The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-06-14
THE SHOW.
p. T. Barnum's Wonders.

Saturday last was gala day 10 Rock
Island aud for many miles around on both
sides of the Mississippi. At an early
hour the roads were thickly dotted with
people on foot and in wagons as we'll as
other kinds of vehicles all on their way to
see the show. There was. a procession
in the morning through the principal
streets and the side walks were black with
spectators. while innumerable faces and
figures appeared from windows. balconies
and all available places where q view
could be obtained. Two performances
were given in the tented field; one during
the afternoon and one at night On both
occasions the place was crowded. and it is
estimated that not less than fourteen
thousand people were present in all. The
| show is all il claims to be and more. The
best OF arrangements are observed as to
seating capacity and the strictest order is
keps both inside aud outside of the can.
vass, 1t is therefore pleasure to witness
circus performance without being iostled
and pushed against all the time. In adj
dition to the large staff of employees. Dir.
Barnum has FIVE regular policemen travel
ing with the combination all the time aud
acting as detectives. Passing through the
main entrance we enter spacious tents
where all sorts of animals are on view
and which would occupy a large sized
volumn to describe infinitely. Passing on
we como to the menagerie proper and
there we fad animals from every CLINE
under the sun. The horned horse, the
rhinoceros. the emu and other rdra auis
| being prominent, while camels, elephants,
lions, tigers. leopards, hyera. and
beasts of every shape and hue are
to be seen on every hand Among the
human euriosities are the great giant
Goshen" and little Queen Nab" who
looks as if she would fly off to fairy land
any moment. The Zulu chief in the APP
proved summer costume of Zulu-land was
there throwing the assogai and doing other
mysterious things, the full purport OF
which is only known in his native county.
The wonders of the ring are carried out
ia the smoothest and pleasantest manner
possible and the display of horsemanship,
acrobatism and grotesauerie is only
equalled by the magnificent display of
horsefesh which it is most delightful to
witness. The six stations introduced by
Mons, r. NJ, D1ckrill aud directed by q
word or movement of his whip are sight
which every person in the vast assem-
biage viewed with em o.ions of delight
Mons. .Dockrill may truly be called the
prince of trainers The acts OF equestri-
aD;sm By the ladies were indeed worthy of
all that could be SAID about them. Signora
Msrcellus was very fine 10 her 'classis
principal act" and Miss Emma Lake 10
her Parlor Manege was most graceful aud
elegant. The double "Aote do Manage"
by Madame Ma rtha and Herr Neyggaard
were exceedingly delightful to witness and
showed the highest perfection IN training
Nine Dockrill in her performance on
single horse without saddle. bride or
surcingle was the subject of general ad-
miration, and in her six horse
act she even surpassed all ex-
pactation 10 the way she handled
the ribbons Hsr riding was the
very pink of perfection. The other acts
in the arena were all first class and nc
make shift acts were introduced. The
concluding part of the performance where
Zazsl walks on an almost invisible wire is
most daring and wonderful, performance.
which is not even excelled by her beadlong
leap from the top of the tent to net
spread near the ground Her last final
| triumph is being shot out of a cannon in
| full view of the audience There are other
marvels we would like to speak of, such
as the john Robinson and the clowns,
Madam Nelson and her doves, MIR. John
Bachelor. the stag "Lsndseer," the mon
keys aud especially the "Mandrill' q
species of baboon. We cannot close
without saying that Slgnor Sebastian as q
rider sustained bis former reputation and
performed to the delight of all. His acts
with his son were the very perfection of
the art. The fire horse 'Salamander" is
probably the most wonderful in annals OF
horse training and the way in which he
leaps through flaming hoops. shows how
fear can he eonnuernd