Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-11-07
FAMOUS IN HIS LINE.


Charles Jamraeh. Who Was Noted for
His wild Beasts and CuriOsities.
Charles Jamrach was hardly less gen
orally known in the world of showmen
than Barnum himself He had collect
ed in his London shop for nearly fifty
wears wild birds and beasts from all
parts Of the globe and had distributed
them among the geological gardens and
travelling menageries Of every civilized
country. His place of business in Rat
cliff highway. East London, was the
Mecca of sailors from the South seas,
who found there ready sale for any
curious fowl, reptile or savage brute
that he had taken in the tropics.
Jamrach was omnivorous. A rattle
snake or an elephant, a monkey or a
tiger, a parrot OF a panther, was alike
welcome at his door. He would buy
a polar bear as readily as ne would buy
a spring chicken, for he was wealthy,
always had large supply of money az
hand. and had such widespread rela-
tons with the animal dealers of the
world that he was sure in due time to
find a market for every rare specimen
He had, moreover, establishments in
Antwerp and Hamburg, and to keep
all three places well stocked he was
obliged to buy freely.
The power of Jamrach in the captive
animal world was well illustrated IN
1865. when Barnum's menagerie was
DESTROYED. He received most of the
orders to duplicate the lost animals,
and in a remarkably short period had
landed in London by his numerous
agents the collection of wild beasts
which Barnum subsequently exhibited
In the biggest show on earth"
: As befltted a man named Jamrach
, in an English city, the curious old man
, of Ratcliff highway was something OF
! universal genius. Late in his life he
: did not confine himself to collecting
J animals, but opened his shop to all
? sorts of curios. Porcelain from China,
D carvings from Japan, weapons from
0 the South seas, cloths from Asia MI
8 nor and ornaments from the DARK
o Continent were gathered by him with
q careful choice. yet in large quantities
o ANYBODY in London who wished some
% thing odd went 10 Jamrach's, and few
% persons left the shop empty handed
4 Despite its many attractions for tn
< curious. il is remarkable that wealth
and fashion found its way to Jainrachl
, place. for the shop was not free iron
: dangers and was in a very disreputabh
= neiehborhood. The wild beasts o
> Jungle and plain were only ia tempo
" rary cages and had not yet been brokel
~ bv confinement Accidents were frt
% ouent. and Jamrach, who never fel
NJ fear. had many life and death combat
DO in his dingy place. Once a leopar
25 burst its bars while some twenty ehi
50 dren stood before the cage. Jamrac
Is sprang forward with a switch in hi
so hand. and by little whipping and pur
"a audacity drove the beast back 70 4
so place
Al The last of JaInraeh's seventy-sl
20 years were not his best from the trade
AZ mans point of view. The decline
~ country fairs with their uavelir
10 shows and the abating Of the fancy L
% net parrots and monkeys and importe
oO cats and dogs reduced the activity
% his business notably, and Jamrach
% ten mourned for the days when
60 could afford losses through illness an
other causes TO the extent of SIS, 900
more annually Still Jamrach new
n. complained bitterly, and died as
re. had lived, at peace with the world
A. Nav York SIM