Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-17

AL was excitement in under and
around the big tents of the Ringing
Bros show on the Island yesterday.
From morning until late in the after
noon the many different acts were be-.
ing rehearsed while crowds gathered
on the ground to hear the music of the
band, the crack of the ringmaster's
whip and the roar of the lion.
During the afternoon a number of
newspaper men attended the rehearsal
to witness the feats Of daring that
send the chills tandem fashion down
the spinal column and to laugh at the
clown band, a grotesque organization
of musical jugglers who can beat the
harmonic scale in jelly with discor-
dant horns and yellow clarinettes.
After Spader Johnson's band plays
the game seems to be for the audience
to guess what the selection was
When the clown band bursts forth in
all its glory even the ostrich laughs.
The most remarkable feat ever at
tempted with trained horses is the
great pyramid act done by sixty-one
horses in Ringing Brothers circus,
the odd horse being ",Silver King" up
ON the top pedestal, with the trainer
John O'Brien on his back, putting the
whole sixty-one through their work
by the simple word of command. 1t
is marvellous performance and af-
fords at least one foil for the able
circus lad" writer, for he cannot
find more adjectives than the
performance deserves. John OBrien
is one of the most mod
est of men. Unlike many of
his calling who are greatly his infer
Tors professionally, he neither en-
brazons his breast with medals, nor
calls himself professor. He is just
plain John OBrien to everybody Yet
no trainer has ever attempted such a
colossal undertaking as that of train
ing sixty-one horses to do one act
Most men of his profession are salts
fed with one-fourth of that number
The act must be seen to be appreciat-
ed.
The Lockhart herd of performing ell
ephants and Souder's elephant brass
band are two other acts of the big cir
Gus that are alone an immense at
traction. One single trapese act by
Mile, Turnore stands alone as the
most daring exhibition ever attempt
ed. This wonderful woman is as
much at home on the flying swing as
the ordinary man is in his parlor
Without once even touching the ropes
with her hands she stands, dances and
kneels upon the slender rod of the
while If iS cuir1 0in0 rd
fro or whirls in a circle.
There are several hundred features
with the show that keep one in a con-
slant state of surprise.
The stars of the circus are two wart
hogs, who will make their initial bow
to the American public next Thursday
One looks like Dom Paul and as it
came from the same territory, it is an
object of intense interest.
A monster black baboon just import
ed, has also been added to the animal
tent. 1t is said to be the largest and
finest specimen of its kind in captivity.
His keeper is the only one who dares
to feed it, as it SCENE to have no re-
gard for humanity at large.
The performances on Thursday
next will be preceded by street par
ade, which will traverse the principal
thoroughfares, beginning at 10 o'clock
in the forenoon.
Those who wish to avoid the rush
at the ticket wagon can buy reserved
seats and admissions all day Thursday
at Banner Company's piano store, at
exactly the same price as on the show
grounds.