towering Ladders, Brothers Verona.
Hippodrome Track - Burlesque Donkey, a mirth-provoking interlude, West and Tournour.
Display No. 10.
The most expensive European aerial feature ever presented in America. The Great Dacomas, Lewis, Marie and Fancion. Performers of the most Thrilling, Astonishing, and Danger-Defying Mid-Air Flights ever attempted.
Display No. 11.
Arena No. 1 - Artistic Grouping by an especially selected Corps of Living Models.
Arena No. 2 - Artistic Grouping, Statuary and Pyramidal Formation by the World-Famous Athletes and Posturants, direct from Berlin, nine in number, The Great Landauer Troupe.
Arena No. 3 - Picturesque Grouping by Strong-Limbed Graceful Athletes.
Display No. 12
Arena No. 1 - Principal Somersault Riding Act, Orrin Hollis. Ringmaster, Ed. Shipp.
Arena No. 2 - Principal Riding Act, C. Lowande. Ringmaster, Wm. DeVan.
Arena No. 3 - Principal Somersault Riding Act, Mike Rooney. Ringmaster, Dan Leon.
Clowns - Arthur Adair, A. Miaco, T. Turnour, Mons. Natalie, S. Miaco, Frank White, Ed. Blake.
Display No. 13.
Arena No. 1 - Japanese High Floating Wire, Akimoto.
Stage No. 1 - Lofty Floating Wire, Miss Jessie Leon.
Arena No. 2 - Oriental Posturing and Acrobatic Diversions, Katara and Kickamonte; Sam and Tan Kichi.
Stage No. 2 - Japanese High Floating Wire, Yosomite.
Arena No. 3 - Double High Floating Wire, Sisters Nelson.
Display No. 14.
Arena No. 1 - Interesting Acting Ponies. Introduced by William Howe.
Arena No. 2 - Remarkable Educated Dogs, a Laughable Trained Animal Diversion. Performed by Prof. Tyler.
Arena No. 3 - Clown Elephant, “Trilby,” performed by J. R. Adams.
Display No. 15.
Arena No. 1 - Whirlwind Riding over Hurdles and Elevated Obstacles, Wm. De Van.
Stage No. 2 - Intricate, Amazing Skatorial Divertisement, Mayo Family.
Arena No. 3 - Daring Exhibition of Dashing Hurdle Riding by the Intrepid Equestrienne, Mlle. Eleva.
Display No. 16.
The Sensation of Europe and the Greatest Arenic Novelty Ever Presented in America, Achille Philian, In his Startling Feat of Ascending and Descending a Spiral Tower while Mounted upon a Revolving Globe.
Display No. 17.
Terrific Headlong Dive from the Lofty Dome of the Immense Amphitheatre; plunging into a miniature lake of water only 3 feet 8 inches in depth. The most thrilling mid-air feat ever successfully accomplished, Kearney Speedy.
Display No. 18.
Thrilling Roman Hippodrome Races, Illustrating the Sports of Ancient Rome, Combined with the Racing Contests of the Modern Turf.
First Event - Gentlemen’s Flat Race, twice around the Hippodrome course. Rider, colors, horse: Frank Jones, red and white, Wallie; Tim Foley, blue and white, Fred; John Slater, black and red, Skipp.
Second Event - Children’s Pretty Roman Chariot Race, once around the course. Rider, color, horses: Johnny Rooney, red, Frank, Tom, Sam and Chub; Fred Cone, white, Nig, Fly, Cap and Andy.
Third Event - Novel Racing Contest between running horse and fleet-footed pony. Once around the course. Rider, color, horses: John Chena, blue, horse Rover; Johnny Rooney, red, pony Spider.
Fourth Event - Ladies’ Flat Race, twice around the course. Rider, color, horse: Miss J. Leon, red, Basil; Miss J. West, white, Belshazzar; Miss R. Stickney, blue, Fire Fly.
Fifth Event - Exciting Two-Horse Roman Standing Race, twice around the course. Rider, colors, horses: J. H. Levis, white and blue, Dynamite and Edgar; Wm. DeVan, red and white, Tom and Orlando; J. Engel, green and white, Boy Frank, Sam Flower.
Sixth Event - Children’s Pony Steeplechase, ridden by chattering monkey jockeys. Once around the course.
Seventh Event - Remarkable exhibition of horsemanship. Twenty-one blooded horses driven and controlled by one man. Twice around the course. Driver: Daniel Leon.
Eighth Event - Interesting and novel racing contest between English Whippet Hounds. Once around the course. Introduced and directed by their trainer, J. H. Levis.
Ninth Event - Handicap race of a man against a running horse. Three-quarters around for the man, once around for the horse.
Tenth Event - Laughable Sulky race, with ponies and clown drivers. Driver, colors, pony: J. Turnour, white, red and blue, Buttons; J. West, white, yellow and green, Peanuts.
Eleventh Event - Grand Four-horse Roman Chariot Race, twice around the course. Charioteer, color, horses: Rhoda Royal, red, Edward, Frank, Sam and Ned; Miss Stickney, blue, Charley, Skipp, Cyclone, Sultan.
The grand preliminary season, which preceded the Twelfth Annual Tour of Ringling Bros.’ World’s Greatest Shows, was in many respects a notable event. It signalized the inauguration in Chicago of the first combined circus, menagerie and hippodrome ever presented under a roof in the World’s Fair City, while from a pecuniary and artistic standpoint it broke all records in the history of arenic amusements in the United States. During the period of 45 consecutive performances given at Tattersall’s, the capacity of that immense building was constantly taxed and frequently inadequate to accommodate the surging crowds that sought admission, and night after night, late comers were confronted by the announcement that nothing remained but standing room, and “very little of that.”
The artistic success achieved by the exhibition was in keeping with the remarkable financial returns of the engagement. No show that ever exhibited in Chicago or elsewhere ever received so much unsolicited and spontaneous commendation. The newspapers, without a single exception, declared that it was the greatest arenic display ever seen in the Metropolis of the West, and this universal verdict was indorsed by the public with a unanimity alike flattering to the management and to the able critics whose judgment was so signally vindicated.
When, early in February, the announcement was officially made that Tattersall’s had been secured by the Ringling Brothers, and that the World’s Greatest Shows would open there for a three weeks’ season during the month of April, the interest of the amusement-loving people of Chicago was instantly aroused. Although the show had never exhibited in Chicago, the people of that city were too cosmopolitan not to have familiarized themselves with the name and fame of the great arenic exhibition, which had done so much to revolutionize the circus business and place it upon a plane with the most refined and intellectual of amusements. Proud of the West and of its own Aladdin-like career, Chicago had long recognized in Ringling Brothers’ great circus an institution akin to it in push, in enterprise, and in progressiveness, and the arms of the people were wide open to receive and welcome the new Monarch of the Amusement World. The announcement that the show would open the season in Chicago was therefore hailed with pleasure by thousands of circus-loving people, and the success of the engagement was thus assured long before the first practical steps had been taken to transform the Tattersall building into a vast and beautiful amphitheatre fit for the requirements of Ringling Brothers’ great exhibition.
During the week preceding the opening of the exhibition the interior of the Tattersall building was entirely reconstructed, new and commodious opera chairs were introduced; a gallery, with seating capacity for several thousand, was erected at the north end of the structure and a most imposing effect was obtained by the intermingled suspension and draping of nearly 5,000 flags of all nations under the immense dome of the amphitheatre. The entrances to the building were also reconstructed, while the wide esplanade, extending entirely around the building, under the seating platforms, was transformed into a vast zoological garden by the introduction of the beautifully carved and ornamented cages of rare, furious and costly wild animals, for which Ringling Brothers’ show is so justly noted. The first two sections of the show, comprising the working apparatus, baggage wagons and draft horses, left the winter quarters at Baraboo on the night of March 23 and by noon next day everything was safely sheltered in the big building. The third and fourth sections, which embraced the ring stock and the menagerie, arrived in Chicago March 27. The visible evidences of the approaching circus season aroused and intensified public interest; thousands of people paused to study and admire the beautiful, high-bred horses as they were daily driven through the downtown streets, and other thousands visited the Tattersall building to get a view of the preliminary arrangements and to catch a fleeting glimpse of the great show in embryo, which was so soon to fill the public mind with astonishment and admiration. All who came, even in those days of busy preparation, were cordially received and courteously entertained. The unfailing characteristic courtesy of the management, which had done so much to popularize the exhibition elsewhere, was quickly recognized in Chicago, and was undoubtedly one of the many factors which led to the unrivalled success of the engagement.
Saturday evening, April 6, was decided upon as the opening night of the season, and the fact was heralded as no circus had ever before heralded its coming to Chicago. The finest of lithographic printing was displayed with a lavish prodigality that aroused comment and provoked admiration, while the newspapers, for which Chicago is so justly famed, quickly caught the spirit of the all-absorbing event and vied with each other in prognosticating the success of the great undertaking. Some of the advertising novelties introduced by the management were unique and so far removed from the conventional methods of other shows as to constitute a distinct departure in circus announcements.
The Chicago engagement was preceded, on the evening of Thursday, April 4, by a brilliantly illuminated night parade, in which all the vast resources of the show were exhibited upon the city’s streets. The parade was a notable success and was witnessed by over four hundred thousand people. An unfortunate incident was the igniting of the straw in a cage containing several Russian deer, and the suffocation of one of the animals and the escape of the other two. This, however, was the only accident, and did not interfere with the success of the display. Scores of calcium and electric lights and hundreds of colored flambeaux and pyrotechnics gave to the scene the brilliancy of a fairy spectacle; while the proudly prancing horses, the massive elephants, the great tableaux cars and the marvelously carved and ornate open dens of wild beasts combined to form a picture that in Oriental picturesqueness could hardly have been equalled even in Far India.
The opening performance, April 6, drew a magnificent audience, in which the elite of the city was noticeably in evidence. The handsomely furnished boxes were filled with well-known society leaders, and no theater could have boasted of a more fashionable audience. The performance transpired without a hitch. Under the able management of Mr. Al. Ringling, the equestrian director, every act was given with a precision and completeness that seemed marvelous, in view of the fact that it was the initial performance. Every act was applauded; some created a furore, while on every hand could be heard expressions of admiration for the beauty of the decorations, the adequacy of the seating and lighting arrangements and the remarkable character of the performance. The newspapers of the following day told the story of the great inaugural exhibition. “The first performance of Ringling Brothers’ great show is a success,” said the Inter-Ocean. “It is the best circus ever seen in Chicago,” said the Times-Herald. “The most satisfactory and complete ever seen in Chicago,” declared the Tribune. And so it went. They all had columns of commendation for the great show, and all agreed that never before had so vast, comprehensive and complete an exhibition been seen in Chicago.
The three weeks that followed were weeks of unvarying triumph. The audiences were enormous, while the first verdict of the press was re-enforced by constantly reiterated encomiums upon the show. The Chicago season was brought to a successful close April 28, and on April 30 the show began its regular season upon the road.
Ottawa, Ill. Tuesday, April 30. Once more upon the road. All the working men, side show people and cook-house brigade, whose services were not required during the preliminary Chicago season, are on the ground, in readiness for the arrival of the big show. The massive tents (newly made by Thomson & Sushbaugh, of Cincinnati, who guarantee them to be the largest ever constructed) are in readiness, and present a fine appearance. The parade starts on time, and the usual morning side show opening occurs on its return to the lot. Everything runs as smoothly as though the show had been on the road a month. “Jo-Jo” seeks seclusion in a hotel and drives a maid, who enters his room unawares, into hysterics.
Davenport, Ia. Wednesday, May 1. A pleasant night’s run. It must be remarked that the new Pullman sleepers are models of comfort and elegance. The addition of the dining car “Olympus” is also a welcome feature. Many were the words of praise for the Ringling Brothers and the interest taken in the comfort and welfare of their performers and other employes - so different from many other circus managers, who think “anything is good enough for circus people.” Weather very hot. Stringer wagon collapses on its way to the lot, but is soon repaired and on its way again.
Monmouth, Ill. Thursday, May 2. Fine lot near runs. Weather cooler. Country people out in force.
Peoria, Ill. Friday, May 3. Good lot on the fair grounds. Weather hot again. The famous Carl Hagenback show at Tabernacle. Lil. Kerslake visits and talks “hog” with Natalie.
Lewistown, Ill. Saturday, May 4. Heavy storm just as side show opens. Gray gives his marionettes a bath, and the menagerie top blows down. Sun shines again and everything up and doors open at 1 o’clock as usual. About 5 o’clock another small cyclone attacks us and we take down, omitting the night performance.
St. Louis. Week, May 6 to 11. Immense Crowds, Great Enthusiasm, and Unstinted Praise from Press and Public.
The unrivalled success of the World’s Greatest Shows in Chicago and on the road had aroused the expectations of the amusement-loving people of St. Louis to fever-heat, and the six days’ visit to the metropolis of Missouri was one continuous ovation. The show was billed in opposition, and strenuous efforts had been made, both in the billing and in the newspaper advertisements, to nullify the effect of the great reputation achieved by the “World’s Greatest,” but the opposition might just as well have tried to overturn a mountain with a crowbar. There was an unmistakable “Ringling” sentiment in the air, and nothing could stay the crowds but the inability of the vast tents to hold the people. The parade, Monday morning, attracted an immense throng, and the universal comment was that nothing so resplendent in the way of a circus procession had ever before been witnessed in St. Louis. Owing to rain, the opening afternoon saw only a fair attendance, but at night the great hippodrome canvas was packed. A special platform had been erected for the reserved seats, and much to the surprise of the audience they found handsome and comfortable opera chairs instead of the usual circus seats. This feature was warmly commended. It was an innovation which the public appreciated, and directly in keeping with the high character of the show. The performance made a profound impression upon the audience. “The best ever seen here,” was a frequent expression. The enthusiasm was so great that it was almost impossible to dismiss the people. Thousands of people remained long after the performance, viewing the menagerie and commenting upon the surprising extent of the show and the marvelous system with which it was run.
The newspaper comments on the exhibition were remarkable. It would be difficult to imagine warmer praise being bestowed upon any similar institution. Every paper in the city declared unequivocally that it was the finest performance ever given by a circus in St. Louis, and this declaration was repeated day after day during the continuance of the engagement. The following extract from a notice printed in the Globe-Democrat indicates the sentiment of the St. Louis press in regard to the big show:
“The tens of thousands of men, women and children who have patronized the wonderful circus of the Ringling Bros, may well wonder whether capital or enterprise could possibly gather together in one gigantic show a grander aggregation of ‘up-to-date’ attractions.
“No such realization of the evolution of the circus has before visited St. Louis. Always dear to the hearts of not only the little ones but of those of mature years, the circus of the past was but a drop in the bucket compared with the mammoth undertakings of to-day, of which that of the Ringliug Bros, is easily the greatest.
“But it is not merely the gigantic scale on which it is conducted, the superlative quality of the individual acts, the completeness of the menagerie and the peerless general appointments of this circus that draw it close to the people. Its greatest merit lies in the fact that from beginning to end it is an absolutely clean show. Vulgarity, coarseness, offensiveness of any kind to the eye, the ear or the nostrils are conspicuously absent.
“The marvels of acrobatism and horsemanship and the drolleries of clowns are presented in a manner to which no captious critic can take exception. The attendants are polite and there is an utter lack of that off-handed brutality and suspicion of toughness often inseparable from traveling entertainments under canvas.
“The tents are bright and new and are the largest ever erected in this city. Under the main canvas over 12,000 people can comfortably witness the performance in the three rings. Last night hundreds of eager visitors were turned away, so great was the crowd. Yesterday’s matinee was one of the largest ever seen in this city, it is estimated that the receipts of the show will be in this one week over $60,000. Large as this may seem the expenses will not be so very far behind. It costs a fortune daily to operate so colossal an institution. The actual programme commences at 2 p. m. and 8 p. m. daily, and is preceded with a one hour’s concert given by Liberati’s famed band of sixty soloists, Sig. Liberati’s superb solos being received with ovations.
“The menagerie is not only large and admirably displayed, but it contains besides every traditional wild animal in handsome dens, the rare attraction of three litters of baby lions, two, five and seven weeks old respectively. Everything about Ringling Bros.’ circus is up to date. With few exceptions no performers travel more than one season with the show. Staleness is studiously avoided. Bright, sparkling novelties and unconventionality, strange as it may seem, meet one on all sides.”
The great crowd of Monday night set the pace for the week; several nights during the engagement thousands of people were turned away unable to secure admission owing to the fact that every seat and every available foot of standing room had been taken, and when Saturday night had come, and the great tents had been taken down, the management had the satisfaction of knowing that the “World’s Greatest” had played to more people than had ever before been drawn by a circus in the city of St. Louis. It was alike a credit to the city and a compliment to the super-excellence of the show.
St. Louis Notes:
Sunday. - Many of our people visit the local theaters, or spend the day visiting friends. We receive with regret the announcement of the death of Charles W. Fish, the famous bareback rider, who died in Chicago the previous day. Mr. Fish was engaged to appear during the season with the “World’s Greatest,” but was prevented from joining the show by the serious nature of his illness.
Tuesday. - Side show does a tremendous business notwithstanding the famous “Noah’s Ark,” located on the opposite corner. Prof. Andress’ monkey, “Daisy,” objects to “rubber necks,” and chews a piece from a small boy’s apparel.
Wednesday. - All the workingmen vaccinated. Several of the boys are tatooed by an expert.
Thursday. - Several new Tucker paintings arrive for the side show. Prof. Hubin is bitten by a boa while feeding it a chicken. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are entertained by their brother-in-law, Mr. W. S. De Vaux, a prominent resident of St. Louis and president of the Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America. Two baby lions born at 11 p. m.
Friday. - Weather awfully hot. It seems to be professional day, as many of them are present in the afternoon. Among others were noticed several members of La Role Brothers’ circus and Foster and Williams. Prof. Andress indulges in a little marionette divertisement, much to the amusement of the band boys.
Saturday. - Weather cool. Brown and Harrison visited. Vogt and Patrick, of the ticket wagon staff, hold a jubilation meeting over the prospect of a quiet Sunday. Both have sore fingers handling silver and pasteboards.
Quincy, Ill. Monday, May 13. Weather cool and pleasant. Barry and Ella Gray met many friends here. It may be noted that Mr. Gray was manager of the Musee here last season The press pronounce the parade and show the finest ever seen in Quincy.
McComb, Ill. Tuesday, May 14. Weather cool. Big crowd in town. A farmer on entering the side show, is especially interested in Prof. Andress’ cock-a-too (Grand father), and exclaims, “Wal, I’ll be gol darned! Look at thet air chicken with an onion in its head.”
Beardstown, Ill. Wednesday, May 15 Weather chilly and disagreeable. Bad, sandy lot. Light rains in afternoon.
Shelbyville, Ill. Thursday, May 16. Warmer weather. Home of Sid. Lantz. On parade all the girls kiss their hands at him and say, “Don’t Sid blush?” Baby lion (the surviving one of the pair born in St. Louis) died during the night.
Danville, Ill. Friday. May 17. Fine lot. Weather cloudy. Winter quarters of La Pearl show.
Terra Haaute, Ind. Saturday, May 18. Weather hot, with strong wind. Heavy shower about 9 p. m.
Indianapolis, Ind. Monday, May 20. Barnum & Bailey billed in opposition. Rainy in a. m., clear and pleasant at noon. Afternoon house big. Night packed to suffocation (5-pole top). Big business in Annex. An agent of horse-shoe tobacco arrested for illegal advertising and is discharged later. Stephen Miaco falls from ladder during act1 and receives bad sprain.
Marion, Ind. Tuesday, May 21. Weather pleasant. Big side show day.
Ft. Wayne, Ind. Wednesday, May 22. Weather fine. Big push in town. A sad, yet unavoidable, accident. A horse ran away during parade, becoming affrighted at the elephants, and killed an elderly lady, and injured several others.
Kalamazoo, Mich. Thursday, May 23. Weather fine. Lot way out. A large body of Shriners attend at night and receive a royal welcome.
Grand Rapids, Mich. Friday, May 24. Weather hot. Home of Leondor Bros. Lew Sunlin and wife visit.
Jackson, Mich. Saturday, May 25. Weather pleasant. Rough lot, way out. Showers in afternoon. Orrin Hollis receives a telegram and departs at once for his home in Toledo. N. B. - It’s a boy.
How Do You Like Us, James?
(Lines to his Royal Highness, the “King of the Earth.”)
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It’s many a day, since last we met,
Guess you remember it, Jim, In good old Dutch Milwaukee, When you weren’t in the swim. We were not quite as big then, But everybody knows We wouldn’t have been so mean If you hand’t trampled on our toes. Well, that little affair was settled, And we recovered all our claims; It was a kind of a stunner, How do you like us, James?
We never met you since that time,
|
You had eyes on several towns,
In old Indiana State. But we got in ahead of you And told them all to “wait.” They wouldn’t heed our warning, Jim, Or mind what we would say; And the five little boys from Baraboo Had the “Hoosiers” all their way. They came to see us, old and young, And all did loudly claim - That there was a bigger than the biggest; How do you like us, James?
You couldn’t fight us with the sword,
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Detroit, Mich. Monday, May 27. Many of our people attended the local theaters yesterday and were cordially received by the managers. Especially at the Wonderland and Whitney’s. Weather cold and cloudy. An immense crowd views the parade, which extends over a long route. Afternoon house big. Night packed. Rowe (expansionist) and wife (long haired lady) are special features in side show. Orrin Hollis returns with a fatherly look.
Toledo, Ohio. Tuesday, May 28. Weather warm and pleasant. Lot way out. The runs are within a block of Hollis’ residence and, of course, everyone sees the “son and heir.” Afternoon house big. Night packed. Twelve horses escape while loading, at night. Men were left to capture them. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are entertained by their brother, J. J. De Vaux, a prominent resident of Toledo, and an old showman.
Kenton, Ohio. Wednesday, May 29. Weather hot. Bad lot. Betra loses one of her pets by death.
Ashland, Ohio. Thursday, May 30. Weather red hot. As it is Decoration Day, one of our bands attends the ceremonies and discourses appropriate music over the graves of the dead heroes. During the early hours of the morning, while “en route&rdqup; here, the sleeping car “Trilby” lost her balance, and had to be left at Galion for repairs, arriving at Ashland in the evening. The occupants were forced to rise early and resume the journey in a passenger coach. Liberati receives sad news of the death of a daughter and departs for New York.
Greenville, Pa. Friday, May 31. Weather hot. Good lot on the river bank. Jo-Jo takes a bath and the river stops running.
Jamestown, N. Y. Saturday, June 1. Weather hot. Lot way up the hill. “Climb up ye little children.” Hunting show here two days ago. A. O. Babel and wife (coy bow pianist) are visitors.
Niagara Falls, N. Y. Monday, June 3. Weather very hot. Sig. Liberati returns. In return for the severe storm, which struck us here last year, and did so much damage, the weather prophets were good to us to-day and sent us clear, pleasant weather. Mr. Shell Davis (baritone player), who was with us last season, joins. The workmen avail themselves of the invitation to inspect the famous Niagara Falls Brewery.
Lyons, N. Y. Tuesday, June 4. Weather hot. Lot on the Fair Ground close to town. Light showers in evening. Good bathing in river, and the elephants also take advantage of the opportunity and take a dip.
Seneca Falls, N. Y. Wednesday, June 5. Rainy in a. m. Clear for parade. Good lot on the Fair Ground. Heavy showers in afternoon. Long tail horse taken sick.
Herkimer, N. Y. Thursday, June 6. Cool and cloudy. Lot close to town. Long tail horse left with a veterinary surgeon and only lives a few hours. He was a valuable animal and a great feature of our side show.
Troy, N. Y. Friday. June 7. Good lot, but long haul. Buffalo Bill showed here about three weeks ago. Reynold’s show billed. Jim West entertains his mother.
North Adams, Mass. Saturday, June 8. Weather fine. Lot on Fair Grounds. Buffalo Bill here two weeks ago. Liberati leaves for New York to spend Sunday. The sleeping car “Trilby” and elephant cars are too large to pass through the tunnel and are sent around by way of Albany. Butch Parsons leaves for home to attend funeral of a brother.
Providence, R. I. Monday, June 10. Weather hot. Fine lot, way out. Buffalo Bill in opposition. Afternoon house big. Night packed. (5-pole top.)
Newport, R. I. Tuesday, June 11. Weather warm and sultry. Bad lot. Lobsters in abundance. Buffalo Bill in opposition. Some of the performers try a surf bath and find it a trifle chilly.
Fall River, Mass. Wednesday. June 12. Weather fine. Good lot. Elderly lady falls through seats, sustaining spinal injuries. Williams Trio and many professionals visit.
Brockton, Mass. Thursday. June 13. Weather pleasant. Fine lot on the Fair Ground. McCaddon and Anderson, of the Buffalo Bill show, and W. F. Conklin (animal importer) were visitors.
New Bedford, Mass. Friday, June 14. Weather fine. Good lot. Buffalo Bill opposition paper. Many of our people visit the old whalers.
Lowell, Mass. Saturday, June 15. Weather cool and cloudy. Lot on the Fair Grounds with a bird’s-eye view of “Hood’s Sarsa-parilla” laboratory. Big side show day. Sam Scribner (of Scribner & Smith) was a visitor.
Manchester, N. H. Monday, June 17. Weather hot. Butch Parson returns. Over 200 men buy shoes of a neighboring factory. Buffalo Bill opposition paper.
Lawrence, Mass. Tuesday, June 18. Weather red hot. Good lot on river bank close to town. Night big. On the way to Haverhill, a man was killed while the train was passing under a bridge. He was sitting on one of the high cages and, unconscious of danger, was knocked senseless and afterwards died from his injuries.
Haverhill, Mass. Wednesday, June 19. Weather hot. The large shoe factories close down and give their hands a half holiday.
Gloucester, Mass. Thursday, June 20. A quaint old fishing town. Weather fine. Good lot on bank of the bay, overlooking harbor. Fine fishing and bathing. Afternoon house big. Night big. Scribner & Smith and Washburn here recently. Buffalo Bill coming.
Lynn, Mass. Friday, June 21. Weather warm. A number of friends from the Buffalo Bill show visit.
Salem, Mass. Saturday, June 22. Cool and cloudy. Kickapoo Medicine Co. on lot adjoining. Mrs. Jas. R. Adams, accompanied by her nephew, visits her husband.
The Week in Boston, June 24 to June 29.
“Hub” is Taken by Storm, and Ringling Brothers, According to the Newspapers, “Own the Town.”
While a great popular success was looked for in Boston, the result of the week’s engagement was not the less gratifying to the management and to all who contributed to the great triumph the show achieved at the “Hub.” To show Boston at that particular time was in itself a Napoleonic move. The Buffalo Bill Wild West was billed to exhibit there for two weeks during June, and in order to show in Boston at all it was necessary to immediately follow the former organization. The management, however, did not hesitate. Arrangements for the engagement were quickly perfected, and early in June the gaily-colored lithographic paper of the World’s Greatest began to stare the people of Boston in the face, and the amusement-loving people of that amusement-loving city soon began to realize that there was a new factor in the field. Under the able direction of Mr. Charles Ringling, the general advertising agent, the city was literally transformed into a picture gallery. Although the name of Ringling Brothers’ World’s Greatest Shows was new to Boston, the lavish method of advertising adopted by the enterprise soon attracted wide attention, and before long the Ringliug name was upon every lip. It was universally agreed that no show, not backed by unlimited capital and supreme merit, could afford so lavish an expenditure in attracting the attention of the public, and this undoubtedly served to rivet public attention upon the new claimant for Boston favor. The newspapers were also notably cordial in welcoming the advent of the new show to Boston, and to Alf. T. Ringling and Frank L. Perley belong great credit for the admirable way in which they won the good will of the usually conservative Boston press.
The method of seating the audience adopted in St. Louis was revived in Boston, and was universally commended. Opera chairs at a circus was a new departure in Boston, as it had been elsewhere. Comfortable, roomy and elegantly furnished and carpeted private boxes also added a luxury to the circus appointments, which was appreciated by those who did not expect to find the conveniences of a grand opera house under a circus canvas. Although the public had undoubtedly expected much, owing to the notable manner in which the preliminary booming of the show had been effected, the really remarkable character of the performance was in a large measure a surprise. Those who were musically inclined found in the grand Liberati band a feature so far ahead of anything ever previously offered by a circus management that they were captured at the start, while the almost endless succession of high-class acts introduced in the arena, the hundreds of magnificent horses, the beauty of the costuming and the general air of vast completeness that was apparent on every side, were so superior to anything ever before seen in Boston, that the effect upon the crowd was electrical. The enthusiasm of the great throngs that filled the tents day and night was unbounded, and there were nights when twice the capacity of the vast hippodrome pavillion would not have been sufficient to accommodate the people who clamored for admission. Unfavorable weather had no apparent effect upon the crowds. Rain or shine, they thronged into the great amphitheatre, and when the engagement was brought to a close the record of Boston amusements, like that of St. Louis, had been broken; for those who were competent to speak declared that never before in the history of Boston entertainments had so many people passed through the entrance of a circus tent in a single week.
In Boston, as in other cities, the newspapers were unanimous in their praise of the show. “The most pleasing feature to me,” said one well-known newspaper critic, “is the fact that the performance more than sustains the reputation which preceded it, and of all the encomiums showered upon the show previous to its visit to Boston, not one has overshot the mark.” It was only natural, therefore, that the Boston press should speak of the show in the highest terms of praise. The following extracts give an idea of the unanimity with which the press united in commending the great exhibition:
Boston Herald (editorial, June 28): “Anything approaching it in excellence has never before been seen under canvas.”
Boston Traveller (June 27): “But what a circus! All the rest were plain, simple little side shows compared with it.”
Boston Globe (June 25): “The writer voices the sentiments of several of the best critics of Boston when he says, unreservedly, that the Ringlings’ is the best circus, by all odds, that ever visited Boston.”
Boston Journal (June 24): “The Ringling Brothers not only have the greatest show on earth, but also the greatest show that ever was on earth.”
Boston Post (June 25): “It is the biggest show on earth.”
Boston Notes:
Monday. - The parade was a great hit, and many novel and laughable incidents occurred along the route. Many small boys were abroad dressed in suits made from our advertising banners. They presented a ludicrous appearance. A number of young people were provided with “slap sticks,” and when anything in the parade met their especial approval they manifested it by clapping with the sticks. On all sides could be heard commendations for the parade. The traps, with their stylishly attired lady and gentlemen performers, seemed to make a particularly strong hit.
Tuesday. - Weather cloudy, with light rains. Yellowstone Kit visits. The grounds are alive with peddlers of the “Sam’l of Posen” order, and we can buy anything from a boiled crab to a mackintosh.
Wednesday. - Weather warm and cloudy. Mrs. Liberati and daughter visit. Prof. Andress springs a new musical invention for “Bally-hoo,” and some one christens it the “Noise-a-phone.” It consists of a number of Chinese gongs and ship bells and it produced a medley of sound very reminiscent of the Midway.
Thursday. - Cooler weather and heavy rains during the day. “Ringling Brothers own the town,” remarks an evening paper.
Friday. - Heavy rains all day, but doesn’t affect the immense business.
Saturday. - Hot and cloudy. Jo-Jo closes and leaves for New York. Mr. Sargeant, who has been with us during the week as special side show orator, closes. He made many friends during his brief stay. Henshaw and Ten Broeck, the Edisons and other professionals, are dressing room callers. All say good-bye to Boston with regret.
Woonsocket, R. I. Monday, July 1. Weather fine. Twenty employes of a big mill are discharged for leaving their work to view the parade. A lady, 85 years of age, falls from a bus and is severely injured.
Webster, Mass. Tuesday, July 2. Good lot about one-half mile from town. Weather cool and pleasant. Prof. Andress shows a canvas-man how to drive a stake and knocks a (steak) out of his leg.
Norwich, Conn. Wednesday, July 3. Beautiful town. Lot about mile and a half out. All the mills shut down in honor of Ringling day.
New Britain, Conn. Thursday, July 4. (Independence Day.) Arrived at 8 a. m. Rained hard all day. Mr. Haley provides an elegant dinner for the workmen at the cook tent, and ample justice is done it. Rain prevents much decoration, but here and there, the national colors are noticed. Liberati’s grand concert band plays a special programme. An elaborate display of fireworks at the cars after the night show and the boys make the night air ring with the refrain -
“Who are we? Who are we?”
“Troopers, troopers, hully-gee!”
“Who are we? Who are we?”
“Ringling people, you can see!”
Ansonia, Conn. Friday, July 5. Late arrival. Lot on the Fair Ground, midway between Berlin and Ansonia. Hard rains afternoon and evening. Prof. Tyler loses one of his dogs.
Bridgeport, Conn. Saturday, July 6. Winter quarters of Barnum & Bailey located here. Weather warm and threatening rain. Bad lot. Afternoon house good. Night big. Daily papers have very flattering notices. Adam Forepaugh and Donald Burns are visitors.
New Haven, Conn. Monday. July 8. Weather cloudy and hot. Prof. Tyler regains his lost dog. Miss Ryland’s mother visits.
Hartford, Conn. Tuesday, July 9. Cloudy in a. m., followed by heavy showers in afternoon. Afternoon house big. Night packed. Big day in the Annex.
Springfield, Mass. Wednesday. July 10. Cool and pleasant. Fine hit on Race Park. The ladies enjoy 12 o’clock lunch with Mrs. Eddy. Lew Sells visits. Afternoon house big. Night packed and turned away. Mrs. Eddy receives a handsome floral tribute from the ladies with the show.
Holyoke, Mass. Thursday, July 11. Fine weather. Good lot, in center of town. Afternoon house big. Night packed. Katura (one of the Japanese troupe) falls from wire and slightly injured. Several pick-pockets keep Detective Ryan busy. Big side show day.
Athol, Mass. Friday, July 12. Cool and pleasant. Last section arrives at 10:30. Parade at 12. The typical Yank is here observed. Uncle Josh thinks the audience should applaud more, and remarks during Ty-bel’s act: “Wal, I’ll be chawed, ef these air people ain’t too ridiculous to be scientific.”
Fitchburg, Mass. Saturday. July 13. Heavy rains in morning and evening. Dry town. Wet lot. The lot being small, our cook tents and stables are placed about one-half mile away. La Mothe and wife close.
Worcester, Mass. Monday, July 15. Weather pleasant. Good lot on the Fair Ground. Afternoon house big. Night packed to the ring banks and thousands turned away. Said to be the largest attendance ever at any circus in the city. Liberati is a great favorite here.
Palmer, Mass. Tuesday, July 16. Cloudy and rainy. Fine lot, close to town.
Pittsfield, Mass. Wednesday, July 17. Weather hot. Lot about mile and one-half out, on the Fair Ground. Parade at 11.
Albany, N. Y. Thursday, July 18 Cool and pleasant. One of the work horses has a leg broken in the car and is shot.
Gloversville, N. Y. Friday, July 19. Warm and pleasant. Fine lot about one-half mile from town. Buffalo Bill here recently and Scribner & Smith one week ago. Afternoon house big. Night big. The absent farmer is with us again.
Schenectady, N. Y. Saturday, July 20. Weather red hot. Poor lot close to town. “Dot leedle German band,” in rear of dressing room, makes night hideous.
Cobelskill, N. Y. Monday, July 22. An interesting ball game between musicians and performers, was played yesterday. Result, performers, 28; musicians, 17. Weather warm and pleasant. Lot on the Fair Ground.
Cooperstown, N. Y. Tuesday. July 23. Pleasant weather. Good lot on the Fair Ground. Our show repeated the success attained here last year by a packed afternoon house and good night house.
Oneonta, N. Y. Wednesday, July 24. Cool and pleasant. Fair Grounds. Major Winner (midget) opens correspondence with a little lady in Michigan, who is 17 years old, weighs 60 pounds and is 40 inches in height. Major means biz.
Walton, N. Y. Thursday, July 25. Weather cool and pleasant. Al. Ringling and wife visit the Scribner & Smith show.
Liberty, N. Y. Friday, July 26. Weather very cool. Mrs. Richmond and son (sister and nephew of Mrs. Al. Ringling) who have been with us on a visit, return to New York.
Norwich, N. Y. Saturday, July 27. Lot on the Fair Grounds. Heavy rains during the day.
Rome, N. Y. Monday, July 29. A ball game yesterday between the workmen and performers. Result: Performers, 16; Workmen, 24. About 600 people were present and the excitement was intense. Weather cool and cloudy. The “Romans” were delighted with the show. Mrs. D’Alma departs for Cincinnati, O.
Clayton, N . Y. Tuesday, July 30. Good lot. Weather cold and very windy. St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands special objects of attraction.
Governeur, N. Y. Wednesday, July 31. Two baby Mexican hogs born last night. Heavy rains all day. Frank York and Billy Walters leave to join Beach & Bowers’ minstrels.
Potsdam, N. Y. Thursday, August 1. Weather cloudy and light rains during day. Winter quarters of the Cole show. Fine lot on Fair Grounds.
Carthage, N. Y. Friday, August 2. Weather cool and pleasant. Orrin Hollis on sick list. Owing to a long run ahead of us, unusual haste is made in loading and we are out at 11:30, Several of Liberat’s soloists are left behind, including the famous soloist.
Charlotte, N. Y. Saturday, August 3. Weather warm and cloudy. The prodigals arrive on a special train, but too late for the afternoon concert. Parade at 12:15. No night show owing to long run. Doc Colvin and Thos. R. Scott (manager of the Wonderland, Rochester.) are visitors. Last section left at 8 o’clock.
Bay City, Mich. Monday, August 5. We arrived about 4:30 a. m. Stopped about 3 hours at Detroit to feed, and while there met the Sipe & Dolman show and had a pleasant visit. Good lot. Fine weather. Fred York leaves to join Beach & Bowers.
Mt. Pleasant, Mich. Tuesday, August 6. Heavy showers during day. Good lot.
Ludington, Mich. Wednesday, August 7. Warm and pleasant. Sandy lot close to town. Parade at 12.
Manistee, Mich. Thursday, August 8. Weather hot and cloudy. Heavy showers in the evening.
Traverse City, Mich. Friday, August 9. Weather hot. Bad, sandy lot. Francis Jones’ Co. at the opera house. An enthusiastic admirer of Liberati presents the band with a box of General Arthur cigars. (Of course, they all smoke.) Prof. Weldon on the sick list.
Petosky, Mich. Saturday, August 10. Showers in a. m. Lot about two miles out, on Fair Ground. A condemned bridge, which is impassable; a bad hill, deep sand, etc., makes it impossible to get the heavy chariots and parade material to the lot, and in consequence the band, only, makes a parade. As it is, 16 to 20 horses, assisted by the elephants, are required to get the necessary show stuff up the hill and many are the breakdowns. The Eddy family close and are replaced by the Nelson family (nine in number).
Marquette, Mich. Monday, August 12. Weather pleasant. Lot on the Fair Ground - (take your feet out o’ the sand). Wilson Andress (brother of Chas. Andress) and wife visit and make many friends during their brief stay. Nelson family open and make an instantaneous hit.
Tuesday, August 13, 1895. [City not named.] Weather cool and pleasant. Lot on Fair Grounds. Two miles out. The 13th is generally considered an unlucky day, but not so in this case, for the World’s Greatest has captured them by storm, and it may be recorded that on the unlucky 13th the Ringling Brothers made more clear money than they ever in their lives made in one day. Afternoon house was packed to suffocation, and at night they were packed in like sardines in a box. It may be noted also that the prices were raised to $1 admission, and $1.50 unreserved seats. The afternoon performance started at 3:30, and voted by all the best and most complete circus ever in the Upper Peninsula.
Ishpeming, Mich. Wednesday, August 14. Weather pleasant. Good lot on the Fair Grounds. Two flat cars were ditched, causing considerable delay. It was 1 p. m. when the parade started, and 4 when the show started. No night performance, owing to long run. Over 5,000 miners are on a strike here. Notwithstanding this fact we had a good attendance and far beyond expectations. Detective Burt (our special officer last season) is a visitor and he and Officer Ryan talk of old times.
Menominee, Mich. Thursday, August 15. Weather warm and pleasant. Good lot on the Fair Ground. Heavy shower about 10:30 p. m.
Green Bay, Wis. Friday, August 16. Weather hot. Good lot about mile and one-half out. Good side show day.
Manitowoc, Wis. Saturday, August 17. Weather warm and pleasant. Good lot, close to town.
Milwaukee, Wis. Monday, August 19. Weather pleasant. Bad, dusty lot. Packed house both afternoon and night. John and Louisa Till; Manager Marion, of the Wonderland; McFarlane, of Harris’ show, and many other professionals visit. Louis Arnheim and assistant arrive and are busy with tape measure. Prof. D’Alma closes.
Waukesha, Wis. Tuesday, August 20. Fine weather; good lot, and plenty of Waukesha water. About 300 members of the Reform school attend the afternoon performance. Delevan leaves for Baraboo with a smile on his face.
Belvidere, Ill. Wednesday, August 21. Fine weather. Good lot. Lemen Bros, were here the 13th. D. B. Elliott, of the Walter L. Main show, is a visitor.
Madison, Wis. Thursday, August 22. Weather hot. Very windy. Afternoon house packed. Night big. Barnum & Bailey billed in opposition. Geo. Hall (pop corn) and Mr. and Mrs. Leffler (parents of the Albino children) are visitors.
Baraboo, Wis. Friday, August 23. There’s Papa! There’s Mike! Hallo, Bill! and other expressions were heard as the trains pulled in at early daylight. Performers awoke, rubbed their eyes and asked each other, “What town is this?” As one strolled uptown, many indications of the Ringling Brothers’ popularity in their native town were noticed. The town has arrayed itself in holiday attire. Public buildings, stores, etc., are draped in bunting. During the parade the performers and people with the show were loudly cheered - the bands and chime bells played “Home, sweet Home,” “Home Again,” and other home melodies, and many were the sad faces when night came and it was evident the big show had to start again on its way.
Elroy, Wis. Saturday, August 24. Weather fine. Good lot. No night show. Fred. Railton is a visitor. Amber, the famous lady journalist, who has been a welcome visitor, departs for Chicago.
Minneapolis, Minn. Monday, August 26. Warm and partly cloudy. Afternoon house packed and hundreds were turned away. At night it was a perfect jam, and at 7:30 the doors had to be closed, and thousands turned away. This gave the side show all they could attend to and the Annex scored its banner day. A heavy shower at 8:15 p. m. fails to do any damage.
St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, August 27. Cloudy in a. m. Showers at noon and clear and cool in p. m. Our business to-day was a repetition of yesterday. A “turn-away” at each performance.
Faribault, Minn. Wednesday. August 28. Weather cool and pleasant. Fine lot.
Austin, Minn. Thursday, August 29. Weather fine. Good lot.
Charles City, Ia. Friday, August 30. Fine weather. Good lot. Members of Kirkhart’s circus visit.
Waverly, Ia. Saturday, August 31. Good lot, close to town. Weather fine. Prof. K. P. Speedy is a welcome visitor.
Cherokee, Ia. Monday, September 2. Weather pleasant. Good lot on the Fair Ground. Orrin Hollis closes. Lincoln J. Carter’s “Tornado” Co. visit.
Sioux City, Ia. Tuesday, September 3. Warm and pleasant. Lot about one mile from town. Roland Reed and his jolly company visit the afternoon performance. Roland pronounces Butch Parsons’ lemonade “the finest he ever drank at a circus.”
Missouri Valley, Ia. Wednesday, Sept. 4. Weather warm. Rather soft lot close to town. One of the grooms, a Jos. Wilkins, has his jaw fractured by a horse kick.
Carroll, Ia. Thursday, September 5. Hot weather. Good lot close to town. Heavy winds, in the afternoon, blow two horse tents down. Violent storm at night, just as the big top is lowered. No concert.
Boone, Ia. Friday, September 6. Weather cool and cloudy. Heavy rains of last night leaves the lot in bad condition. A Bowery Dance near runs make it pleasant for the early sleepers. One of the heavy wagons strikes a break in the road, topples over and the driver is thrown over and has his shoulder sprained.
Dennison, Ia. Saturday, September 7. Weather cool and pleasant. Good lot, close to town.
Omaha, Neb. Monday, September 9. Warm and windy. A much crowded lot. A steep hill extends upward from the runs, and as the heavily loaded pole wagon is descending at night, one of the block chains breaks, leaving the horses and driver at the mercy of the wagon. All are hurled below in a tangled heap (a distance of about 80 feet). How the horses and driver escaped instant death was a miracle. As it was, the horses were only slightly injured, and the driver (Skip) received injuries from which he speedily recovered.
Fremont, Neb. Tuesday, September 10. Weather hot and windy. Bad lot.
Lincoln, Neb. Wednesday, September 11. Weather hot and windy. We show to-day in conjunction with the county fair, so business must necessarily be fair. The afternoon house was packed to overflowing, while the night attendance was very large.
Nebraska City, Neb. Thursday, Sept. 12. Weather red hot. Lot adjoining railway.
Atchison, Kan. Friday, September 13. Weather very hot. Good lot close to town. A. S. Allen, of Great Bend. Kan., is a pleasant visitor.
St. Joseph, Mo. Saturday, September 14. Good lemonade weather. Fine lot close to the runs. Paine’s “China and Japan” adjoining us. Bert Martin and wife, Jules Offner and wife, and a number of Paine’s people are among the visitors.
Kansas City, Mo. Monday, September 16. About forty of our people were highly entertained yesterday by Chief Hale and his fire laddies, who gave a remarkable exhibition of life saving, rapid hitching, etc. At night many of the performers were entertained by “Cleveland’s Minstrels,” at the Ninth Street Theater and “Americans Abroad,” at Grand Opera House. To-day the weather is awfully hot. Afternoon house big, while at night it was a “turn away,” the big, 5-pole top being filled long before eight o’clock. Elmer Pitt and Smith Cook, the Kentucky giant (now on the Kansas City police force) were among the visitors.
Pleasant Hill, Mo. Tuesday, September 17. Weather hot. Bad lot near railway. Unzie (Albino) closes.
Sedalia, Mo. Wednesday, September 18. Weather hot. Good lot on the Fair Ground. The Spooner Comedy Co. visit in the afternoon a number of our people attend their evening performance at the opera house, by special invitation of B. S. Spooner, and enjoy a fine performance. Chas. Andress buys a pony. Our water wagon was arrested to-day and for awhile it looked like a “dry day.”
Jefferson City, Mo. Thursday, Sept. 19. Weather hot. Bad lot on bottom land. Many hills to climb. Our parade passed the State prison and is viewed by many convicts, who seldom see a sight so imposing. Natalie wants to know “what hotel is dat.”
Booneville, Mo. Friday, September 20. Hot weather. Good lot. Liberati’s concert band concludes its engagement. The famous conductor and a number of his soloists depart for the East, while many of the leading musicians remain to finish the season under Prof. Weldon.
Marshall, Mo. Saturday, September 21. Hot. Good lot close to town. Our new band, with Wm. Weldon as conductor, makes its debut and is pronounced a success; many of the numbers being encored, and Maginell’s solo receives a perfect ovation.
Rich Hill, Mo. Monday, September 22. While “en route” yesterday, a heavy storm and cold wave swept over the country and we were heartily glad we were in safe quarters. Weather cool to-day. Good lot close to town.
Carthage, Mo. Tuesday, September 24. Warm and pleasant. Good lot close to town.
Nevada, Mo. Wednesday, September 25. Warm and pleasant. Good lot with cider mill adjoining.
Iola, Kan. Thursday, September 26. Weather cool and cloudy. Good lot close to town. Prof. Cahoon’s horse show at opera house.
Eldorado, Kan. Friday, September 27. Cool and pleasant. Good lot.
Wichita, Kan. Saturday, September 28. Cool and windy. Good lot. John Eddy, of Great Bend, visits. Mr. Eddy drives over, a distance of 100 miles, to see the show.
Arkansas City, Kan. Monday, Sept. 30. Pleasant weather. Lot close to Santa Fe depot.
Independence, Kan. Tuesday, October 1. Weather pleasant. Good lot, about mile from runs. A shocking accident occurred at 5 p. m. James Rafferty (boss animal man) entered the monkey den to remove a sick monkey and was attacked by the large ape, Dan. The beast tore his flesh in a horrible manner and, but for the speedy assistance of the animal men, would have killed him. Rafferty was removed as quickly as possible to town and placed in care of a surgeon, and, later, was sent to the hospital in Kansas City. The brute escaped to the woods and was finally captured and caged.
Pittsburg, Kan. Wednesday, October 2. Warm and pleasant. Good lot about half mile from town. Murphy & Moore and members of Side Tracked Co. visit.
Joplin, Mo. Thursday, October 3. Cloudy and rain in afternoon. Tom Haley returns from Kansas City and reports Rafferty as being well cared for, and indications for a speedy recovery.
Aurora, Mo. Friday, October 4. Warm and pleasant. Good lot.
Springfield, Mo. Saturday, October 5. Weather cloudy. Good lot close to town.
Ft. Smith, Ark. Monday, October 7. Weather pleasant. Good lot in center of town. A number of our people visited the old United States jail yesterday and viewed many objects of interest. Among the prisoners awaiting their doom was the notorious Cherokee Bill. Bill was in a friendly mood and gave his autogram to many of the boys.
Morrillton, Ark. Tuesday, October 8. Pleasant weather. Lot about mile out. No night show owing to long run.
Hot Springs, Ark. Wednesday, October 9. Weather fine. Good lot in Sulphur Park.
Little Rock, Ark. Thursday, October 10. Warm and pleasant. Lot about mile and one-half out. Parade at 12. Show at 3. A sad accident occurred about 9 p. m. One of the workmen, who had been feeling ill, was excused by Boss Snellen, and, while on his way to the sleeper, was killed. It is supposed he was crossing the flat cars and they moved suddenly; he became dizzy and fell beneath the cars, meeting his death in a horrible manner. His name was Joe Gulyer. He had recently joined and was from Ft. Worth, Tex. An inquest was held and the remains properly cared for.
Pine Bluffs, Ark. Friday, October 11. Pleasant weather. Lot close to town.
Jonesboro, Ark. Saturday, October 12. Pleasant weather. Lot close to town. Parade at 12. Show at 2.
Memphis, Tenn. Monday, October 14. Warm and pleasant. Good lot about mile out. Afternoon house big. Night packed. Billy Link and wife and members of Green Goods Co. visit. The Beach & Bowers Co. and Harris Nickle Plate show came through here yesterday and a jolly time was had in visiting.
Jackson, Tenn. Tuesday, October 15. Fine weather. Good lot on “Fair Grounds.”
Paris, Tenn. Wednesday, October 16. Warm weather. Lot on Fair Ground in conjunction with the county fair. Two and one-half miles to lot. No night show, owing to long haul. Emma Warren Comedy Co. visit. During the afternoon performance, two rustics engage in a fist contest. They are arrested, tried and convicted. The trial held in the menagerie. They are held in $250 bonds, but not being able to produce the necessary are let off on $10 fine each. About 3:15, the audience was alarmed by the cry of “Fire,” and in a moment all was confusion, it being noticed that the side wall was in a blaze. The heroic efforts of some of the men saved the tent. About 20 feet of side wall was burnt. The performance continued throughout the confusion and no doubt prevented a serious panic.
Paducah, Ky. Thursday, October 17. Pleasant weather. Good lot, close to town.
Mayfield, Ky. Friday, October 18. Weather pleasant. Dust plenty.
Union City, Tenn. Saturday, October 19. Weather pleasant. Good lot on Fair Ground.
Nashville, Tenn. Monday, October 21. Good lot, close to town. W. D. Coxey and Dick Hunter return and the closing date is announced as November 15, at Water Valley. Miss. Jas. Rafferty returns from the hospital at Kansas City. Prof. Hubin, while carrying hot water for the snakes, scalds his leg severely.
Lebanon, Tenn. Tuesday, October 22. Weather fine. Good lot, close to town.
Murfreesboro, Tenn. Wednesday, Oct. 23. Weather fine.
Shelbyville, Tenn. Thursday, Oct. 24. Weather fine.
McMinnville, Tenn. Friday, October 25. Weather fine. No night show, owing to long run.
So. Pittsburg, Tenn. Saturday, October 26. Weather fine. Good lot in center of town.
Columbia, Tenn. Monday, October 28. Weather fine. Good lot, close to town.
Fayetteville, Tenn. Tuesday, October 29. Weather fine. Good lot, close to town. Biggest side show opening of the season.
Winchester, Tenn. Wednesday, Oct. 30. Weather fine. Good lot, close to town.
Huntsville, Ala. Thursday, October 31. A beautiful town, and noted all over the South for its big spring and fine water. The first visit of the show here, and proves a welcome surprise.
Florence, Ala. Friday, November 1. Tuscumbia and Sheffield, which are close by, send big delegations to swell the crowds, and all go away declaring they had seen the “biggest thing under canvas.” One woman looks long and earnestly at the zebra, and then raises a laugh by inquiring where “they got that striped mule.”
Corinth, Miss. Saturday, November 2. First Mississippi town of the season. Everybody talks cotton, and the colored population takes advantage of high prices and good pay to enjoy a day with the elephant.
Tupelo, Miss. Monday, November 3. Lots of “doin’s” ’round this town in war times. Artesian wells insure good water for man and beast. Lots of dust here, but circus-goers are plentiful and the silver chinks merrily in the vicinity of the ticket wagon.
Aberdeen, Miss. Tuesday, November 5. Pawnee Bill’s Wild West preceded us here, but there was plenty of business left for the big show.
Kosciusko, Miss. Wednesday, November 6. People crazy for the show here. Made a big hit last year, and everyone anxious to see it again. A little town, but a great country.
Canton, Miss. Thursday, November 7. First time here. Half the town turned out last year to see the show at Jackson, twenty-one miles south. One of the best cotton centers in the South, and money plentiful.
Brookhaven, Miss. Friday, November 8. A little town, but surprisingly good business. Pawnee Bill showed here to very light business.
Yazoo City, Miss. Saturday, November 9. One of last year’s towns. Big crowds illustrate the truth of the adage, that “nothing succeeds like success.” Many old friends cordially welcome the show.
Greenwood, Miss. Monday, November 11. The wreck of the famous “Star of the West” lies in the bed of the Yallabusha, only four miles away, and the Yazoo, which skirts the town, has the mouldering wrecks of numberless steamboats destroyed during Grant’s siege of Vicksburg. Town Marshal says there’s a million dollars at the bottom of the river, and everyone has a sudden desire to go in swimming.
Greenville, Miss. Tuesday, November 12. Many admirers welcome the show, and declare it is bigger and better than ever.
Clarksdale, Miss. Wednesday, Nov. 13. Looks like a wild western boom town, but the bottoms are full of people, and they came to town in droves.
Sardis, Miss. Thursday, November 14. The last stand but one. Everyone is on the qui vive with expectation, and thoughts of home mingle with speculation on what the winter will develop. A little town, but great on “rubbernecks.”
Water Valley, Miss. Friday, November 15. The last stand. The many friends made last year welcome the show and express their pleasure that the show should close in their town two seasons in succession. The country towns out in force, and the show profits abundantly by the good reputation left last year. The band plays “Home, Sweet Home” with variations, and the hundreds of people who have lived together for seven months almost as one family say “adieu” and separate. “It may be for years, it may be forever,” but to all who participated in the triumphs of 1895 the year will be one never to be forgotten.
Wonderful Press Work.
With a circus management, the next thing to having a great show is making this fact known. The World’s Greatest show was not extensively known in Boston prior to its first engagement. Mr. Frank Perley, as special press agent of the Ringling Bros., brought out the fact that this was the really great show of the universe through the columns of the Hub’s big dailies in a manner highly flattering to his distinguished abilities as a press representative.
CHS webmaster J. Griffin, last modified March 2008.