The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-06
GuertIn0 a circus
BOw George $tstnrUd
$MperiHlended 4 $bOW.

circus.
There is corroborative evidence that
Steenrod did this thing for omrah Alley.
Herbert Francis, Harry Piper and other
citizens Of Wichita, who carried water to
the elephant on the occasion. although
TO them the actual act Of coercion Is lost
IN the forgotten things of extreme youth.
IT was in June, 1877, that an overland
circus came to Wichita, winding down OF
the hill, fits cages FEW and wabbly, the
drivers thereof sleepy, disheveled and ILL
tempered. The edOestrienneS were faded
types of a hard life and with compilations
normally chalky from lavish use Of pig
unent at the two daily performances.
The owner and manager of the show
owned and wore as a decoration of au-
thortty immense top boots. and was
rated as EDITORIAL outside the ring as in II.
After the usual controversy about a H.
cerse, With the city authorities stiff and
Perelnptory and scared to death at the
some time for fear the circus would
move on without exhibiting, the aggrega-
uon settled down on Wichita street or
water, probably where Mr.. Getto's house
now stands. or on the site Of the present
palaial depot OF the Missouri Pacific
Railway company.
In this day the canvas was not large
and IT did not take long to set I'D the
whole affair.
The pride Of the circus was a Isrge lon
cared elephant with the asthma and a
misfit skin. He was a melancholv haast
who In his sorrow would stand all dav
and stun his side with i,ticeless bav
aterward moistening it with steen b,,cl-
cts OF water carried by the bows of the
village, for which they were nrorn.sed
tickets Of admission, and for which tha,,
received In fact entrance under the tent
with exemption from kicks and sIans
Inc controversy over the license. ne
usual did not make the circus feel kindly
10 the CITY, and the city. with the sus-
piclon that the show had been divided
and that the larger portion was exhibit
ing at Emporia. suspicion always preva-
TENT IN an early day, and the other in
'>'e assumption that a large gang Of
burglars accompanied the circus, did not
take kindly to the show.
The truth was that the show was ON its
last legs and in the manner of shows.
threatened dissolution was accompanied
10y hl-temper. internecine quarrels and
BAD blood among the showmen.
Inc circus was TO remain a week. News
OF its presence finally psrcoIated ont
through the corn fields and over the
stacks of wheat and reached Union town
ship. where lived George Steenrod. and
where he lives today.
IL mad been many a day since George
Steenrod and his neighbors had seen n
circus and the announcement that there
was one in Wichita came to him and
them as a watermelon comes to a man
= dying Of thirst. George and his neighbors
resolved to come 10 Wichita and see the
circus. As soon as this resolution was
made Nature set in to veto it. It began
to rain heavily. This part of the country
had never seen such rains before; it has
In truth seen no such rains since. and
probably never will again. 1t raiDed |
-pitch-forks. 1t kept it up night and day
perfect deluge. 1t was out of the uues-
ton to drive into Wichita with womeN
In open wagons or covered wagons H. /
George had made UP his mind he would |
come. He rugged out a wagon with can
vas, called on few in whose breasts the
circus feeling pulsed high, and set the
horses heads towards Wichita 1t was a |
AAeS- 4Aub-utcDs Uluu-SDlaSne1 |
; Vater-soaked. the gallant. ambitious dele |
cation plunged onward and at last reach |
ed Wichita. From the West Side they
saw with delight the tapping dome of the
tent. but they had not yet crossed the
big bridge when the party became aware |
Of tremendous excitement. which upon
inquiry they found could not be caused |
solely by the presence of a circus I'm |
town. Once in the main portion of the |
city they discovered that something of
greater concern than a circus had the
people by the ears The Arkansas was
out of its banks, the water was still
rising, part Of the town was under wa
ter and more of 1t was getting under !
every minute.
George Steenrod turned to his delegation
with a groan. But he had not given IN
perhaps the circus was on high ground |
An investigation was at once made and |
the circus was found not yet touched by
the approaching water which was whirI-
ing across In southeasterly direction |
f~om the Occidental Hotel to Garfield
hall. The water was also pouring down
Waco avenue and approaching the circus
4
egation precipltately paid its delegation
and entered the tent for the afternoon
performance. They found the attendance
slim, but quite few on hand despite
other excitement. The circus began The
grand entree was not altogether salts
factory, but the crowd was glad to see
anything in the circus order. The people
were scattered around the ring at first.
but gradually those on the western sida.
and find seats. Gradually the whole au-
dience became aware that the water had
appeared at the western side of the tent
and was seaping into the ring clown
also discovered 1t. for in a fit of stage
cCmicality in dropping on the loose end
OF a board. a splash OF water resulted
which covered him with soft mud from
head TO foot. The next number was Il
lady bareback rider She was a won
derful creature OF pink tights and plnker
complexion and gossamer skirts, and
there was perceptible applause as she
sprang to the horses back But the
flood was rising, and the first time she
sailed around the ring the horse plunged
and slipped in the mud She disneanted
hurriedly and sank 20 her ankles IN al
luvial soil. A moment later the pink
tights were dotted with black. and the
lady with muddy tinseI tried IL again.
The horse swung round and round.
throwing mud and splashing water. The
ringmaster's eye was looking for 4 high
spot Z osave his fine top boots. aa1 as