The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-07
CIRCUS WINTER QUARTERS.
an Interesting Conversation With One Of
Rincling Brothers Agents.

NJ. B. Raymond, one of the army of
agents of Ringing Bros cirrus, arrived in
the city yesterday for few days stay n
the interest of what he calls 'the Worlds
Greatest Shows
The elmer runnings'' of circus are
ever more curious to an outsider than Is
the part that so many thousands of people
yearly pay to see, and in the run of general
conversation when the Ringing Bros
winter quarters was incidentally mention
ed the EAGLE reporter made it point to
question very cit sely how they looked and
were conducted. In the first place, said
he, allow me to assure you that Ringing
Bros. have the largest, most complete
and thoroughly equipped winter quarters
in the world. During the six months idle
ness Of the shows, in the colder months,
these quarters are filled with scores OF
people, both men and women who are con-
stantly preparing for the next season.
Everything used for exhibition purposes
must be new each year, all woodwork OF
any kind must receive new coat OF var
nish and paint, hundreds of books, of that
expensive article gold leaf is used in the
most lavish manner. Why do you know
that, with but two exceptions, there IS not
a cage, den or tableaux car in the parade
this year that cost less than 81. 500 each and
there are three that touched 81 200 apiece.
A snug little fortune you see in wagons
alone to say nothing of the expense OF OBJ
tanning the animals and curlOsitles
that they contain. When the shows
go into winter quarters in October, a sep
arate den Or apartment is provided for
each animal and the cat species must have
cages with mother earth floors. The ele-
plants, of course, require more room than
anything else, for while each one must
have ample room for exercise they must
all be kept apart to prevent their lighting.
By the way, did you ever hear OF the eie-
plant fight at Ringing Bros winter
quarters last winter. No? Well. l can
assure you it made IA fellows hair stand
on end. Four of the ponderous brutes
had been turned into the elephant bath
CORRAL together. and what began as play
among them turned into one of the most
terrific fights ever witnessed by man. There
were two male and two female elephants
in the party, and as is too often the case
the row started over jealousy. Male
fought male and female likewise. 1t was
fully two hours before they could be sepa-
rated. OF course the hot irons were used
freely, as irons heated IA glowing red are
the only thing that an elephant fears, and
can assure you that there was consider |
able sizzling of live flesh that afternoon. |
Luckily there was but one man hurt. Our |
assistant boss animal man, Mark Monroe.
received gouge from Zebs tusk that it |
took him mouths to get over, and he never |
will out.grow the ugly scar that you will |
notice on his face if you watch for him on |
circus day
''The winter quarters are constructed OF |
brick and the twenty-five buildings are |
all enclosed by an extremely high fence.
BY asking at the office you are provided |
with pass and guide (oh yes it is free |
to alp and ii you are fortunate enough to |
attend on visitors day you have treat |
that can be obtained no where else. A Wis
it to the ring barn and training quarters.
Every other day for hours at time, yon
can fird riders here prdcticing new feats
OF horsemanship, each trying to excel his
neighbor. but you know not all of us eau |
be the best one. But there, really you
mnst excuse me, have an appointment |
at 3 O'Clock and Pm ten minutes late now.
I'll see you later. No the Ringing Bros
shows never divide" And he was gone.