The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-06
ARRIVAL OF THE CIRCUS
Employees of Ringing Brothers
Show Pass a Busy Night.
The Trains Benring the Menngeric.
Tents. and other PnrnphcTnnlin
Delayed - Animals Made Comfort
nbIe First-Route of the Parade.

~
The Ringing Brothers Show arrived in
Washington last night, and this morn
ing the broad acres at Thirteenth and c
Streets northeast are ablaze with white
canvas and glittering parade chariots and
massed with wagons, stakes, poles, tents,
and all the other paraphernalia of mod
ern circus. An army of 1000 men ar
rived on the site at O'Clock last night.
and by dawn the level grounds had been
transformed into a small city, in which
strange combinations of noise and color
predominated The transfer from the
railroad trains to the wagons and thence
to the showgrounds was made with great
despatch and without accident, and white
auditoriums capable of sheltering thou
sands of people sprung up as though by
magic.
All day long a disappointed throng
awaited the appearance of the cavalcades
bearing the cages of wild animals ana
the mysterious things which go to make
up circus performance. The site CHOSEN
for the main tent was eagerly guarded
by several Thousand small boys, While
smaller number of large boys hung
around the outskirts. All were destined to
go home without seeing the arrival of the
wonders, however, as the first wagon did
not put in appearance until shortly
after o'clock.
No time was lost when the van of the
! line of wagons appeared, and each was
given station. Then the work of un-
loading began. Canvas was spread on the
ground, stakes driven, poles raised. and
finally the white roofs and walls were
hoisted. III this way the big menagerie
tent was ready for occupancy by the time
n n
gather. These were soon under shelter
with the thirty sleepy elephants. Nearly
100 wagons were packed within the en-
closure, as the menagerie is an excep-
tionally big one.
When the canyasmen had completed the
erection of all of the tents required I'M
mediately, work was begun on the main
tent. Th Is is an enormous enclosure, con-
tanning three rings and quarter mile
track, besides a seating capacity OF H.
600 people The construction of this main
building. as il were. was superintendent
by several skilled officials. who marked
off the space with a tape line and placed
small iron stakes to mark the places where
more substantial ones were to be driven.
The stakes were driven first, the big poles
followed, with the wall poles later. The
roof and walls were then hoisted the
seats being arranged afterward. The
finishing touches were not given until af-
ter daylight.
The commissary wagons were among
the first on the scene and kitchen was
soon erected and running in full blast,
with score of cooks making coffee and
frying saVory dishes for the tired work
ers outside Ernest Haley, the steward,
had charge of supplying the wants of the
inner man and was ably assisted by
large corps of cooks and walters. The
mess tent was then erected and long rows
of tables spread with dishes. While sup
per was being cooked the stable tents
were put up and the so horses carried
with the show were given feed and shell
ter. After the meal blacksmith's forge
was set UP and the horses given an over
hauling for defects in their shoes. The
wear and tear keeps six blacksmiths busy
every day. The stock is always given
a good grooming each morning before the
parade and is kept in good shape.
All around the circus property small
tents have appeared, where the venders
of the festive peanut and the red lemon
ade viii shout their wares. These people
appeared on the scene before daylight and
hustled for choice locations. With the
adage in view, anent the early bird,
man stalSed off a nice location early yes
terday morning and by moor had a com
plete merry-go-roun9 ready for opera
tion. The side-show tent with its fam
ing banners was completed early this
morning and is now ready for those who
wish TO view the weird attractions to be
seen within its walls. A careful inspec-
tion was given all OF the material to be
used in the parade this morning, and
everything was polished until the hues
Of the rainbow were reflected.
Judging from the amount of material
put into place last night and this morn
ing. the RinEling Bros circus is an ex-
ceptionaly large one, and the show
promises to be good one Out of the
200 people employed, 300 are performers.
SiXty-fiVe railroad cars are required to
transport the show from place to place.
There are 100 dens of animals, 80 elephants
and herd OF camels besides 500 horses.
While the show is to be here but two
days. everything has been made as com
Portable at the grounds as though month
was to be passed here Everything is
ready for the big street parade which
will start from the grounds al 9 O'Clock.
This will include a solid mile of features
which Will prove attractive.
Among the men upon whose shoulders
rested the responsibility of unloading the
show and getting everything ready by
this morning. are William Fay. master OF
transportation. and Charles Miller, mas
ter of properties. The despatch with
which the circus was moved to this city
and stationed here is due in a great meas
| ure to these men.
The route to be followed by the parade
| is as follows: Starting from show
| grounds at O'Clock: Tennessee Avenue to
| East Capitol Street TO FRS Street, to
| Il Street northeast, to Second Street
northwest. TO Pennsylvania Avenue. to
Seventeenth Street, to II Street, TO Thir-
| tecnth, to G., to Massachusetts Avenue;
| thence to circus grounds.
I