Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-12-26
STRKED IT ANDLOST.
HIS FORTUNE RiSKED ON THE
TOSS OF A PENNY.
some "reminiscences of a Veteran Show
Man-The First Regular Circus Train
and How 1t Was Loaded = Madison
Square Garden.

With eight horses and fifty people
made $50, 900 that season, and then
made up my mind to branch out, says
W. G. Coup to an indianapolis Senti-
mel man. / learned that Barnum had
eight camels, which was a grand ag-
gregation of animals in those days,
and | wanted to form junction with
him.
"P. t. Barnum had been in the
business short time in 1853, but had
retired on account of the opposition
in his family, whom he had promised
that he would stay out of it. / had
heard of Mr.. Barnum and went to New
York to see him. / approached him
upon the subject of starting the
largest show that had ever been
launched and finally succeeded in get
ting him enthused with the project.
We put $150,000 in the outfit, which
was on a scale of grandeur never heard
OF before. | conceived the idea of
massing the people in the big towns
and travelling by railroad. The pro-
ject was not regarded as feasible for
some time by Mr.. Barnum, but he
finally consented to try it and we
started. 1t was success, and
the people focked to the large
towns to see us for 100 miles
around. And / want to say that it was
to the circus that to great extent the
big towns were developed as rapidly as
they were. People came from the
country, became infatuated and re-
fused to go back to the dreary mo-
notony of country life.
1--WE used common fiat cars and
then wanted a regular circus train,
cars fitted out to load the wagons
easily. l ordered John l.. Gill of
Columbus, Ohio, to build me train
after my own designs, and the next
season we started out in good shape.
The first time show was ever loaded
on a railroad train in this country
was at New Brunswick, N. j., and
10000 stood around for two days to
see the great feat accomplished. 1t
was big undertaking in those days.
eve had first two rings with the
show in Barnum's name. L was the
manager. Barnum and | were to-
gether for six years, and then again
went out of the circus business.
''In 1873 I built the first Madison
Square Garden III. New York, and
when it was opened | gave the Con
gress of Nations for which the cos
tunes cost me $1,000 and in which
we used 1900 people, with chariot
races and all the Roman games.
ran this for four years and then con-
ceived the idea of building an aqua
rum. went to Europe and studied
with this in view, and upon my re-
turn went into partnership with
! Henry Reichs, who imported every
animal shown in this country until a
few years ago and who has made
millions out of the business.
1--WE put $500, 600 into the aquarium
and the Coney island place, and
brought the first white whale to this
country. Upon the opening of the
great aquarium we gave grand
banquet, which was attended by such
men as Agassiz, Huxley and other
noted scientists, and the menu con-
sisted of fish from every body of water
on the globe. For that / was elected
an honorary member of the United
States fish commission, which
membership / still hold.
1.-The aquarium was great success,
and then came the subject of opening
it on Sunday, which raised bitter
fight among the clergy of the city,
Reiche wanted it open on Sunday and
| opposed it. We couldn't agree, and
one day 1 said to him that one of us
ought to quit. He thought so too,
as we couldn't agree, and asked how
we could settle it. l said Let's flip a
penny; the one who wins gets the
whole thing and the other gets out
81 had every dollar / had in the.
world invested i. i fre~adn arium and SO
had he: 1t meant poverty to one. He
turned alittle pale, thought moment,
and then said: 'All right
II took a copper cent from my
pocket, told him to call it while in the
air, and the first toss would decide it.
Il tossed it up and he called:
Heads 1t fell and spun around and
around for a moment while we stopped
over it. There were just 5000, 900 at
stake. 1t was moment of anxiety.
There was not 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 it had ceased its
settling picked it up. told Reiche he
had won and walked out. Here is the
penny. | have carried it with me
ever since.
81 was penniless and stayed around
New York for several months in an
aimless way, when one day a man
came along with some educated horses.
borrowed some money, bought
them, and started out. | had made a
coach that cost me $1,000, went to
Washington with the show and called |
upon Mr.. Hayes and he attended the
show. Imade money with the horses,
and two years later had $3.50, 600
scraped together. | then put $780, |
600 in Coup's great show, which was
the hnest show property ever collected |