The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-07
SUNDAY WITH THE CIRCUS.
Thousands Go Out to See Ringing
Bros Big Shows.

Several hundred people were on hand yes
terday morning to witness the arrival of
Ringing Bros circus at the West Wash
ington-street grounds. 1T was expected
that the four trains which were to bring
the circus to the city would reach here at
about daybreak, but 1t was IL 80 before the
first train arrived and 1870 when the last
one had got in. Hundreds of people had
come and gone, disappointed at the delay of
the trains, but their places were taken by
other hundreds, so that by the time the
trains pulled in the work of unloading and
going into Sunday quarters was witnessed
by a big crowd During the afternoon the
place was literally black with people. New
er in their experience had the show people
witnessed such crowd at the arrival in
a town. Hundreds of bicyclists took the
run out on the paved streets and thousands
went by street car, while a regular stream
of pedestrians could be seen all afternoon
going and coming.
There was some little disappointment
among the people who went out to the
grounds that the big audience tent was not
erected. This is in keeping with the policy
of Ringing Bros. They have always made
1t rule that on Sunday only the necessary
work shall be done. The big tent was not
needed yesterday and the work of stretch
ing it was deferred until this morning. 1t is
thus that the Sabbath is made as nearly a
Gay or rest with the employees of the show
as possible.
The big menagerie tent and the smaller
tents for the accommodation of the horses
and the employees We're erected. however.
A great interest centered about the menag-
erie. The size of the tent was the first evil
dence of the magnitude which this part of
the circus has reached. A visit to the in
side verified the first impression, for there
are more dens of animals and larger col
lections than is usually to be seen and much
larger than Ringing Bros. had last year.
1t was noticeable that everything was scru-
pulously clean. Every cage had been care
fully cleaned and disinfected, and there was
the absence of the offensive odor which
usually pervades the circus menagerie. In
the center of the tent was a glass cage
which contained the great attraction of this
menagerie. Here was Walter, the only
captive chimpanzee. He is very human
Hke-eats at table, sleeps in a bed and
makes his toilet before mirror in the most
approved style. Yesterday he was in a
very disconsolate frame of mind, owing to
the absence of his keeper Billy Worthing-
ton Worthington had been called away on
account of the Illness of his mother and the
brute put in most of the day crying like a
child.
of black tigers in the United States. About
four weeks ago one of them gave birth to
teresting family. There are many baby an
imals in the menagerie. including a family
baby camel, Il baby kangaroo and baby
It was noticeable yesterday that the EN-.
ployes were quiet and orderly they went
about their work There was an absence of
the loud and vulgar language among them.
and visitors to the grounds were not Of
Tended by any OF the rough language which
lis usually INDUCED in by men of such occu-
patton. 1t is q strict rule with Ringing
Bros. that everybody who visits their cir
Gus, whether as patrons on day of per-
formance visitors off day, shalt
be treated with Difference by all employees
Yesterday one employee was reported TO
ALT Ringing for some breach of this rule
and he was Immediately paid off and dis
charged. The rule is ironclad and applies
to all alike.
The parade this morning will leave the
show grounds at $3.50 O'Clock reaching the
downtown portion of the route at about 10
o'clock. Ii will be elaborate pageant
having number of new features 1T will
require thirty-five minutes for it to pass a
given point The line Of march will be as
follows: East on Washington street to Cap
itol avenue, south to Georgia street east
to Illinois, north to Washington. east to
Alabama north TO Market, west TO Monu-
dian and north to Ohio west to illinois
street south to Washington and west to
the show grounds.
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Once Desks Of all sIyles.--Wm. a. Elder