The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-20

nizcd and admitted, fully us much by
rivals rs by admirers. There mover
was a more forcible demonstration Of
It's hold on the public than was at.
iordcd hero yesterday. Any ordinary
show might as we'll have taken down
Its tents and ''mosicd on" to the next
town in the face OF such a day. Every
thing from tho signal flag over %SchneIf's
drugstore to tho feeling OF the atmos-
p,here prophesied u storm. More than
that, the storm came. II It had not
threatened or had not came, it is hard
TO conjecture what tho managers would
have dono with the crowd, for rs it was,
the huge tent, by far the biggest ever
put up in Wheeling, was packed in the
afternoon and we'll filled at night.
This visit OF tho Barnuni- Bailey ag-
grcGation marked a now era in Wheel
Ing. It was the first show to pitch its
tents OIL tho State fair grounds, and the
iull tent was for the first time put up
here. Heretofore this has not been
possible, owing to tho lack Of room. It
was stated that there were 10000 people
under the canvas in the afternoon, and
about 1000 last night. 1t was tho first
circus since tho now bridges we're
built, and brought another innovation,
unloading and loading at Etnaville,
and the parade coming over tho new
steel bridge.
There were more people in town than
usual. The fact is, Wheeling is n better
show town than eyer before. The ex-
tension of the electric railway. the COM
pletion OF the Terminal system and the
entrance Of the Wheeling & Lake Eric
into tho city make it possible toincrease
former crowds at least fifty per cent, be-
side which the city has grown so as to
make q %perccptible addition to the
ranks ofscircus patrons. II there is any
attraction in the world which would
develop all these new means OF reach
ing Wheeling and put them to the test
to carry the people into town, it is the
Barnum & Bailey shows.
About the time the main tent began
10 fill up yesterday afternoon the storm,
which had been giving specimens OF its
ability all day, concluded a permanent
engagement, and began to blow. The
tent swelled up and then rose in the
air, tapped about 4 littlo and settled
back. The heavy poles were jerked
around like jack straws, and the stakes,
driven five feet in the earth, we're pulled
out and sent sailing skyward.
Marvellous as it may seem, nobody
was gravely hurt, and in ten minutes
the tent was back in place and the
crowd, with an addition OF outsiders
who watched their chance and sneaked
under the flying canvass, was enjoying
the performance as if nothing had hap
pened. Last night all the bad effects
noted were q few rents in the canvass,
and the ground rent would cover all
those.
AS to the performance, it is the most
novel and the best ever seen. 1t is too
]stupendous 10 be thoroughly enjoyed.
One sits in 4 daze while it lasts, and
after it is over it is like 4 confused
dream, but a beautiful dream.
The Columbus spectacle deserves ali
the words Of praise that have been
spoken Of it. Though it had to given
without the scenery, it was great. All
the horses arc the best, all the per.
formers ahead of any seen here before.
Among the novelties aresthe wonder.
full Arabs, the new aerial acts. perform
ing cats and performing sheep. The
cats alone are 4 show worthy tho pat.
ronagc OF thousands. In short, ten
good big shows could be made up OF
| the features seen in the five big rings.
At times eight performances went on,
all rarely meritorious.
Mr.. Bailey has eclipsed everything
the amusement world ever saw before.
| What will he do next?