The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-12
A FAMOUS CIRCUS CLOWN.
Some "Reminiscences OF the OId-Tine
FnVOrite, Dan Rice.
PHILADELPHIA Times.


Philadelphia Times.
In chatting yesterday about Eliakim, or
'Lige," Stowe, the famous old travelling
Snowman, who died recently in Fort Wayne,
Ind, reference was made to the famous
clown Dan" Rice. The mere mention of
that name must bring to many minds fond
memories of the past when hearts were
fresh and hair was not streaked with gray.
And, by the way Rice for many years was
associated with a member of the Stowe fam
lily, Charles Stowe, who is still literary
boomer Of sawdust delights. Together they
published newspaper in Girard, Pa, which
advocated the election as President Of these
United States of the most famous clown the
world has ever known.
Dan Rce's proper name is Daniel Nc
Larrern. When a small lad he became a
stable boy around the famous race tracks
and enjoyed the sobriquet of DUSTY Dan"
His agility was amazing, and he soon de-
veoped such athletic powers that he be-
came professional acrobat. He possessed
wonderful strength and indomitable courage
One of his first public appearances, strange
to say, was as pugilist. There is record
of the fact that in 1928 the Pennsylvania
Legislature adjourned to witness at Harris
burg a boxing contest between George Ken
sett and Dan" Rice. Kensett was the
Fitzsimmons of his day, and at the time
spoken of he had just defeated in the ring
Ned Hammond the contest being really the
first big fistic encounter in the country.
The only previous one of note was that be-
tween Tom Beasley and Jacob Hyer the
latter being the father of the afterward
celebrated Tom Hyer. who for years was
the idol of the sporting fraternity Of
America. 1t seems strange to talk about the
State Legislature adjourning to witness
fist fight, and yet that body would compare
more than favorably with our State law
makers of to-day. 1t is from that event,
by the way, that one can approximate to
Rice's age. It is over seventy years since
he made his public appearance in the State
Capital, and as he could not have been very
far from his twentieth milestone at the
time. the greatest clown must now be al
most a nonagenarian. Yet less than ten
years have elapsed since he took unto him
DAN Rice's popularity grew to such an
extent. especially in the Southwestern coun-
try. that in due time he started forth with
a show of his own, the main features or
which were himself and a wonderfully
trained white stallion named Excelsior.
This led rival managers to speak of the eX-
hibition the One-horse show but it was
a winner all the same, and the horse proved
such a drawing card that when he died his
place was quickly supplanted by another
milky steed who bore the same name. This
show housed on a large steamboat that
sailed along the Mississippi river, and It's
branches. When the previously billed town
was reached the 'one-horse show would
steam UP to the leVee and unload, and the
small tent would soon be raised over some
desirable spot Rice would then harangue
the populace from the hotel balcony or from
the courthouse steps if al county seat. lie
was an admirable stump orator. lie would
speak fuently on any subject that was agi-
tating the public mind. and at the conclusion
of his address would invite everybody to
visit Dan Rice's Great and Only SHOW
and there were few who declined the invita-
ton. If an opposition show got on his route
TO where it was about to exhibit, and stop
in the same town and make an appearance
without having been previously billed with
out programme and without regard to the
engagement he had thus Cancelled. He
would simply lead a procession Of his horses
and men through the town. address the peo-
pie and invite them to visit his show. And
they did. while the almost tenantless tents
OF his rivals warned them against intruding
on the route of 1.-The one-horse show"
One of his managerial wars landed him
temporarily in the Blue Eagle Jail, in AL
bany, N. Y. He had become involved in a
bitter contest with the late DR.: Spaulding,
the one-time manager Of the Olympic The
alter, in St Louis. Spaulding & Rogers, aft
erwards Spaulding & Bidwel, conducted
in st. Louis. Mobile, Memphis and the
Southwest. Dan Rice's show and one of DR..
5 Tell 1Oul Oh eaCn Otn6r, ana the
war had reached the depth Of bitterness
when both enterprises exhibited in Albany.
At that time the Albany Whip, a newspaper
noted for its virulence, was published in
New Yorks capital city by the late George
II. Jones, afterwards editor of the New
York Times, and was edited by the late
ommercial-Advertiser. In it's composing
room was printer named Chester Char
e eu Moore, Wh who, was at times employed
to write handbills for amusement enter
prises, a peculiar flow of language of
which he was possessed fitting him for the
Christmas is named c. @ Moore and he
comes from Albany, but whether he and
the Whip ypesetter are one and the
DR.. ,Spaulding happened across Moore and
employed him to write a letter lampooning
Dan" Rice. and it was published in the
Whip Rice also met Moore, and, in ig-
norance of his relation to the matter, asked
him if he would undertake to answer the
attack made upon him. The printer
issue of the Whip went for Spaulding ham
mer and tongs. ThencefOrth the contest
sides Of the question with equal vim and
virulence. In one of his articles on Spauld-
ing, which, of course, was signed ny Rice.
Moore, however transcribed the legal limit
of verbal vindictiveness and the famous
clown found himself in Jail. charged with
criminal libel. The suit was afterwards
compromised but thenceforth, for a long
time, one of Rices most popular songs was
entitled Blue Eagle Jail" Spaulding dis
covered the uuai part Moore hdQ played,
and chided him for his per6ly. Tie printer
replied: Who was better fitted to write on
both sides of the question? No one knew
n ore about the matter than l.
1t is impossible for the boys of to-day to
understand the popular enthusiasm that
Dan Rice's appearance aroused. Ii is no
exaggeratiOn to say that he was one of the
biggest men in the country. During one of
the presidential campaigns he had flying
banners across Broadway bearing this le-
gend:
.'...s..''.-...........
For President
COL. DAN RICE,