Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-14
BARNUM's FIRST CIRCUS.


 sIt is 8 fact, though not generally known, that Barnum's first venture as a circus man was made in Washing ton,'' volunteered an old circus rider who is now a clerk in an up town de pertinent to a Star reporter, "as it is also fact that his engaging in the circus business came about from sug- gestion of a Washington boy, Hugh Coyle. In the fall of 1863 Coyle, who had been employed during the previous summer as drummer, in the band connected with Gardner, fleming & Co.'S circus, returned to Washington, having finished his engagement, the circus going into winter quarters.
 "W. B. Sim was then running Can terbury hall, on Louisiana avenue, as a variety theater, and he gave Coyle a job selling tickets. He never sold any, however, for in talking over circus matters with Sim he said he thought it would be good thing and make barrels of money-circus people always talk of money by the barrel-if a win ter circus was opened up in Washing ton. The war filled the city with sol- diers, and they spent their money free ly. Coyle further suggested that, as circus he had been with was doing nothing, he thought it could be brought here, but that to make it as attractive as possible there should be some ami malls secured.
 .sUp to that time Barnum had been before the public only as the proprietor of hall shows and museums. 1t was known that he had about dozen bears in New York which the people there had tired of, and he thought they might be secured. Correspondence was entered into with the owners of the circus. Adam Forepaugh, James E. Cooper, and John O'Brien, all of whom have gone to their reward since.
 sgThe upshot of the matter was that Barnum agreed to contribute his bears, handled by Grizzly Adams, famous since as clown; Forepaugh, Cooper and OsBrien to furnish their circus, and Sim to furnish the lot, pay for advertising, billposting and the city H. cense. The proceeds were to be di- vided up, Barnum to get one-third, the circus one-third and Sim the remain der. Colonel Sim got permission of 5. b. fFGucu, luSl COHlAu1oolOhCA tOA Peeo lie buildings and grounds, to establish the circus on Louisiana avenue, be tween Ninth and Tenth street.
 sAs Barnum was favorably known as a museum owner the establishment was styled P. T. Barnum's circus, mu- scum and wild animal exhibition The. museum part consisted of lot of stuff which had been saved from the fire when Barnum's museum in New York was burned. The bears were rather old and out of form, but they went just the same Barnum's principal contribution was his name, but the concern paid handsomely. Two per formances were given most every day, and the audiences were made up al- most wholly of soldiers and others brought here by the war. was leading attraction, riding a bareback horse, which was then a sensation on account of it's novelty.
 ssWe played there for the fall and part of the winter. Barnum was pleas cd very much with the amount of mon- ey that was weekly sent as his share of the receipts. The new business caught his fancy, and two years after ward he started out in the circus busi- ness on his own account. The museum business is New York has been about played out and the tent show offered more certain proceeds. ."--Washington Post.