The Portland daily press., 1893-07-17
THE GREAT SHOW HERE.
Hundreds Watch The Spreading Of
the Canvas on the Deering Grounds

From Biddeford Yesterday Morning
The New Street Parade This Morning
and Performances This Afternoon and
Evening.
The famous Barnum & Bailey show
arrived in Portland yesterday morning
early and went into camp on the old
show grounds in Deering. An hour
later they were covered over with acres
OF canvas, and from hour to hour the
throngs of people, who came to watch
the work were amazed. Wagons were
unloaded, animals led out, tents erected,
show carts hauled out of cars, all with
out confusion and without din. All day
the work went on and all day people
came by the hundreds to see as much of
the wonders of the great menagerie as
possible without-pay
A PRESS reporter was shown over the
grounds yesterday afternoon and it is
safe to say tina. the circus excels all
others in every point 1t is better than
it was last year and that is the best that
could BIO said of it. 1t would not be
possible to tell in a page all that is worth
mentioning. The most interesting
features of the whole show to most
people is the menagerie. This year, in
creased by many features during the
winter months, it is without doubt or
exaggeration the finest that was ever
seen on this continent Very MANY Of
its features ara absolutely unique and in
all its parts it is complete and wonderful.
From the beautifully graceful antelope
to the huge and hideous hippopotamus
nothing is missing in size or specie or
quality. Nowhere is there better col
lection of the widest animals from the
whole world than is now under the great
tent. Time and money have been of no
account in making this the best possible
menagerie, and all who see it in its en-
tirety will admit that nothing has been
forgotten. The greatest wonder of this
gathering of strange and curious animals
is
The Half-Human Gorilla Chiko.
tits in a cage fitted up part way
around with thick glass outside stout
steel bars and there is no possibility of
its escaping now. Nothing at all like
this beast has ever been seen out of the
wilds of Africa. 1t is absolutely the finest
gorilla ever caught alive that lived to
reach civilization. 1t was caught when
but young thing and kept safely and
securely and is now on it's first tour
around this country. When first OBJ
served yesterday afternoon it was lying
on its back with its legs clutching the
bars high upon the end of the cage and
its two arms crossed under its head near
the front of the cage. 1t has fine black
hair all over, except on the upper lin
and chin. Its eyes are large and brown,
and sparkle now with look almost of
intelligence and anon blazing with anger.
Its forehead protrudes in asudden ridge.
and it's nose is decided and pronounced
turnup pug" Its arms are long, as
are its legs, aud the muscles are
developed to degree of strength that is
marvellous. A glance at the almost hui
man beast will do more to advance the
Darwin theory of the origin of man than
all the text books in the land.
AS he lay on the floor of the cage he
amused himself by turning his water
pan inside out and then twisting it
around until it looked more like cable
than pan. This exhibition Of strength
was slight one, but enough. A sight
of this beast alone is worth the admis-
sion, but he is only one of many attrac-
lions.
The Lions
are monsters of wild and fierce beasts,
and one of them, George" has noble
and beautiful head. The largest Bengal
tigers ever seen in America, larger by
six inches, and his family are another
feline wonder.
FoI1r cIlte hahv nanthers and a crn