Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-09-18
OPENING OF cAmpsELus CIRCUS AND MEN
AGERlE YESTERDAY.

tSt. Louis Globs-Democrat, Aug. 81.
The boys were out in force yesterday
morning and no for that matter were older
people, summoned by the clamor Of the band
asthe circus and menagerie procession wound
its way through the streets. There we're
the big elephants and camels and the per-
forming lions and the long line of cages Of
wild beasts and the gaily caparisoned horses
and all the hundred and one attractions of
sucha procession, in this case more attractive
than usual, for Campbell's grand circus and
menagerie opened Yesterday on the grounds
ut Twelfth and Locust streets il really big
show and q good one.
Despite the haste yesterday afternoon the
audience was in the seats and on time and
At two o'clock the performances commenced.
Previously, though, the audience had wan.
dered about the great tent containing the
menagerie and studied natural history at
leisure. There was a good deal to admire,
and among the animals some of those not
heralded on the bills asthe greatest attractions
were among the most interesting. The sea
COW from the Amazon river, q large animal
with queer horns and almost hairless skin,
was one Of the curiosities. They we're engaged
yesterday in drenching the almost amphibi-
GUS beast with water, . dry skin being any
thing but pleasant to her. The sea. COW is a
wonderful swimmer, and tanned is some
times used on the Amazon and its tributa-
ries for ferrying purposes, swimming before
the boat and drawing it as a wagon is drawn
on land.
Another curiosity in one of the cages is a
fine American elk. An elk in this country
is not so rare an animal, but the specimen
- <ho n,nuo~o~so - -ot.klo. -. s,,ot
now a wonderful pair of horns, and very few
in their prime. In the specimen on exhi-
bition the Antlers are 90 vast as to be a bur.
den, and are, in a few weeks, to be sawed off
to relieve the animal.
A fine specimen of the vicious-looking
horned horse or gnu, one which attracted
much attention in New York, is another
feature of the show. 1t is a queer looking
animal, this horned horse, and appears as
though it might in its native wilds be an
unpleasant one to meet. There are some
very fine lions, a great Bengal tiger, a beau
tiful spotted leopard, hyenas, monkeys and
other animals to numerous to mention in
the menagerie, and the audience yesterday
found no little entertainment in this depart
ment of the show.
The circus proper is given under a fine
tent, aud as fine an exhibition in its field as
the %menagerie. The performing elephant
Empress proved herself the equal in her
line of any elephant now seeking the plaud.
its of the public.
The riding was excellent, andwas some.
what notable for the number of lady riders,
and pretty ones. Miss. Linda Jeal, the only
lady hurdle-rider, executed some daring
feats, and Miss Rosa Lee, and others showed
to ABBOTT equal advantage. Miss Alta Hall
cite was at home on the trapeze, the male
riders were excellent in their specialties
and the clowns were as amusing to young
folks as clowns will always be as long as
they have awfnlly painted faces and leap
about and make grimaces. As whole the
the show is a good one, has the advantage
Of being backed by plenty Of money, is we'll
managed and is a good place to 60 with
children. One ticket admits to both circus
and menagerie.
At last nights entertainment the audience
was a grand one, and duringthe performance
fine bouquets we're presented to Misses Ross
Lee, Alta Halle;te apd Linda Jeal. The
audience was vocifcpous in its applause.