The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-08-02
In Mexico with a Circus.

We have spent most of the winter in
Mexico, and have had a prosperous
season there, said circus proprietor
70 a representative of the St. Louis
Globe Democrat. We were the second
American circus to enter the republic
by way of Laredo, and there we left
our special cars and transferred our
outht to the Mexican naTTow-gau9e.
Ne had to give $4,000 bonds upon en-
tering the republic, and this money
was refunded when we returned TO the
States. In December we experienced
cold weather. for which the Mexicaus,
and, indeed, the show people. were to-
tally unprepared. | called on the
governor of NUeyo Leon, at Monterey,
ID company with the agent of the Ma
tional railway. The governor lives in
a5 elegantly an appointed house as
there is in the state, but he had not a
stove or fireplace.
The temperature was below the freez-
ing point, and his excellency was a
very miserable man when we saw him.
Ee sat on a thick cushion, with another
in his lap. He wore a hat, an overcoat,
gloves, and even arcticS. Sitting in
this richly-furnished apartment was
cold splendor not to his liking. We
had to put warm blankets on our ele-
phant, Lalla Rookh, to save her life,
and as it was she came near diving.
The conduct of Mexican people at
circus is not 50 demonstrative as we
had been led TO believe. Whenever an
act afforded them particular enjoy
ment, they would call out, Diana!
Diana!" and nothing could be done un-
til the band had played that favorite
tune. The national air is not heard
except the governor be present, or his
special permit has been given, or it is
May D, the national holiday.
There is q law in Mexico that NAV
bring into trouble any show that does
not give every feature on the bills, and
when we were in the republic a short
time a report that we had offended
against the law led TO the printing of
a flaming picture, representing our
show as being stormed by the popu-
lace. This was entirelyunfounded and
gratuitous. We were never molested
in Mexico, except by men cutting the
canvas To look in, and as every MeNi-
can carries arms, we never thought it
prudent to object very strongly. The
police carry sabGIs, revolvers, and car
bines
One dayI saw a pickpocket rob a
woman. A policeman attempted the
fellows arrest bat his sabcr was Wrest-
| ed from him and with his own weapon
he was disemboWeled. Other police
men pursued the murderer. They did
not place him under arrest, but with
| their sabers they hacked him to pieces
before my eyes. There is no appeal
from a magistrates decision unless the
otfense be of the highest grade, and
then an appeal lies to the governor
Occasionally lie may reverse the decis-
ion of the magistrate, but by the time
the edict is received the poor fellow
may have been legally executed. We
were treated with the utmost civility
and attention. The governor of Mon
terey sent us his band TO play ut our
entertainments, and some Of the high
est officials presented my partners wife
with a tri-color sash, hung with gold
pieces of upward of $40 value. The
sash bore the names OF the donors and
the name of the lady.
The regular price Of admission to
the show was 81, but soldiers were adj
mitted for L 1-2 cents each. This
small sum was paid by the officers.
The private soldiers, you know, are all
convicts, and are under guard in times
of peace. In battle, | am told, they
are courageous, and in the main quite
trustworthy. Gambling is universal
accomplishment, and so adept are the
MeNicans at all kinds of games that
some American takers who followed
the show into the republic with thim-
bIerigs and other contrivances could
make no money and returned in dis
gust.