Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-11-01
A CIRCUS On THE ROAD.
How the Men and Beasts are LOdged---
Moving the Tents.
New York World

undertaken during my career as "
Snowman, and without doubt, it is the
greatest show on earth. We form quite
community among ourselves, and
when We change from place to place, IL
is like moving village" said 7. +.
Barnum TO W0rM reporter ut Eliza
beth N. j., on Friday evening last, as
he stepped from the ring Of his great
circus, after having made one Of his
character istic speeches. The caravan
left New York on the 25th Of April last,
and since then has travelled through
New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachu-
sets, Rhode Island New Hampshire,
gan, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia,
Maryland, and the District Of Column
bia-a distance Of nearly 1000 miles
and has given about $50 performances.
There are 81 persons connected with
the show, twenty-five animal cages,
fourteen museum cases, twenty-five
baggage wagons, five tablcaux cars, one
ticket wagon, besides performing stall
lions, horses, ponies, elephants,
camels, monkeys, etc. and twenty
five railroad cars are needed 10
transport them Ill. More than two
performances, III the afternoon and
evening, are seldom given in u place,
and the show travels anywhere from
100 to $50 miles between performances.
a fresh wind was blowing Friday even
ing that told of plenty of hard work IN
store for the Canvasmen. Nearly
five acres Of ground were covered by
the various tents belonging to the show.
The work Of moving was begun as soon
MS the workmen had their suppcrs.
First, the cooks tents, III which meals
are prepared for the WorlmCn, were
taken down and slowed away in wag-
ons, which were driven to the train and
run up on the platform cars. Then, rs
soon as the visitors had inspected the
animals and Curiositics, Prof Felix Nc
Donald, superintendent of the animal
department, gave the order to close
up" The handsomely painted sides were
fastened to the cages, horses were Mt
tachod to the wagons, and they were soon
on their way to thetrai Then the tents
which had covered them and the stable
tents wese taken down md sent away.
Every one was hurried, yet there was
no confusion. Nothing was left except
the main tent, and in il the perform
ances were going on rs quietly and reg
ularly as If the show wns to stay il the
same place for II month. Bat outside
the work Of packing up was stendily
going ON. Heavy trucks and immense
baggage wagons were drawn up ut regll-
lnr intervals all round the tent. AS
soon as n performer had used an article
in the ring it wus carried behind the |
curtain and there seized and slowed |
away in one Of tho wagons for transpor-
tntion. The performing horses dashed
out of the ring only TO be caught by
their groom, stripped Of their bright |
trnppings, groomed, blanketcd and
made ready for their Journey. AT 10
Scarcely had the last horse passed the
green curtain when Chas. Mclean
sprang to the centre Of the ring and
blew his whistle In IN instant forty
eight brawny, blue shirted canvnsmen
were ut work; one gang pulled down the
seats and packed them III wagons, 9TH
ers took down and cxtinguishcd the
lights, others demolished the ring, and
others ripped OIL tho side walls Of the
tent. The tent was taken down, and
the sections were separated and packed
AWAY. Where but " short time before
were happy faces and bright lights, were
only darkness and IL great deserted
space Of ground covered with lunches
of dirty straw, bits of orange peel, pen
nut shells and the usual rubbish loft by
Il travelling show.
I" Furty-soycn minutes, said Assistant
Manager Nathans, looking nt his watch
rs the last piece Of canvass was carried
oil the ground.
"Thc nigh wind delayed us, said
Mclean. I'VE have frequently done
il i'll thirty-soven minutes.
Tho stable tents are curiositics to
horscmon. Formerly circus proprietors
lodged their horses in COW sheds and
undcr any shelter they could find The
horses were necessarily badly cared for
IA few were always sick, and tho death
rate among them was large. Now they
arc lodged III waterproof tents, the
stations having box stalls rs comfort
able MS amy in private stable. DR.. ASA
&. Berry, who has been with l}arn,tm rs
veterinary surgeon and superintendent
of horses since lS5l, said "Wo have
HOT llNN " SiIlSlc uCdtH IuIl HlNkllcSS
amang,our stock since We left New York.
have III my care l61 horses. They
got accustomed to the cars, and ride III
them comfortably bht will not sleep i'll
them. We get them out Of tho cars
every morning us early US possible and
put them in their canvas stables, which
they seem to like very much, partieu-
mrly iii hot weather. They lie down
almost immediately and have n good
long sleep before the afternoon perform
ancc, and they hayoa little nap hotwecn