The sun., 1889-12-22
THE OLDEST BAREBACKER.
E1roN STONE, ONCE THE sBNshz1oN
OF ENGLAND AND AMERICA,

New over 20 Years old and LivinR Cuietly
IN New JerSsy-Bushels or Medals nnd
Other vaIuable Testinonials-Slusen VIE
toria and All the EnGIlsh NotabIcs Used
10 Thrill when They Saw His Ride
his Aaventures with Indiaas.
"over three score and ton. my boy, and
I'm the oldest American bareback trick rider
alive" said Uncle Eaton Stone. Ny friend
Bsrnum told me before he sailed for England
that was the oldest In the world. Nearly all
the old stars OF the ring are dead, but I'm quito
spry yet Como out to my place at Nutley-the
orettleat apot in New Jersey--and I'll tell you
enough about circus life to hll big book. I'll
rive you sip OF 1905 whiskey, too"
Tremulous billows Of mist were rolling up
the wooded sides OF New Jersey hills when the
old showman's invitation was accepted.
At the pretty Franklin station q rusty side
track ran from the main track up tho
bank and developed into several lines
Of rusty rails. which extended to a unique
frame structure built In the shape of a circus
tent and TO a stone quarry beyond It. Eaton
stones house, framed in by white fences and
Tbitewashed stones was seen amid trees
nearly q dozen yards from the country road.
The house Is o two-story and attic Frame
painted whito. with q double piazza In front,
and at a corner OF the lower piazza q mag.
niHcent English mastlfl stood beside kennel.
Eaton Stone was seated near the dog. Beside
the old Snowman was his niece. a daughter OF
Den Stone. formerly Of Stone & Murray's
circus, who keeps hotel In neighboring
hamlet. Uncle Stone was disappointed be-
cause his visitor would not drink his 1795
vhiskey. But he chatted freely about himself
and other circus people.
He was born In Burlington. Vt, early in 1s1s
His father was q lawyer and his mother was a
EaN4 ,x1f
Mr. Stone is feet 8 inches tall weighs 1874
pounds has q well:kn frame and deep-set
blue eys bsa 9se aGa nals oeoW shs BALD
narrow chin and o pointed nose, thin lips, and
a tawny complexion. His health is good but
fury ago be interested many thousands OF
children and adults In this country Afterward
petted by the mobility. .aad returned to Hmeri-
ca with gold medals, silver plate. and testimo-
n.s p,ssePtSd y English y M s If,sG, Snd Scotch
him medals and testimonials. He received
more Of these than any m an that ever appeared
home. but the most valuable, ones are deposit
cd in New York bank, and he holds receipts
for So he retired
franklin, whore he bought eighteen acres of
land. There he ran training quarters for cir
Is no picture OF Mr.. Stone In existence, but II.
Stevenson young 9; man ma, in IN charge Of his quar-
-" / read in the paper few months ago." Mr..
Stone said. that Barney Carroll. who died at
West Chester village, was the Oldest bareback
however. in calling him splendid general cir
Gus performer and also one OF the oldest vet
Specialty R wi was tumbins and yauItinS, % and he
also rode with pad on the horse Later he
him him Job at Mobile in circus. Few men e oxo
celled him as o general performer whom he was
In his prime pFi But he vas not % crack bareback
was the first bareback rider in this country.
Charley LIE Forrest was the second. Hunter
bacGs piece oi carpet his horse unt
the third bareback rider and ] was the
pad and fancy riders. Now ri let you into a
secret Of bareback riding. Powdered rosin
had their stockings well rosined. too, and they
do It now. Slippers with soft pebble rubber
Ss 1as ss e ike
bareback wSs made IN the klchmond I'M
York, In 1888. Six months later ! was al
lowed to do the last act at every. performance,
sa1nins horses money Gould bay made n them
60 sIssd and did tricks NO
but e Il not. Il Would Be Better for riders to
hsye fast horses. because It is easy TO keep,
old" he said, and Joined Buckley & Wieks's
sa%s T hs 5 B ss0SS %aoHs seH
them tgmblers. vaulters, and and Glow clowns; ; but no
perhaps. and $50 was big house. No perform:
ances were given at night, for the troupes had
on horseback to tack up posters. engage board
at taverns. and hire the commons or public
to exhibit tSe S 9 whS ss% ks
q village. and the clown told at the commons
the hour the performance would begin. But
tony one. There were forty horses. eight wae-
ons. thirty-fye people. and the tent, which was
y 800 people. None Of the wagons had springs
One man went ahead and tackled posters on
trees fonees and and barns rs s Our poster ,S was the
was cut OF John Vail. the American Sam
SON. bending backward and holding three an
one On bis chest He me never WI was Ii SURPASSED In
herculean acts, Afterward we had a poster
with the horse picture IN the centre %an That
considered big thing. Sylvester Spencer was
sS ncS SsdS1E J0an
female rider. There were only two others in
then and M used broad on
poPormer @ 'Ts and S clown. uIh Thefe We We're no me-
naGeries. All the riders had to groom their
own horses. but the company took care OF Miss
orchestra a--such as It was-put up and took
down the tent. Riders. male and female. wore
tights Nelson Howes introduced tights at
did not arrive. and he appeared In the ring |
his white drawers. That brought |
tights into fashion. Tom Nathan. one Of the
clowns in our circus. sang Longtniled Blues
and Old Jim Crow which were the popular
melodies. The clown was the big man OF the |
circus until trick bareback riding led every
thing, else. learned to- spin the plate and
tumble. and had to do all kinds Of chores"
i, After one year In the circus Stone was taken |
homo by his father. But he soon ran away |
again. Joining Purdy. Welch & Co.'S CIRCUS and
menaRerie one of the largest on the road. This |
troupe claimed the honor OF being the first to |
on parade. Young stone spun the plato. AT |
somc places the ropghs used TO beat the circus
mon. Tho latter did not have then the rallyinR |
used in the South and West when attacked In
q town. Stone wanted to learn bareback riding. |
One morning old Bill Brown. the ring
Mr.. Stone said. brought out Buck
skin. the horse H9wes rode and let me ride. l
one morning and said had better stick to
plate spinning. But after, bit I had lessons
would 30 great rider: n six moEths I was
yard ! made trip to Canada. returned S to
New York in 1885, AID then crossed the noun
tainB to Cincinnati by stage and natD0at. i