The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-25
THE CIRCUS IN TOWN.
A Peaceful Army Pitches Its
Tents in North Seattle.
JOHN ROBINSoN's PRIVATE CAR.
He Travels Like a Railroad King at the
Head of His People-Parade and
show to Be Given Today.


city's bounds is one not often permitted
IN these piping times of peace" yet it IS
presented on the open grounds at the cor
ner of Poplar and Willow streets where
John Robinsons circus is bivouacked
Yesterday the scene there was one of the
greatest interest. In the morning the long
train of cars. bearing the members and
equipment of the great company pulled in
over the Northern Pacific tracks from
Puyallup and up TO a point due west
OF the circus grounds. Toward
noon the work of establishing the
great camp began. Long lines of wagons
chario and other vehicles came rolling
up from the railroad tracks, with men
Heading strings of horses, ponies and other
animals. Soon large stretches of the great
campus were covered with thousands OF
feet OF canvas. lying in shapeless heaps
that gave little promise of the graceful
folds of the huge tents soon to be erected.
1t being Sunday, with no performance.
there was no great hurry in the prepara-
lions. The throng of workmen took mat
tiers easy and did not settle down to bust
ness until they had made away with
hearty meal. furnished by the camp cooks.
When, however, they did make start it
proceeded. The big hickory stakes to hold
the ropes seemed TO spring up everywhere.
as if by magic, and then, almost in the
twinkllng of an eye, the canvas was
whisked up and there was tent.
OF the whole busy scene there was moth
ing more interesting than the stake driv-
ing. Most of the workers were burly,
good-natured darkeys, whose rows of ivory
81
at their tasks. They swung their sledges
as naturally as if they had been raised
with them in their hands. There were
twelve of them to a stake, and the dex-
terity and precision with which the big
hammers came swinging in one after the
other made the whole seem like ponder
GUS piece of machinery driving a dozen
iron-headed arms with the regularity of
clockwork.
The whole force of this army numbers
between 800 and go. To feed it requires
500 pounds of meat and as much bread
each day, to say nothing of the accom-
panying vegetables and other provisions.
There are go horses, sixty ponies. and
number of other graminivorous animals,
whose daily allowance is 5000 TO 10000
pounds of hay 100 bushels of oats and a
ton of straw. Most of the performers as
we'll as the common workmen take their
meals at the camp.
In this city of canvas there are about
thirty tents of different sizes and shapes.
Chief among them is the main tent, which
is $50 feet long and 300 feet wide. The
menagerie is DO feet long and the dressing
room loo by $50 feet. The armory, where
the paraphernalia for the spectacle of
Solomon Is kept is 100 feet in diameter.
There are eight stable tents of good size
For the eating department there are two
restaurant and two cooking tents for the
performers and the workmen. who eat
each force by itself. Then there is black
smith tent where all the horses are shod
and the wagon tires mended. To transport
these things there are forty cars, the
smallest of which is fifty feet in length,
being a third longer than the average
freight car. For the performers there are
six passenger coaches.
The head of this army is John H. Rob-
inson, the eldest son of 'Old ohm Robin
son." whose name has become q house
hold word all over America With his
family he lives in his own private car in a
style betitting Gould. a Vanderbilt, or
any other railroad king. He has there
apartments fitted up in exquisite taste.
not neglecting paintings, engravings and
rich hangings. There is his porcelain
bath, his sideboard of liqueurs, his ward
robe. He has his chef de cuisine 10 tickle
his epicuresn palate, and his own barber.
Here. too. he keeps his safe with his big
nlastiff, Governor, for a watch dog.
The prominent feature of the show is
the spectacle OF Solomon, representing the
ancient splendor of the Jewish kings
court. Over 500 people appear in this act,
and 100 ballet girls dance before the throne
of solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
There are worn over 500 pieces of nickel
armor, decked with gold and silver, while
the richness of the scene is augmented by
the incense and perfumery from urns and
chalices.
The management of the show has for
years endeavored to cater 10 the comfort
rs we'll as amusement of its patrons. es-
pecially the ladies and children. and uses
every effort 10 provide for them when
they attend the performance without male
escorts. The grounds are reached both hv
the Front street cable and the North Sc
attic electric lines, and there Is a quick
service on both. The main entrance is TO
be on Poplar street, between Willow and
Ash. The doors open at and p. m. and
the performance begins an hour later.
The street parade is 10 start at 10 O'Clock
this morning, and the line of march will
be on Front and Second streets.
A bill is TO BE- introduced in the next Penn.
H.