The times., 1901-05-06
ARRIVAL OF THE CIRCUS
Employees of Ringing Brothers
Show Pass Busy Night.

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The Trains BearinG the Menagerie,
Tents, and other PnraphernaIia
Delayed - Animals Made Comfort
able 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 glitteriug parade chariots and
masSed with wagons, stakes, poles, tents,
and all the other paraphernalia of a mod
ern circus. An army of 1000 men ar
rived on the site at s 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
predGminated. 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
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 an 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 We're
hoisted. In this way the big menagerie
tent was ready for occupancy by the time
the wagons containing the cages began to
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 canvasmen had completed the
erection of all of the tents required i'm
mediately, work was begun on the main
tent. This is an enormous enclosure, con-
tanning three rings and quarter mile
track besides a seating capacity of 49,
900 people. The construction of this main
building, il were, was Superintended
by several skilled officials, who marked
of 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 a score of cooks making coffee and
frying sayory 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 a
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 500 horses carried
with the show were given feed and shell
ter. After the meal a 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 will 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, one
man Staked Oft nice location early yes
terday morning and by moor had a com
plete merry-go-round ready for opera
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. 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 Ringing Bros. circus is an ex-
ceptionalIy large one, and the show
promises TO be a 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, 30 elephants
and herd of camels. besides 800 horses.
While the show is TO be here but two
days, everything has been made as com
Portable at the grounds as though a month
was to be passed here. Everything is
ready for the big street parade which
Will start from the grounds at o'clock
This will include solid mile of features
which VIII 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 6f
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 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 First Street, to
Il Street northeast, 10 Second Street
northwest. TO Pennsylvania Avenue to
Seventeenth Street. to II Street, to Thir-
tecnth TO G., to Massachusetts Avenue;
thence to circus grounds.