San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-10-04
THE CIRCUS.
THOUSANDS ATTENDED BOTH PER-
F0RMANOEs YESTERDAY.
Splendid Menagerie With Rare and Costly
Animals-A Superb Arenio
Entertainment.

The big tent of the Ringing Bros.
great shows was crowded with every
seat filed yesterday at both the mat
inee and night performances, and
such a crush was probably never be-
fore seen at a circus in this city. The
weather was perfect for circus day
and this had a good deal to do with
the great turnout. The fame of the
show and the good name it had made
on a previous visit to this city did the
rest.
1t is hardly necessary for the Light
to describe the performance in detail.
1t would be like the green reporter
who was sent out to report a big fire.
He saw such a crowd that he told the
city editor he had made no notes as
it was no use. Everybody was there.
The me nagerie, first seen on enter
ing the big tents, contains many rare
and curious animals, birds and rep
tiles.
One pleasing feature of the show is
the entire absence of anything calcu-
lated to offend the eye or lose of any
body.
Probably the most valuable animal
in the collection is Walter, the 11h
months old chimpanzee. Looking at
him it would not be hard to believe in
the Darwinian theory. Walter is %
inches high, eats from dishes, from a
table, sleeps in a bed and is very
much like a human being in both looks
and actions. Should Walter live to
be two years old he would be four or
five feet high. He is confined in a
temporary glass cage, in which his
keeper, william Worthington, also
sleeps. Both are very much attached
to>each other, and Walter will cry
like a baby if his keeper is away from
him any length of time. A large
plate glass cage is being built for his
chimpanzee majesty, which will con-
tain n number of different rooms con-
ducive to his comfort. The black
tigers of India, of which there are
two very fine adult specimens and
three cubs, were the objects of much
admiration, There were five varie-
ties of deer, as follows: japanese,
African, European, FallOw of Eu-
rope. and the American.
The three herds Of elephants We're
the center of attraction for many
The five baby elephants and the baby
camels also attracted a great deal of
attention. The heavy weight of the
collection is Pete, the hippopotamus,
who weighs eleven tons, The den
of seals, the five families of baby
lions and the two cages of Royal
Bengal tigers also came in fora great
share of notice.
Too much cannot be said of the cir
Gus performance itself. The host of
arenic novelties are all under the per-
sonal direction of Mr.. Albert Ring
ling, which to a larger extent accounts
|for the clean and refined show which
is given. The Introductory specta-
Gle of the Festival of Olympus and
the realistic revival Of the ancient Ro-
man sports, chariot races and gladi-
atorial contests We're greeted with
tremendous applause.
Among the other specially attrac-
tive features, if it is possible to make
a distinction, were the following:
Three Da Comas, the greatest OF all
aerial artists: the Lanader troupe OF
nine expert bicyclers and gretosque
roller skaters from Paris; Joseph lie
Fleur. a wonderful aerial somersault
ist who dives from an elevated plat
form forty feet In the air, striking up
on his hands; Mile. Irwin, the hu-
nal top. Mike Rooney, William De
Mott. Elena Ryland, Lizzie Rooney
| and a. dozen other superb opponents
of eouestrianism, and a complete Eu-
ropean circus of imported celebrities,
and a host of other up-to-date attrac-
lions that in every way reflect great
credit upon the management.
The great feature of the perform
ance is the Nelson Family Of aero
hats, who are without doubt the most
wonderful troupe of performers who
ever exhibited here. Their wonder
full eyolutions seem well nigh impos-
sible. This is the first time they have
ever travelled with a circus.
The remarkable intelligence dis
pIayed by the three herds of perform
ing elephants brought forth round af-
ter round of applause. The perform
ance of these monsters was something
wonderful.
The transportation facilities to and
from the circus grounds by the San
Antonio Street Car company were eX-
cellent, though the capacity of the
road in furnishing cars was severely
taxed. During the morning and af-
ternoon ten extra cars were put on
to carry the immense throng and lat
er in the day and at night after the
performance every a in the city
was dressed into service.