Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-05-25
PUTTING UP A TENT.
SYSTtM WITH WHICH EACH PART
MOVES TO ITS PLACE.

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Celebrity Only Possible With Trained Mon.
Every One Knows His business, and All
Goes Like ClocLwork.
So skilled Is the chief canvasman Of a
big circus that when he arrives on tho
ground where the fonts are to be pitched
he can tell at n glance just how to dispose
of them. 1t is the usual practice TO put up
the menageric and horse tents first. This is
generally done before breakfast whenever
possible, and then after short rest all
hands turn in, and with a rush up goes tho
main tent. The chief canvasman of the
biggest circus in this country Is William
Kelley. When he determines upon the To-
cation of the tent, he sends for lot Of men
with iron pins, To some of which are at
tachcd pieces of blue flannel and to others
pieces of red flannel Kelley takes long
tape line out of his pocket and fixes the
position of his first pole by red pin.
Then he measures off the required distance
for the second pole, and then for the 9TH
ers, until the places for all five poles Of the
main tent are fixed.
Next Kelley goes to the end poles, and
with a tape swings half circle beyond
each At regular intervals Of about dozen
feet he orders blue pin stuck in the
ground until both ends Of the tent plan
are marked. Having disposed of each end
Of the plan, he quickly passes down the
straight sides, and at the required places
has pins placed for each stake to which
the guy ropes are TO be attached and in a
few minutes the whole place is thus staked
off. All the measurements are in Kelley's
memory whether the tent be big or little.
Then comes probably the most interest
ing part of putting up the tent. Stalwart
men have been unloading stout hickory
stakes from the three stake wagons, and
these are distributed in wheelbarrows over
the grounds. The sledgc gangs then seize
their tools. There are eight men in gang
and nine gangs TO do the work. One man
in each gang plunges crowbar into the
ground and makes a preparatory hole for
the stake. The head sledgeman drives the
stake in with one or two smart blows, and
the other six gather about in a circle.
Then all lift their sledgcs, and each In turn
gives the stake a slight tap, and thus they
catch the swing The next turn around
the blow falls harder, and by the time the
third blow is struck the whirling sledges
rain down on the stake with O speed al
most as fast as one can count. One sledgo
no sooner strikes a stake and slips away
than another takes its place. AS they go
whirling in the air the effect is like the
arms Of a windmill in q brisk breeze, and
the sound Of the blows is like the rattle of
musketry. When nine gangs are at work
at once, the sight is confusing, and one
wonders that the mon don't knock each
other heads off.
The stake itself goes plunging down in
to the turf in n series of quick jumps. One
can see it jump, but 1t never has n rest.
On the average il takes about 80 seconds
to drive each stake home and in few
minutes the whole $50 stakes required for
the main tent are in the ground. Opposite
each main pole extra stakes are driven,
and then the ground is cleared. The work
men carry in on their shoulders the five 80
foot poles and place them near their prop
er locations. Then % quarter poles, each
81 feet long, are carried in and arranged
in line, with their upper ends fronting out
ward. Then "a shorter quarter poles are
brought in and arranged In the same way,
but farther away from the main poles. 1t
requires lot of unloading, but the wag-
ons have been driven to places within easy
reach, and every economy in space and
time is studied.
Two short stakes are then driven at the
foot OF each main pole for bearers, against
which il is TO rise, and with ropes attached
each big pole is pulled to perpendicular
aud made fast. a wood or iron ring has
been slipped over the foot of the pole be-
fore it is drawn TO the upright position.
The ground now seems a confused mass
Of poles and stakes. Kelley goes the round,
and then "a raid is made on the three can
vas wagons Six or eight men carry on
tbaiv ehtn1darG 1iy roll and hN,i fe
pearance Kelley or one of his assistants
knows exactly where il belongs. The men
stagger along until they hear the words,
Drop it, i" and then il falls to the ground
y dozen or 10 men seize it, unfold il and
shake it out. The two curving end pieces
are Strengthened out, and then the four
pieces that cross from one side TO the other
are brought out and placed on the ground.
The poles always protrudc through the tent
where two sections join, The tent being
laid out on the ground, the pieces are joined
to the hoods about the standing poles, and
then the sections are laced together by a
series Of short loops that link one into the
other Half n dozen men gather under the
canvas at each pole TO do the pulling, and
the rest of the Irer r'iI TO the edge Of the
tent. They race around and shove 100
small side poles about ID feet tall under
the edge of the tent and slip their tops in
the holes made for them. These are the
little poles at the very edge of the tent.
At signal the men raise the edge of the
tent and bring these little poles to perpen-
dicular. The tent now looks like nm enor-
nous flaftened white hat with rim turned
up In n little farther the men dive, and
soon they begin 20 push the quarter poles
to an upward position. The men at the
main poles pull up, and slowly the tent be-
gins to assume shape.
Teams of horses are soon brought into
requisition, and they pull the bases Of the
quarter poles 10 their place. The guy ropes
which reach from the edge of the tent 60
the stakes tighten, and soon the big tent is
taut and firm. The ropes that held the
poles firm while che tent was being pulled
up are slacke he'd and the canvas sways as
it feels the ne1ibility in the ropes. More
canvas is brought out, and the side walls"
are put on, the workmen using ladders TO
fasten them at the top. The tent is now
practically complete, 1t Is $50 feet long
and 100 feet wide, and it Is ready for the
seats. These arc rushed in section by sec
ton, and in twinkling the place seems
a -. H. a..