The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-11
BARNUM AND JUMBO.
The Greatest Show ON Earth in the
City, with Its Multitude of
Attractions.
An Enormous Crowd Floods the Streets
Notwithstanding the Threat.
ening Weather.
A GREAT DAY.

Wednesday. the 18th day of October
has been looked forward to for days, nay
months, by people of every station in
life the bankers, merchants, mechanics,
farmers, laborers, and all classes of PEG
pie for miles around, have had their minds
conferred on this day. The little boy in
knee breeches, the man of mature years,
the dimpled cheek girl with short clothes,
the belle of eighteen with bandolined
bangs. the faded old maid, and the moth
erly matron, were one and all on the tip toe
of expectation, and anxiously watched
the almanac as the days rolled by, wish
ing and waiting for the day that has at
length arrived-the 18th of October. A
person on awakening at six o'clock in the
morning. and looking out of the window,
would see leaden sky, and if perchance he
should raise the window slightly, he would
be greeted with raw northwind that would
send cold shivers down his back, and
make him hastily reseek bis couch. Then
why is it that at so early an hour people
are Walking the streets and the rumbling
of wagons conveys the evidence that
more are at hand? Why? Because, as
does the magnet attract the needle, and
ruby lips and rosy cheeks lure the growing
lad from his mothers apron strings, SO
does Barnum aud Jumbo draw Their
magnetism is so great, however, that it
not only draws from the immediate vi
cinity, but for miles around, until the
neighbOring country is almost depopu-
lated, until the people are drawn to one
common centre, in the middle of which
stands Jumbo, the king of beasts.
AS stated above, the people began to
pour into the city at an early hour, and
by seven o'clock he s'reets were pretty
well thronged. Many ate their break
fasts on the sidewalk, having come pre-
pared with eatables, while others sought
the hotels and restaurants.
The great show p rived over the Chi
cago Rock Island & Pacific road >, three
sections. getting here about nine o'clock.
The engine had herd'y whistled down
brakes before large force of men were
busily engaged in unshipping the tents,
wagons, anime's. etc, and although it
was big job, so we'll had the men been
drilled that very little time expired before
the whole show was on he way to the
show grounds. The wagons containing
the tents, poles, and other machinery
went first, followed by the cages contain
ing the animals, after which some large
herds of elephents, cemels, dromedp .es,
giraffes, and other wild beasts.
AS the day advanced, the crowd was
augmented by new arrivals, and by noon
the time the procession took place-the
sidewalks were blocked on Second avenue,
and great portion OF the street taken
up by the surging crowd The windows
of the upper stories of the business houses
were filled with anxious faces, and all
available space was taken up on the
verandas. The procession finely made
its appearance, and then the crowd com
n.enced to jostle for a good position.
The cavalcade was headed by magaifi-
cent band chariot; ten pairs Of beautiful
steeds richly caparisoned and bearing
brilliantly dressed riders of the arena; dens
of lions. tigers. hyenas. leopards, bears.
and jaguars, with man sitting in each
and placidly petting the beautiful and
submissive creatures: chime Of s'ver
bells; then another band wagon, with a
fine military band; an eight horse chs riot
supporting an immense globe; an'nel
wagons; six beautiful black Arab steeds
another band wagon; more ar'msl wagons,
a lot more riders on beaut' 'ul, trained
steeds, clown and pony; a sonorous.
voiced orchestrion; then lot of camels
and dromedaries harnessed to vehicles and
Roman chariots; then pair Of zebras-
animals of quite different stripe; more
wagons; two ladies. each driving four
fiery horses ABREAST more l'ghly o. IA
mented wagons, with Zulus and other
things of that kind sitting on them; Shet-
land ponies that made the little g Ii
scream with delight; eight Shetland ponies
c~agging chariot representing Santa
Claus and his team of reindeers; eight
horse gilt chariot representing the old
woman who lived in shoe; gift peacock
chariot; hippopotamus in large cage seals
in cage; sea lions In a cage; polar besrs
rhinoceros; more Zulus and some Tndi
and, and negroes in gilt cha,iots and
drawn by harnessed elephants-about
twenty in all; lots of other things, closing
with grand calliope So far as Can BIZ
ascertained no serious accidents occurred
during the parade, the circus employees
being united in their efforts to protect thu
pu bile.
The afternoon performance commenced
| at 2 o'clock. In the center of the TEN
is on elevated stage. and on each side Of
it large ring. Performances are giveI
in both rings and on the stage at thu
same time. 1t is little confusing, ant
not as satisfactory as when the attention
of the spectator is not divided, but witt
so many attractions as Barnum has il
would be impossible to give the show il
any other way. The entertainment begaI
with the usual pageant and entree, but Oh
an unusually extensive scale. In th'
smaller rings the csvalcades of knight,
and ladies executed their graceful move
mputs while around the Jarua hinnod rom.