The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-08-12
THE GREAT AND ONLY.
Il. T. Barnum's Day in Rock Island
some Features of the Renowned


Show.
At $50 this morning the first of three
sections of a special train conta lining the
combined shows of the worlds greatest
Snowman P. T. Barnum and the great
London circus, rolled unto the c., B. & Q.
depot from Gslesburg. The cars were
quickly and systematically unloaded and
the two other sections followed as fast as
the preceding one had been unloaded.
There were forty,eight cars in the train,
the last section being also composed OF the
palace coaches containing the managers
and the leading performers of the great
show. BY O'Clock the vast aggrega
ton of wonders and curiosities, aquatic
skill and talent was quartered in the
mammoth tents in Bailey Davenport
pasture. As result of the visit OF the
worlds greatest show, it has been
festival day in the city, 1t IS an
event to which all Rock Island has
looked forward since the announcement
in the ARGUS last spring that Barnum had
contracted with the c., B. Il Q railroad
to transport his shows to this city. AS
soon as the sun was up this morning.
country wagons began pouring into the
city, bringing the honest tiller of the soil
and his industrious wife; the likely lad
and blooming lassie; all for the purpose
of giving the distinguished visitor a
grand ovation The railroad trains all
brought in additional coaches to accom-
modate the multitude of visitors. A
special train of nine coaches came down
from Sterling at 10 O'Clock, aad the en-
cursionists were conveyed to the
government works this morning, aud at
tended the show this afternoon.
Market square presented the appear
ance of fair ground 1t had been taxi
en- possession of by lemonade and peanut
booths, and other vendors. The streets
were from s O'Clock moving mass of
humanity. Takers were out in full
force, but they did not get in their work
as successfully as is generally the case on
show day The office seeker improved
the opportunity Of interviewing his coun-
try friends and mixing political spices
with the sweets of circus day.
At 10 O'Clock the sidewalks were filed
with gazers, and the windows of all
houses on the line of march presented
nobby spectacle of big aud little, bad
and shaggy. brown, gray and 1axen
heads while the wonderful stree: parade
filed past to the inspiring strains of three
bands. The cage of lions with their
tanner among them, the open cages of
tigers and panthers, the immense herd of
elephants, the uncouth camels, the pretty,
ponies, the old woman in her gilded shoe.
Santa Claus with his team of prancin9
deer-the whole intermingled with the
gay trappings of the drivers and perform
ers combined to present very attractive
parade.
The tents were pitched on the old base
ball grounds, and as soon As the last
wagon passed, the crowd began to follow
the band to the scene of the circus. The
performance began at 2 p. N, witnessed
by over 1900 people, and was a grand
success in all the acts. The overture by
Prot. J. S. Robinson's famous band was
medley Of popular airs arranged by the
celebrated trombonist, William Marsh.
and admirably rendered by him in series
of solos with the band accompaniment
Then followed the grand march, led by
Nelson Hadlev, the drum major, of
Springfield, Iii.
Mention individually of each performs
ance cannot be made, for space would
not allow such an extended notice, al
though the company is of such astonish :
| ing strength and excellence as to make an
extended notice not at all out of place.
| Leopold and Wentworth did a good act
10 parallel and horizontal bar display. and
the feats of balancing of F. Ashton were
marvellous. Madam Adelaide Cardona in
her cqncstrienne performances received
the hearty applause OF the audience.
Mile Z,rah's lofty balancing on the trap
eze showed a degree of nerve culture sell
dom equaIed. Aud the Julians, brother
and sister, gymDasts and contortlonists,
ELECTED the most enthusiastic approba-
| ton. MISS Julian is absolutely without
a rival; her act is the personification OF
grace in human action. The celebrated
Sylvester sisters are of such superb excel
lence that the performances in the rings
were stopped. so the audience could give
the daring somersaults in mid air of these
wonderfully talented young ladies their
individual attention. This precautIon
was thankfully rewarded by bursts OF ap-
plause as feat after feat was successfully
done. The races closed an exhibition
such as Rock Island will never again see,
as Barnum has now hidden our city his
farewell before going for long engage
ment in Europe and the old world.
Tonight this afternoons performance
will be repeated.
| f'auufy building