Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-18
N!GHI IN THE JUNGLE
TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE
AT DosTOCK OPENING.
AND THEY SAW A FINE SHOW.
Performance of Trained Wild AMI
mails the Feature Of the Exhibi-
tion-Monkcyx middle Together,
But the Dig Amphithcntrc Was
Comfortable.

!
About $500 people visited BostoclS's
/! Great Animal Arena las: night to wit
TESS the opening performance or the WIN
| ter season. The horse show amphithea ire
at Reservoir Park was once more alive
/ With thousands attracted by the display
| Of wild animals. There We're no tan
| dems or park tours, with blooded horses
| no jumpers and hunters, except man
| hunters. The big arena that two months
| ago was devoted to the exhibition of the
| favorite domestic animal, was converted
! into a modern jungle last night.
] The boxes extending entirely AROUND
| the building were not occupied by beau
! tiful women in exquisite gowns, chat-
! ting gaiIy with their escorts. They nave
! all disappeared. boxes and chatterboXes,
! and in their stead are 10 be found one
| continuous row of cages. iron barred
and double locked, containing every klnd
Abyssinian lion. The oers-anent, menas.
| erie is not the prime feature of the show
! that Mr.. Bostock has brought here tor
winter quarters. The performance OF the
! trained animals in the great steel circular
cage in the center of the show ring
showed the marvellous degree. of skill
that has been emp,oyed to bring them
to such a point OF perfection. and IS ths
feature of the show. Certainly no such
| performance Of trained wild animals has
been given in this city before nc
| The intelligent acts of Liz the mon
| ster elephant. under the direction of Pro-
| fessor Charles Miller. showed the high
| est order of animal sense. BonaVita. Win
! his lions. gave a great exhibition. but
| Hermann Wieden. with his comblna ton
| team of dogs, bears. lions, and DINER
| animals. gave undoubtedly The most IN
teresting performance OF the evening. Any
ore who will witness the doings OF one
of his bears will believe that there was
| once a Little Red Riding Hood. and That
| l., II flrl.A t1o
in particular was the object OF great
interest He did everything that he was
told TO 90. He had the combined skill
of a japanese juggier and aerial acrobat
Not content with balancing himself on 4
huge ball that he rolled UP and down
a seesaw he stood on his fore paws on
little elevated platform. and just TO show
MS patriotism, be climbed very wobbly
pole to a considerable height. and flung
a United States Gag to the breeze.
Professors Bonavita and Wieden both
troll over urruly lions that at times Dor
dered on the thrilling. III every detail.
the show was of the high-srade order; IN
structive, through the opportunity that
is afforded to study the animals at rest
in their cages: interesting. through me
spectacular exhibitions given in the steel
CAGE, where the trainers patience ana
skill are shown in the wonderful ma
danger that is ever at hand lends al
added spice to the entertainment
There was big outpouring Of official
dom last night a the show Governor
; Montague was absent on account OF sick
ness. but Mrs: Montague. and party
Of friends and Acknowledgement Ander-
son and his party had section OF seats
immedia tely in front of the exhibition
cage. and were interested spectators
throughout the evening. In the throns
that crowded the promenade and the
show ring were number of legislators.
while members Of the City Council and
in evidence on all sides Mr.. Bostoc!l,
through his representatives had extend
cd a number Of invitations to the various
officials. city. and State and they were
accepted and enjoyed. There were a
large number Of paid admissions, also.
as the entertainment was not restricted
to the invited guests, as was erroneous
" announced in one Of the daily papers
contested AT ENTRANCE.
The crowds began to arrive promptly
at o'clock. The arrangements for ad-
might have been. and there was no lit
tie delay and inconvenience at the main
entrance The cars brought the crowds
faster than the ticket agent at the show
building could dispose of them. but It
was a good humored thronS. like most
circus crowds. and the delay did not pre- |
vent any one from Witnessing the per-
fOrmanceS OF trained animals. The build
ing is heated by number of coke fur
naces placed around the show ring The
monkeys. who seem to suffer most from
cold. were IN SptCl3l houses III LiIS lllS
not far from the furnaces but, despite
the fact that the temperature OF the
building was perfectly comfortable, the
simmians crowded together in punches
to keep warm, except when they were
jumping about on the bars OF their cages |
a little more light in the arena would
improve the general effect, and from
time TO time, as improvements are suS- +,
gestcd to the management from expert
cnce they will be made for it is GER !
tainly their desire to make the environ
ments Of the show what It should ID, be.
WHEN THE ANIMALS FEED.
The feeding Of the animals was source |
Of great interest to the crowd; the small |
boy amused himself with the elephant
thing that was offered \ handsome |
lioness. with three little whelps as pref |
ty as they could be. kept large crowd |
continually in 'front.' Of her cage
ate q man out 3 indianapolis. Was in |
PRODUCED, and he bowed his back and |
yawncd like q big tom cat while the
passing thronG Sazed at him Then there |
were two emuS, whom the announcer I
said were birds without tongues tails. or !
wings; and an ugly looking bear that !
the shows stay at Coney Island Grip |
ping the mans arm 50 badly that it !
hangs helpless at his side now The ami
mails, are in excellent condition Their |
cages are docIated in a manner to sug- /
gest to the beasts their nativity. The /
Polar bears arc surrounded by icebergs-
painted ones-while lions from Sierra !;
Leone can chew the leaves from iic- |
titious palms that adorn the rear of their |
cage.
Fine effects were obtained with colored I
lights on the big performing cage when |
the animal tableaux were presented. and |
the scenes in every instance were very |
striking. Treasurer Tudor read cable |
gram from Mr. Bostock. who IS now |
abroad in which he extended his Christ |
mas greetings TO the citizens Of Rich |
mond on the opening night. His express
sious OF good will We're applauded.
SHOW OPEN EVERY DAY.
There will be two performances every
day one a and o'clock. The arena t
will be open on Sundays for the benefit |
OF the many who cannot find time to /
attend the performances during the week |
There will be no performances Of the
trained animals in the steel cage on sun
dav however, but the entire menaserie |
will be open for inspection. The adnis- /
sion charges for Sunday will be reduced |
to Is cents for adults and 10 cents for