The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-07-10
FOREPAUGH'S SHOW.
An Immense Organization Giving a
Magnificent Free Pageant and
Splendid Show.

Splendid Show.
Tuesday was circus day in Mankato,
and typical one in most respects.
One Of the largest crowds ever gath
cred in the city began to pour through
the avenues leading from the country
at an early hour, and by s O'clock
Front street had the usual afternoon
appearance. People came in by hun
dreds from everywhere within radi-
us of forty miles, while each train
bore its heavy load of human freight,
until the streets were lined with
thousands Of people. The day was
unusually cool, and the country lasses
did not as a general thing disport
their white dresses and red ribbons.
The four circus trains Of fifty cars
arrived over the Omaha road at about
o'clock in the morning, and the work
of unloading and transporting the
contents of these trains to the circus
grounds in West Mankato began. The
vast amount of material was hauled
down Front street and attracted al
most as much attention as the parade
later on. Scores of men and several
hundred horses were kept busy for
three hours at this work. The horses
and mules are of a high grade, and re-
fleet credit upon the management.
20; >
o'clock in the afternoon, and was at
tended by crowd estimated at from
5000 to 10000 people. The streets
were as deserted during the perform
ance as they had been crowded during
the parade.
The police were vigilent, and so far
as heard no cases Of picking pockets
or robbery have been committed, al
though a great many tough looking
characters are in the city. Messrs.
John Williams, E. r. Kennedy, Chen
oworth, Call and Klughutz were
sworn on as extra police.
The city officials refused to grant
licenses to any fakirs, and as the show
refuses them permission an the
ground they were pretty effectually
frozen out. This was one of the best
features of the day.
The street cars did a big business,
six cars being operated. Every other
conveyance was eagerly sought after
in the afternoon.
The rain Monday did not diminish
the crowd, for the farmers could not
work at anything else SO they came in.
The heavy rain storm at St. Paul
Monday, and the bad condition of
soil at the circus ground, caused
a delay in the departure of the eXhi-
bition to this city. The trains were
late in arriving, the last section not
reaching here until nearly 9 o'clock.
1t was close upon the hour Of noon
before the street parade left the show
grounds. For several hours the crowds
that lined the streets waited patient
ly. While many of the Characters
tics OF the usual circus parade were
present that given by the Forepaugh
Shows has the advantage of giving
more than the usual amount of salts
faction. This is due in great meas
ure to the many varied features that
are presented free of charge. The
martial music of the Quaker City
Drum Corps sets the hearts of many
old veterans beating faster. Music
by several bands and a caliope that
was made to shrek forth recognizable
music enlivened the long and extern
slye procession. Finely matched
teams of twelve, ten, eight and four
horses all in fine condition showed
that the management believes in pre-
senting the best obtainable. The
cages, vans and chariots were decora-
ted with golden emblems, while flut-
tering flags of all nations waved from
every available place. Costumes that
were rich in quality and correctly de-
signed were blended in harmonious
colors. Several open cages showed
the great strength of the Forepaugh
Menagerie. There were open dens of
lions, tigers, panthers, leOpards. bears
and hyenaes. Even the polar bear
was shown to the spectators. In many
of the wild beast dens sat the trainers. |
objects Of admiration and awe to
every small boy. Elephants and cam
els, ponies and mules added to the |
interest Of the pageant. The glitter
ing barge OF Cleopatra, the Goddess of |
Liberty, Santa Claus and the dragon |
chariot wherein were to be seen genu- |
Inc children OF the Orient, attracted |
much attention.
Capt. Bogardus and his sons, all IA
nous and expert shots, headed the
Wild West" portion. There was the
overland mail coach, Indians with
their squaWs and pappCoses, scouts
and cowboys, Mexicans and trappers.
FolloWlng the parade back to the
show ground an excellent free exhibit
ton was offered to the public.
Ihe wonderful trained lions exhibit
ted by Col. Boone and Miss Carlotta
IN steel cage forty feet in diameter.
The graceful and daring mid-air act