Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-23
MANAGING A CIRCUS.
How the Big Mushroom Cities Are
Built and Torn Down in a Day.
ALARGE FORCE OF MEN REQUIRED,
Rings Made, Tents Put Up and Seats Ar
ranged in Very Quick Time.
SCENES AND INCIDENT OF THE WORK

Few people have any idea of the execu-
tive ability required to place show OF such
magnitude as Barnum's on the road, or
carry it from town to town, and exhibit
with a precision as to time and detail
which many a General in the field might
envy.
Yesterday morning, at o'clock, the hrst
section of the equipment train OF Barnum'
show, which will exhibit in Allegheny, con-
sisting of the baggage and horse cars, and
three coaches OF the working people and
those of the cuisine, was hauled in, and the
rnrk of Decentralization begun. To accom-
plish this is in the department of the Master
of TRANSFORMATION, whose duty it is to see to
the unloading and loading of the entire
equipment, and take general charge of the
rolling stock.
The horses are gotten out, yoked in their
respective wagons, now loaded with divers
freight, and they move forward to the
ground, already occupied by the man in
charge of the tents, and his cohort of 12O
assistants, to whom the material is delivered,
and the erection of thetents begun. Stimuli
taneously with the arrival of the foremost
wagons, enter on the scene the chiefs OF the
culinary department, who straightway erect
their gypsy like cooking apparatus and
have breakfast prepared for the energetic
workers in very short order.
THE ANIMALS COME NEXT.
Next in order appear the superintendent
of animals with his charges, the trainer in
charge of the elephants, with his 13 assist
ants. another man in care of the properties
and his Is men, and in an incredibly short
time the whole of the vast show is assembled,
tents erected and everything ship-shape and
in apple-pie order.
When a representative of this paper Wis
tied those Gardens of Elysium in Allie
ghenv on which the name OF Exposition Park
has been bestowed, it was to find the exten-
sive area taken possession OF by strangers,
huge tents erected on the ground and peo-
pie not of local reputation passing through
and fro. Passing within the barriers, the
old wooden pavilion, formerly used as a
restaurant, was seen to have undergone a
transformation. Scores of walters were
busting about preparing the long rows of
tables :or the midday meal. Outside, in
wagon, were the cooking ranges in full
swing, and at table nearby was a confec-
tioner, in white cap and apron, operating on
chicken patties. This department is con-
tracted for by Mr.. Robbins. and it is a
feature OF the management that the meals
are as good as could be wished. The cater
ing, though independent of the show, is still
dependent on it. Mr.. Robbins provides all
needful help, as for instance a corps of 90
walters, half dozen cooks, etc., and the
meals are charged for at a uniform price of
% cents TO everyone, which he is paid by
the management every day on presentation
OF the coupons. The contractor has ALWAYS
a man in advance to arrange for the provis-
ioning, and some idea OF the amount re-
quired to feed the host of circus people
when it is stated that OF meat alone 1900
pounds are consumed daily.
THE CLANG OF HAMMERS.
In the big top or circus tent preparation
was being made for TODAY. On one hand
were gangs of men singing heavy hammers
with a rat, tat, tat, tat, which quickly sent
the long pegs to the level of the ground, and
Oh the other CHEEKY workers were putting
up the seating accommodation. In the
center a ploughman and his team were
turning up the clay for the formation of one
of the rings, and with saiIor-like agility, at
the top of the poles, were painters engaged in
putting on fresh paint, indicating that not
even the smallest details were overlooked in
the production of the show.
Next in order came the 'Illusion Tent"
of black canvas, where wooden platform
had already been put down, and the dark
hoodooic looking cabinets placed in
position. The young elephant, "Mary"
reared in Africa and trained in Germany,
who does some wonderful tricks with a
veloeipede, was swaying her small body
from side to side, and no doubt Illuminating
on the mutability of human affairs, which
made her a, queen of the forest In her in
fancy, and in her budding woman
hood a thing of sport and pastime.
In corner were some 20 Algerians
arrayed in the unassuming raiment of
their country, with ashawaShee, or head
covering, bernouS pantaloOus, bontines and
clintures. A very quiet and selfcon-
tained lot of people these, who, though now
performing for the edifcation of the null
titude, were, and for that matter are still,
many of them, sheiks in their own country.
Deeply resentful are they of the manner in
which they have been guyed while on their
travels, and it speaks well for their self-con-
troll that they do not retaliate in the man
ner, as a chief informed the writer, he would
in Algeria, by using the knife.
CAN'T TALK UNITED STATES.
Though some of them have been for over
year in America they have not succeeded
in acquiring United States, and are able to
converse only in French, in which they are
all proficient, and in Arabic. All of these
men are desert Arabs, and own Constantine,
in Algeria, as their dwelling place.
Passing over to the horse tent. wherein
315 equines found frst-class entertainment
a glimpse of lie, as passed with the en-.
campment, was seen. Here was a man. ar
once jockey and barber, officiating at 10
cents per shave. which he mostly never re-
ceived, he declared, and whose sign was ex-
hibited on piece of paper stuck into his
hat, and bearing the legend, "Pay to-day;
trust tomorrow" Another was writing
perhaps to his best girl, small board do
ing duty as desk, and pile of hay a
chair and lounge combined, and sundry
others were passing the time with cbeap
literature or papers, These had gotten
through their work, for others were still en-
gagged in watering and feeding horses and
cleaning up the harness.
Over in the dressing tent the pronertv
man was met with. He pointed ont how
each performers box was arranged ALWAYS
IN the same order, so that the moment man
or lady entered their respective quarters
they knew at once where to find their par
ticular trunk. Here also barber was Off
ciating None OF the performers were
visible, as they are quartered in hotels. The
men retire to the cars at night to sleep. leay-
ing some dozen of their number on duty as
watchmen.
Mr.. R. Hamilton, the courteous press
agent of the combination, explained the
different features of the show to the renre-