The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-20
CIRCUS DAY.
FOrepaugh Sells Bros Show in
MankatO.
The Street Parade Satu day Forenoon. =.
Large Attendance at the Afternoon
Performance.
From Saturdays Daily,

1
Today is a gala day in Mankato and
since early morning the streets have
been crowded with people and more
kept coming all day long. 1t is uni
versally admitted that had it not been
for the heavy rain last night, the crowd
here today would have been one of the
largest in the city's history.
The cause of all this and the center
Of attraction is the great Forepaugh
and Sells Brothers circus which reach
ed the city early this morning from
Owatonna, the trains reaching here in
three sections.
| The cars were rapidly unloaded and
the contents taken to the show ground,
where in marvelously short time,
was erected a city Of canvass.
These operations were watched by
hundreds of interested citizens, who
took in every move and managed to
get in the way of the men at work
with the usual facility
In the meantime the crowds on the
street increased steadily, so that by
the time the distant call of the bugles
was heard, heralding the applause of
the parade, there were thousands lined
up to take in the sights.
The parade itself was a monstrous
and gorgeous affair. 1t was a constant
succession of brilliant costumes, gilt
tering cages prancing steeds, and
melody from the half dozen bands. It
presented sight never to be forgotten
and augured. well for the performances
that were to follow in the afternoon.
and evening.
! The drum corps headed the pageant
and announced its coming. One Of
the sights attracting the most atten-
tion was the immense herd of ele-
plants of all sizes and ages. The gor-
geous floats and chariots and the open
dsns'o of wild animals also came in for
good share O. attention. The inc
vitable steam calliope brought up the
rear of what was probably the largest
and best parade ever seen in the city.
Thousands of people attended the
afternoon performance, the large tent
being well filled. The first thing that
attracted attention on entering the
doors was the menagerie which is the
finest now on the road and in which
can be seen almost every known va
riety of rare and curious beasts and
| birds.
In the arena tent the performance
given is fully up to the promises made
| by the management and taken as a
| whole is without doubt the finest per-
Torrance ever seen in this city. The
great reputation that this show bears,
has evidently been justly and de-
servedly earned. Throughout the en-
tire program there is not a single
mediocre act and the list of star acts
is so large as to include almost every
act. The eye is bewildered in the
attempt to see all thatsis going on in
tthe three rings at the same time, a
feat which is really a physical impos-
81 bility.
/ Perhaps the mosEr notable feature Of
the show is the almost Incredible and
marvellous act of Captain Woodward S
trained seals and sea-Ions, which
perform feats that would tax human
Ingenuity severely. 1t was stated by
many that this act alone was well
worth the price Of admission. But in
addition to this there are many other
star features, such as the manage"
act of the four cakewalking horses +;
the ride of Minting up and down his
spiral tower on unicycle; the flight
| of Starr, the bicyclist, down a steep
| ladder; the aerial acts of the Potters
| and of Ryan Weitzel and Forella; the
acrobatic turn OF the ten Picchianis
the bicycle riding of the jackson fam
lily and the bareback riding of four
| teen Of the best riders in this or any
/ other country. The list of riders in
clUdes the names of everyone of any
Importance in this line in the country
Taken altogether it was a most
splendid and satisfactory performance
and the house tonight will doubtless
be we'll filed.