The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1901-01-07

His Capital was Soon Increased So
That He Could spare 800
for "a Church.

Circus people, as rule, are the best
travelling class railroads have to deal
with, " said George B. Kretsinger. of the
Kansas City Southern, who has had
much to do with such combinations
says the Kansas City World. "They
are always found to be close figurers.
presenting million and one conten-
tlons, asking as many, if not more
courtesies, but in the end the results
are generally satisfactory to both
parties.
~ IS only within the last few years
that railroads began handling circus
outfits The country road and wagon
once alrorded a cheap method of trans
portation between small towns where
nlckels, dimes and quarters rarely |
failed to be taken in BY the hatful
Those not on country roads were found
on the large rivers, shifting their dates
20 SUIT the seasons, all the way from st.
raul and Cincinnati to Cairo, ILL.,. and
New Orleans. The late Col Dan Rice.
VINO probably pleased more people as
clown than any other sawdust king.
was striking figure among the per-
forming river craft, and one of the first
to put his show on the rails.
This was back in 49, when panic
swept over the country and river towns
had hit the sky, right and left, for the
show business. Rice and his animals
We're tied up at St. Louis. waiting for Z
times to grow better, when trading :
hrm offered good lump sum for his G
boats He figured it was 90 broke in c
Almost any event, so he sold, and then q
oegan to tour eastward with train OF ii
borrowed cars. 1t was a big undertake =
ng, even for Rice. who was about the
'iehest in the business in those davs
'ut everything went reasonably well =
lntll he started to enter Indiana The sc
ast illinois town was rotten The tt
now had hardly made animal meat th
say nothing of the money to get to he
mother stand. As last resort Col
ice soaked the show to the railroad
ompany to put him into Vincennes
lst over the state line, agreeing that ne
ne eompanys agent there should play -
oorkeeper and hold out what was com Ia,
e. Nincennes did not look a whit .
'od- The town was dead and the in. 'oi
lpitants wouldn't enthuse bit over su
ie bum band and bright-colored 4vao. Re
Is. An hour before the afternoon ner-
rmance was to begin found Col. Rice
clng IN front of the main entrance a.
Turlng with himself for dear life. aft
aen party of ladies approached. a;o
Col. Rice they began, we have al. "'s
lys heard Of you as a very charitable ma
and. unfortunately. our gen
ureh has been damaged and needs I
y roof. We thought you MIGHT he ,.r.
ling TO subscribe toward it,
There was man who had i,,.. ers
oo up railroad asked to give money abo
ay' but he was equal to the occasion e.ut
an he pulled from his pocket a '@S'
kei and posing it on his finger re- the
az boil
Ladies. I am now balancing a cash 80.
punt II appears small TO Won no 'o-
ot. but in truth represents all the b00l
let possess. II this show does anv espt
ness here III not only contribute man
aro repairing your church. but I'M - -
g new roof on it,
ne two performances that aav q
e The old man $50. paid for the eiing
jump and out of it was donated vice,
e The church. at Nl