The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-05
AFTER TIE CIRCUS Is OVER.
NOW THE GREAT TENT rs PULLED DOWN
and THE NIGHT rs SPENT
Some Of the Scenes In Moving Hnrnum's Grent
show from One city to Another-The Per-
formers In the Circus Railway Train.

lHei. come With me NJ once, or we " De 100
late" said Mr.. George q. Starr. guide. phioso-
pher. and press agent. This was Friday night.
Tho six coal-black Trakene stations had
already begun their evolutions in the ring. and
the pageant OF r. T. Barnum's new and only
greatcs, show on earth was in q few minutes
to fade from the vision Of 5000 Wsthctically
contcntcd and morally instructed citizens Of
Paterson. n j. Within the tent there had not
been the slightest indication Of preparation to
take ii down. Just without the entrance was
fringe Of younger Patorsonians whose faces
wore aglow with interest and the glare of smok-
ing naphtha torches. but there was not the sign
Of n tent folder.
Now. listen" said the guide Z" for Charley
McLean's whistle. and then keep your eyes
about you. Charley is tho boss Arab"
While the band inside was yet playing and
before tho spectators had gone from their scats
n shril whistle came out of the darkness. II
lasted perhaps three or four seconds. and when
IT had ceased every yard Of the canvas wall that
had surrounded the great tent had rustled to
the ground. An empty ring and 5000 persons
struggling to emerge into the darkness we're
visible through the lntticc work formed by the
raised SCENTS The roof OF the tent yet rested ON
ita supporting poles. The army Of slouched-
halted and blue-shrt -seeved Arabs were now
visible. but no order was issued and not n word
was uttered. some caught hold of the long ends
ground, and ran bnck and forth In the pro-
cess of folding them up. Some caught
a time. and delivered them To- others
who were waiting below to receive them. The
lights from within then revealed the presence
Of scores OF wagons backed up aud standing in
"A great circle around the tent. In each one
stood man ready to receive and stow away
canvas or other parts Of the great tent. as II
should he brought to him. When ali beneath
the roof had been taken away. the roof itself
wqs attacked. First. all OF the supports were
Ia knft he n flt.a
middleton II If u double peaked tent with the
ring situated between the centre poles-and
those at the edge. Then the whistle sounded
again. Instantly the whole spread of
canvas futtered silently to the earth.
ing her eggs The centre poles which pierce
the canvns. yet stood. Larings which hold the
huge sections Of the roof together were quickly
drawn out, ana the pieces were soon doubled
and rcdOuhled into great masses. each Of which
hled II wagon. Three other mrge tents had
been taken down while tho spectators were an
plauding the circus performance. One If these
wae for the museum of natural curositics. one
for the mcnagerie. and one made of green cHn-
was. served ~ green room for the circus tent.
And now for the Annex" said the guide.
This had consisted OF two tents. hut one Of
them had been taken down. because the living
curlo-itl'~ hat already gone 10 the depot The
Annex j. a side show conducted with Barnum's
circus by the brothers John and Geo. Bunnrll.
II might well pretend the it'll" 81 the new aud
only greatest side show on earth. II IL the now
American Mus um lately of the BOwery put ON
wheels II 'k"ts of admission to IL ARE sold in
the circus tent Entrance Ia the gentleincn's
dressing room from the outside was f0uuI nm.
der the canvas wall. that WINS politely lifted by
one of the employers. A high blue wagon had
spread It's sitehoards like wings 10 form IA
Stage Tor variety performers. The spectators
were smut ont from view by canvas curtains.
Every salient angle of the wagon WAS loaded
with art 'lrs al singe make-up. Open trunks
and huN"- were all about. when the show stops
for only ON" day, ~ II did al Paterson. the grass
serves rNrn'l"ntly a. carpet Dick Sands sat
on on" corner of his trunk smoking clay pipe
and rcndv 10 40 on as an old Irish woman.
Amy Tudor was doing "a high pedestal dance.
while her husband stood concealed from view
h.hiud fho pedestal turning II crank which
caused brilliant transformations in the upp'a'-
anee oi the pedestal itself Winston. the humur-
IT. who Is stgsc manager. had put on smo'k
iroek. 10 read mess 10 10 on in the character of
u country humpkin. an stood looking lugu-
hriou~lY al DICK Sands who had laid aside his
pipe and WIS walking around ON the era-~ on
ms hhnds to exhaust some oil his supeiiuou-
spirits.
A. the depot there was an exciting scene. Il
Is a rallrond show. and the circus, museum.
m"nug"rir. and annex employ eighty two cars.
VIII eh arr. nl owned 10y Mr. Bnrnum and his as
50 'iutrs. Most II these are platform cars A long
train of them was drawn up on side track.
liy the light OF larng naphtha lamps wagon
upon the roar car, and then run by hand from
car 20 car. This process WAS continued until
the train was full 81 wagons. Then another
train WIS loaded IN the same manner Heavy
beams AZ the edges Of the oars prevent the
wagons irom running OIL. The wheels OF the
wagons are blocked with pieces OF wood which
ARE nailed to the floor of the car. Sheets 81
thlrk iron turning vertically on hinges form
bridges from ear 10 car for the wheels 10 pnss
over. The horses are taken from the wagons
when they have drawn them 10 the foot of the
inclined plane. Then pulley il attached -
each wagon and the strength oi one pair Of
horses Is sufficient To send u RAPIDLY up thp in
clint" the pole being guided 10y two mon. While
all this work was being done most OF the per-
formers We're asleep in their berths.
chr No 10 carries the living curiusities. II ia
divided into three sections. ia the first sleep
the members OF the band In the second II
" Xip." otherwise known AS Hawauata the
australian Bhshman. and the Leopard Boy.
Each sleeps IN comfortable berth. An attend
ant stays IN the compartment with them. Into
inns compartment Ii put the baggage OF the per
Formers. /p Is good eater and sleeper and
Is always quiet and harmless while on hie tray
els. In the last section sleep Miss Annie Wood.
N" Mormon giant girl. who Is 10 years old. 81
feet high. aud weighs 5l6 pounds: Zoe Melike.
of Albinos, the German Midgeis, Mr.
George Bggpnell. and the variety per
cept Mrs. Tudor and Miss Brooks, who cramprd
themselves INTO narrow recess IN front Of the
dress. ana drank some lemonade brought them
by Mr.. Tudor. They Were cheerful and con-
tented. apparently, with the scan,y arcommo-
dations afforded them. Out ON the platform
congregated most of the male members OF the
company. Winston told humorous stories.
Tudor explained how they conducted circuses
IN England. John Bunnell narrated how.
twenty MN" years ago. he cam" 10 New York
from Connecticut to buy fish, and was led to
invest In oranges instead With n partner. he
bought 3,3JJ oranges, and then followed Van
AmburGh circus IN Connecticut until they
partner. but continued in the same business
the next scAson. ilr had $22 80 At the hrgin-
ming Of the season. and so AT the end. That
was the way he first came to "a knowledge Of the
show business. Each of the Buuncli brothers,
II = said mad fortunes during the SrHsuIs of
lSl2 and 1873. George subsequently lost
fiO.uuu IN the liippodrome. Prof. Hutrhings.
"N-ligntning calculator, Whose impressive
manner OF assuring his nudi noes that he
wishes they could be present some time when
the Leopard Boy II changing his spots. makes
him invaluable ~ "A lecturer in the annex
museum. listened to Whstons stories with
pensiye melancholy In tho night somebody
snured.
That's the fat girl, said variety performer.
leaning out of his berth.
The assertion remained uncontradcted until
morning, when it was nsrrrtHlnud that tho
sounds had been hurtling through the partition
which eopuruied the rest Of us from lIiuWauuta,
and Ind been produced 10y him or his attend
ant, MISS Wood does not shore. The sumo
unhandsOne suspicion hus been broachrd once
or twice hoioro. ind she II annoyed nj IT, The
brrihs are not very Wide, and n has been found
absolutely necessary 10 put two in berth. For
This reason, Lor Mcllkc. the Cirrassiuu lady,
who II pleasantly slender has been the berth
They are very clOsr friends.
Yesterday morning the slcepers found them
selves ~ JERSEY CITY. where the show WAS Ia rN-
mint Charley Me Lean, Just after daybrcak, was
ON the ground selected. Then he marked tho
Spots Tor centre poles, Measurements were
taken stakes were driven and in a short time