Evening star., 1897-05-06
In the Big Tent.

The large tent, which Is surrounded by
countless tiers of seats, Is the attractive
point for all showgoers who want action
and this Is afforded in three rings and on
two platforms. There are clowns whose
antics would bring smiles to the face of q
hermit, and some of them being their fun
before the Introductory parade, which re-
peats the reception given to Columbus on
his return from the discovery of America
Is given. Succeeding this attractive fea-
ture, come In quick succession exhibitions
that almost take ones breath away. Eie-
phants go through tricks that seem to
show they are endowed with human intel
llgence The baby elephants in the central
ring show especial proficiency. Then fol-
lows marvellous exhibition by q score of
tumblers and somersaulters: equestrian acts
by three women, whose performances are
accompanied by amusing antics Of female
clowns: srotesque and graceful exhibitions
or skin and strength by japanese contor-
tonistS and acrobats, ard a prodigaI pro-
gram Of other marvels and wonders
The Herds troupe of six acrobats de-
serxediy wear the name of phenomenal
while the exhibition of Mons Leon La
Roche, who conceals himself inside of
Riooe and moves it up and down a spiral
ascent without any evident means of it's
propulsion being discovered by the spec
tators, is little short of marvellous. The
Selbons, in their startling aerial displays,
and the Zedoras, one of whom is shot from
cressbow and caught by companion;
acrobatics of the Cornella troupe: the
equestrianism of VIM. ShowIes, L. Lee M
Rooney, Misses Seabert Rose Meers and
Ashton; the performances of the trained
animals, cannot be adequately described
The Dunhams wonderful performance con-
cludes with a series of exciting races the
chariot race reminding very much Of
the thrilling description of a similar event
in Ben Hur."
\ Storm and an Accident.
The raj
after the performance began in the main
tent yesterday beat down on the big tent
in such terrible way as to cause consid-
cradle nervousness among the women and
shildren, but 1t only seemed to increase the
desire of the performers to entertain.
While the storm was at Its height the
Japanese troupe, Spalding brothers, the
Corneiia troupe De Hollis and Valora and
Weiby, Pearl and Keys, in the latter's ex-
cellent display of Scotch games, were in
the rings and on the platforms. Each per-
former seemed to regard himself as an In
strument to avert a panic, and probably
they never put more Zest into their per-
formances.
Immediately following came the exhibi-
tions of the trained animals and the re-
markable mid-air evolutions of the Dun
hams. The members Of this family were
doing their best to keep the minds of their
auditors off the rain and wind. when Mrs
Ben. Dunham. who had just completed
some wonderful acts on the horizontal
bars and trapeze, leaped to a rope used
to descend from her lofty perch, when the
rope broke. and Mrs. Dunham was precip-
itated forty feet to the ground. She struck
on her side. and lay as II stunned. The
spectators were Mortified. and several la
dies were quite affected. Mrs. Dunham
was removed to her dressing room, where
IT was found she had escaped with few
bad bruises When the excitement was
allayed the performance continued to q
successful and satisfactory close. The per-
formances today and tonight will probably
be even more crowded than those of yes
terday.