The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-23

NEW FEATURES.
Performance Has Been Brought
Up-t0- Date.
Performances Given No Matter
What tho Weather.

Ringlings' circus, larger than ever, Ii
in Topeka today. Like repertoire opera
companies. smooth sailing Is not always
the lot of circus. The yictssitudes OF
the circus are just as many and as
varied perhaps, only that they are not
tinted with the Kaleidoscope glamor OF
the footliRhts- They are OF the plain,
bare and sordid type. The misfortun y
of the circus rarely have thrown over
them the halo OF interest and fascina-
ton that surrounds the people of music
and tinsel. The misfortunes of the
circus usually are extraordinarily COM
monrlace and are caused by muddy
weather, broken car wheels and broken
wagons. and little interest attaches to
the rough and uucouth roustabouts who
are employed to handle the circus ana
make the repairs when necessary.
Ringlings' circus was given In Topeka
this afternoon under trying circum-
stances. The nisfortunes of the circus
today can be traced to one of the rea-
sons in the category above. The circus
was in Kansas City yesterday, and the
rainy weather proved q serious draw
back to the work OF transporting the
show to and from the show cars and the
show grounds. The show ground at
Kansas City was long distance from
the railroad yards, and it had to be
reached part of the way over unpavcd
streets. The wagons as they appeared
ing sunk in mud to the hubs. The show
was not loaded on the train at Kansas
City until nearly o'clock this morning,
long after the time the show should
have been unloaded at Topeka.
The first section of the three trains Of
IS cars belonging to Ringlings' circus
arrived here at 10 O'clock 1t had the
sleeping cars of the roustabouts and q
portion of the cars carried the wagons
with the tents, tent poles, seats and
other paraphernalia of the circus. 1t
was fifteen minutes later when the next
section arrived bringing the horses to
RI g G
The horses were ia their harness when
| unloaded from the cars and the wagons
were all ready to be run down the
gangway from the fiat cars as soon as
the horses and drivers were there to haul
the loads out to the show grounds.
whole string of fiat cars, 20 or more in
number perhaps are unloaded from one
end Between each of the cars are
placed iron plates SO that the wagons
may be run across any number of cars
to gangway at the end.
On account of the late arrival OF the
trains the parade was delayed and ii
was long after noon when the parade
was given.
| The afternoon performance was de-
iayed but the night performance will be
started promptly on time and rain will
Rave no deterrent effect because the
tents are thoroughly waterproof
| Ringlings have a number of new and
special features this year which stamp
them as being up-to-date. The Plomon-
don boys, of Topeka, do the revolving
ladder stunt, who appeared at the Mid
winter exposition and have taken in a
new. man and the trio now give big
act in midair. 8E
The Holloway trio who perform on a
tight wire are worthy OF es5ecial men,
ton, and almost all CIRCUS and tl1este1
sOefs have heard of the famous Nelson
family OF acrobats. The Nelson family
have been seen in Topeka but their act
has been worked up and improved this
year SO that it could hardly be recog-
nized as part of their earlier perform
ances.
Captain Webb's two troupes of edu-
/ Gated seals and sea lions attracted no
little attention at the afternoon per-
Torrance. .t
The three herds of performing ele-
plants are feature of the show this
year and they are better than ever be-
fora.
/ The show grounds are opposite the
entrance to the fair grounds and NAV
be reached by a South Topeka street
car. The Street Car company has ar
ranged for two minute service to and
from the grounds.
Ringlings' circus had a peculiar acct
dent near Lexington, Mo-. last Sunday
as the trains were being taken to Kan
sas City. The track is rough near Lex.
fngton and in going around a SHARP
curve a blacksmith's outfit and the
wagon on which it was loaded wefe
thrown Off a eatcar. nearly carrying
with 1t several other wagons. 1t was fort.
innate that the accident was no more
serious than it was. The only damage
done was the almost complete demol-
1shment of the wagon and outfit and
the breaking of the sideboard on the
datcar. The repairs were partly made
at Kansas City and other repairs are
being made at the shops here today.