The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-24

si5O.OOO in the outfit. which was en- a
scale OF grandeur never heard Of before.
We started with wagons as before.
conceived the idea OF missing the psople
in the big towns ard travelling by rail-
road. The project was not regarded as
feasible for some tine by Mr. Barnum,
but he finally consented 10 Try il ana we
started. Il was q success and the people
hocked 10 the large towns To see as for a
hundred miles around. And 1 want 70
say that Il was 20 the circus that % great
extent the big towns We're developed as
rapidly as they were. People came from
the country. became infatuated and then
refused 10 go back II the o-cary mo-
nOtony Of country life.
First Circus Train.
I'VE uscd common fat cars and then
l wanted a regular circus train with cars
fitted out to load the wagons easily. / or
dored John l. Gill Of Columbus. o. to
build me a train after my own designs
and the next season we started out IN
good shape. The first time show was
ever loaded on railroad train IN THIS
country was al New Brunswick, y. j.,
and 10000 stood around for two days 10
see the great feat accomplished. II was
a big undertaking in those days.
1--WE had first Two rings with the show
in Barnum's name. / was the manager.
Barnum and ! We're together for six years
and then l again went out Of the circus
business.
I'm 1873 1 built the first Madison square
garden in New York and when Il was
opened I gave the Congress Of Nations
for which the costumes cost me $4,000 and
in which we used 1,5O0 people, with char
lot races and al the Roman games. ran
this for four years and then conceived the
idea OF building an aquarium / went 70
Europe and studied with this in view, ana
upon my return wen. into partnership with
Henry Reiche. WIN imported every ami
ma, shown in this country until few
years ago and who has made millions out
OF the business.
1--WE put 100000 into the aquarium and
the Coney island place. and brought the
first white whale 20 this country. Upon
the opening OF the great aquarium we gave
q grand banquet, which was attended by
such men as AgassZ. Huxley and other
noted scientists. and the m-,nu consisted Of
fish from every body OF water on the
globe For that / was elected an honorary
member Of the United States fish commits
sion. which membership / still hold.
THE aquarium was agreat success, and
then came the subject Of opening X on
Sunday. which raised a bitter fight among
the clergy of the city. Reiche wanted il
open on Sunday and l opposed H. We
couldn't agree, and one day l said % him
that one Of rs ought 20 quiz. He thought
how we would settle Il. ] said Let's
flip a penny: the one who wins gets the
who.e thing and tho other gets out'
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Wager.
II had every dollar I had in the world
invested in the aquarium and so had he.
II meant poverty 70 one. He turned a lit
tie pale. thought q moment. and then
said: All right
Il took a copper cent from my pocket.
told him 10 call Il while IN the air and the
first toss would decide g..
Il tossed Il up and he called: Heads
IL fell and spun around and around for
a moment while we stopped over f..
There were JUST 100000 at stake Ii was
a moment of anxiety. There was not a
witness present. but we knew each other
and there was no need OF a witness
Finally the penny began settling and
/ saw that / had lost. The head was on
top. Before II had ceased its settling /
picked Il up. told Reiche he had won and
walked out. Here is the penny. / have
carried Il with me ever since.
The Last Catastrophe.
Il was penniless and stayed around
New York for several months IN an aim
less way, when one day a man came along
with some educated horses. borrowed
some money, bought them and started
out. / had made q coach that eos, me
and called upon Mr. Hayes and he at
tended the show. ! made money with the
horses and two years later had $4,000
scraped together / then put $500 900 IN
Coup's great show. which was the finest
show properly ever collected together. 1
got my animals from al parts OF the
world and offered Barnum $4,000 year
TO manage the snow, which he refused.
/ went 10 Texas with the show, lost $780,
600 there one season. and then came my
wreck at Cairo. H.. on the Wabash.
Eighty horses were killed, thirty people
We're crushed and burned to death and
two trains burned. 1t was a complete
wreck, caused by the carelessness of the
railroad company. / got together what
was left of the fragments and went 10
Detroit. There the merchants offered to
raise $4,000 ard start me out. but 1 re-
fused. Later. attachments came upon the
heels OF my reverses and the little that
was left of the property was sold.
Il sued the Wabash for 100000. got a
verdict for $4,000, but never got cent
Of the money. l was ruined again and
went out of the business. l have my
horses now and can make a living. /
have been offered big money TO g back
into the circus business, but have always
refused and will never go back Ny fam
lily are opposed TO It and they are ali I
awe left"