The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-16
WALTER L. MAIN CIRCUS
TWO FINE PERFORMANCES
GIVEN YESTERDAY.
The Tent Crowded Last Night, Not
withstanding the Shower-Me-
nagerie Features-A Well Con-
Quoted Show and One That
Pleased Everybody.

The Walter L. Main circus opened a
two-days' engagement at Pioneer
square yesterday afternoon and gave a
most creditable exhibition. The train
of 2S cars arrived here from the east
over the Rio Grande Western early in
the mornig and the excellent manage
ment of Mr.. Main, who is said to be
the youngest Snowman in the country,
was apparent in the fact that every
thing was practically in readiness in a
few hours after the arrival. There was
a large parade about 10 o'clock and the
streets along the line of march We're
crowded. Performances were given
yesterday afternoon and evening and
viii be repeated this afternoon and
evening. The attendance yesterday af-
ternOon was large and it was still
larger in the evening, Notwithstanding
the fact that the weather was very I'M
favorable. There was q shower during
the afternoon and quite a heavy rain
in the evening, but Notwithstanding
that, many persons were obliged to
stand and no one within the large
tent was Inconvenience by the
weather. The menagerie connected
with the circus was particularly inter-
esting. There were the usual number
Of wild animals. including a large herd
of elephants and camels, and a fine
specimen of the bovalapsus from the
upper Nile. Probably the most inter-
esting features were the lion cubs,
about nine weeks old, and two cubs
which are the result of a cross between
a leopard and jaguar. All the cubs
were whelped in Illinois and they at
tracted much attention all the after
noon and evening. There were three
rings in the main tent, and excellent
management prevailed, one perform
ance following another with remarka-
BILE promptness. The entertainment
commenced with a triumphal pageant,
in which 100 performers and as many
horses, elephants and other animals
marched around the main ring. One of
the most interesting exhibitions was
the performance of wild animals. all
under the charge of Jesse Howard,
whose ability as a trainer of savage
beasts and whose perfect control over
them were fully set forth. A large iron
cage was erected in the middle of the
tent and in this were driven lions.
tigers, leopards, jaguars, panthers and
a boar hound, a horse and an elephant.
Howard and two attendants were in
the cage with the animals and he made
them perform all kinds of tricks, such
as see-sawing, jumping over each
other, and jumping through hoops of
fire. A large lion mounted the horses
back and rode around the cage several
times. The conclusion of this unusual
performance consisted of the formation
of a pyramid with the elephant
mounted on a high pedestal in the
center and the other beasts grouped
around him and leaning against him.
The bareback riding was exceptionally
good and a score of men and women
took part in this. The best animals
obtainable for the purpose were to be
seen and the training of the riders and
the horses was wonderful. Among the
best features of this part of the per-
Torrance was the two-hOrse riding and
double carrying act of Tony Lowanda
and wife and w. o. Dale and Miss Cor
reia- There We're a number of trained
horses and ponies, which gave a very
novel exhibition. There were women
ring masters, and women clowns and
acrobatic and trapeZe performers. The
Vernon trio, two men and a 12-year-old
boy, gave a daring mid-air exhi-
billions, and the Eddy and Livingston
families. both men and women, the
latter dressed in long skirts, performed
many wonderful acrobatic feats. The
performance concluded with a dozen
hippodrome races and contests Of
speed, which We're very exciting. There
were jockey races, clown races, monkey
and pony races, standing races on two
and four horses, ladies' races on
thoroughbreds, and four-horse chariot
races, all of which created much en-
thusiasm yesterday. and at the close of
the first performance nothing but COM
mendation was heard from all who had
attended.