St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-08-14
VOL. LXX---NO. 3OS1
CIRCUS DAY.
It Began Early and Ended Late.


people began to collect at the depot to
extend cordial greeting to Barnum &
Baileys greatest show on earth. Be-
tween four and FIVE o'clock several hum
dred people gathered there, but as the
part Of the train which has to be unload
ed first was the last to arrive and did
not reach here till about six O'Clock, the
crowd lost two hours sleep for nothing.
Two young men from out Of town some
where were heard to remark that the
cows seemed kind of surprised when they
were MIXED and turned out at one
O'Clock in the morning. The cows
couldn't understand the urgent necessity
of such early rising but the boys were
bent on seeing the circus from beginning
to end. The work Of unloading was
quickly and Systematically done as is
usual with the large circus and it is an
interesting process to watch.
The morning trains brought large
crowds into town, the nine O'Clock mail
from the north having nine cars packed
full. BY ten O'Clock the streets were we'll
filled with people but it was the general
opinion that the crowd was not as large
as is usual on such occasions. The in
tense heat probably kept many away.
The parade started at half-past 10 and
came from the fair ground down Rail-
road street, up Eastern Avenue and back
to fair ground down Main street. 1t
was three-quarters of mile long and
none better has ever been seen here.
There must have been several hundred
horses in the parade and everyone was
in excellent condition.
The attendance at the afternoon per-
formance was not far from 10000. AS
far as the heat was concerned it was
fully as cool in the tent as it was out
doors. The performance was excellent,
the performers being all artists and the
best that money could obtain. The
most interesting feature was the trained
horses and their performance was re-
/ markable and beautiful.
The menagerie was large one and an
hour spent in watching the different
animals was instructive as well as inter-
esting.
About 5000 attended the evening per-
formance which was the same as in the
afternoon with the exception that it was
quicker done. The customery concert
was given after both performances and
were well attended
About 20 teams were kept busy during
the day carrying the crowd back and
forth from the grounds and their days
work must have paid them we'll
1t was a terrible warm day but so far
as has been learned there were only one
or two cases Of prostration.
Only one accident is reported. Two
teams collided about opposite the
campus after the evening performance.
One OF the wagons was quite badly
demolished but nobody hurt.
The merchants report busy day and
the soda water and soft drink men were
kept more than busy
This town and vicinity contributed to
the circus probably not far from 5000.
They of course lett a good sum in town
and were he means whereby much more
was left.
There was less rowdyism than usual
aud the police made no arrests on that
dav. Pckpockets were scarce and we
have heard OF no losses about town from
theft OF clothes lines or household
property A bold and unsuccessful at
tempt was made to rob Sam Fleming of
quite sum of money which he had COL
lected for George II. Cross just as he
was leaving the grounds Tuesday morn
ing. Mr.. Fleming had gone to the Fair
Ground to deliver some goods and had
collected his pay in silver and started for
home. Four men followed him and as he
was getting into the delivery wagon two
of them assaulted him and the other two
frightened the horse to get it to run
away. The horse ran all right and made
break for the dining table in the COM
missary tent scattering the dishes right
and left. This created such panic that
the men had to leave Mr.. Fleming and
catch the horse and after Mr.. Fleming
got his horse he made tracks for the
| bakery and delivered up his silver.
Will Mccormick, the delivery clerk for
Swift Brothers. collected $50 for his firm
and in some way unbeknown to himsel
r he was relieved of the entire sum.