New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-26
RIVAL AMATEUR SHOWMEN
TROUBLE IN NUTLEY OVER A CIRCUS AND
GYMKAHNA GAMES.
A LETTER FROM II. c. RUNNER sTIRs UP LOCAL
DIssENsIoN- STATEMENTS OF PER-

A LETTER FROM H. c. RUNNER sTiRs UP LOCAL
DIssENsIoN- STATEMENTS OF PER-
SONS INTERPRETED.
The town of Nutley in New-Jersey, has been
aroused by a letter to THE Sum-" written by
II. c. Bunner Of Puck" in his Short Skies
style The Nutey Gymkahna Games. which
evoked this Short Six" of protest from Mr.. Bun
ner are to be held at DickePs Riding Academy.
No. 1876 West Fifty -sxth-st, this city, tomorrow
evening" under the management OK committee,
of which James r. Hay Is chairman. MT HAY mas
an old-fashoned brownstone house at Nutiey III
the Enclosure" which contains the homes OF
many OF the village arstocracy A Tribune re-
porter was informed yesterday that Mr.. Hay
was out OF town and would not return until CO.
night.
Mr.. Bunner has all artistic shingled cottage
on a hill some little distance from the IN
closure" He told The Tribune reporter that the
only and original Nutley Amateur Circus was
held two winters ago. and was given to provide
a casualty fund to be used for men hurt In the
brownstone quarry near the town. or in cases
of accidents on the Passaic River. which flows
by the village. THE projectors Of that enter
prise" said Mr. Bunner 'risked great deal OF
money and spent much time in perfectng each
minor detail the seats in the arena were sub
stantaly constructed. and every rope was tested
time and again. In short. every possible pre-
caution was taken against accident, and we
thanked God when the show was over without
the slightest accident. We think We did some
thing remarkable in the points that the circus
began promptly at the hour fixed. that every
number on the programme was given and that
we finished on time. Associated with me in the
management of this affair were Messrs FRANK
Butler husband Of Annie Oakley, Guy WARD,
George II. Bayne and Wentworth Conduit The
affairs of the Nutley Amateur Circus are en-
tirely wound up, and the fund is in the hands
Of the trustees, who are Or, George D. fhii-
hover Conrad H. Ray and Mrs. Bunner. 1t is
being applied by them to the purpose FOR when
II raised.
my attention was called to a paragraph In
The Sun headed The Nutey Circus Comes TO
Town and we did not wish to have any re-
sponsbty for something We knew nothing
about Mr.. Hay sent me the paragraph and dis
avowed all responsibility for it. Some one must
have inserted the item in The Sun without any
authorization. | have been in the newspaper
business for twenty years, and my experience
in that line doubtless enabled me to secure more
publicity for the Nutley Amateur Circus than II
would otherwise have received. l have also had
long theatrical experience and gave the
circus the benefit of my knowledge acquired In
that business. | would never assume the cold
cheek to run a show in New-York, but l have
no objections TO Mr.. Hays show. Last summer
gymkahna games were given in Nutley wnich
badly managed, ana enueu III Ddu dCCi-
dent but that does not refer to the present
show. / only object to the paragraph In The
Sun "
Roger Kingsland. secretary Of the Games
Committee said: THE managers OF the gym
kahna games have not Intentionally used the
name of the Nutley Circus at any time, nor
do they wish to do so; mention was merely
made in a general way of its being one or the
things which had occurred in Nutley, with no
desire to take any advantage or the advertise
ment secured by it. None of the performers
in ha = a
Annie Oakley, who owns real estate in Nutley
and has been a resident here She took part
in the circus"
The Rev John p Appleton. rector of Grace
Church. Nutey, which is to receive the pro-
ceeds of these games, said that he regretted
the unpleasant discussion, but was in full SYM
patty with the enterprise. Mrs. Appleton Is
Of the patronesses of the affair. The OFF,
GERS Of this church are: James r. Hay and
R. J. NJ Chase, wardens; adrian H. Earkn'
Stewart A. Brown, Apheus Geer. A H. sehuy-
Ter. F. s. Marden n. F. Carryl, c. A. Whit
ney and George S. Coe. vestrymen.
Alpheus Geer took part in the circus and Sc
cured several star performers for it, He is
veteran Of Troop a, and has been a member of
the New-York Athletic Club for five years Mr.
Geer is actively engaged in the gymkahna
games and has arranged the programme He
said: Frank Boards horse Protection, Will
jump at the show on Friday evening and try
to break his own record. The jumpers Vulcan
and Richmond will also be there. Forty mem
hers of Troop A have volunteered to assist in
the games and will go through several re-
markable evolutions Ten members OF the
New-York Athletic Club will appear in three
or four most interesting performances. 1t Is
expected that the programme Of these games
will far exceed that of the Nutley Amateur
Circus Mr. Bunner was one Of the five man
ayers Of the circus, and speaks for himself
alone There is no copyright on the name OF
Nutley Circus. and We could use 1t II we so
desired but do not. 1t is not true that any
enterprise with Mr.. Burners name attached
to it is bound to succeed any more than an en-
terpriee without Mr. Burners name is bound to
fa;I &c fnrf mat "a
like this where are all friends. any such
controversy should arise The affair Of Friday
right will assuredy be a great success"
wentworth Conduit regretted the stir caused
by Mr. Burners letter. and wished it distinct
" understood that the gymkahna games were
big enough to stand alone without any assist
ance from the circus. He thought the mistake
came from some outsiders