The sun., 1903-09-13
EATON STONES CIRCIS DAYS.
Great Bareback Rider Who Learned
Things From the Indians.

Eaton Stone, the od-time circus man,
who died recently in Nutley, N. j.. could
remember when three wagons, ten horses
and a dozen men made pretty fair show.
He was born in Burlington, VT, in 1878,
and when he was still boy he ran away
and joined Buckley S Wick's circus, which
in those days was considered great af-
fair.
At that time night performances were
never thought Of. for the reason that there
were not sufficient lights. Most of the
performers were tumblers, vaulters and
clowns. A tent that would seat 250 persons
was a big thing, and to take in $50 day
was fine business.
To advertise the approach Of circus,
a man went ahead on horseback, tackled
up posters, engaged board at taverns and
hired public squares for the show. The
approach of the circus into town was
heralded by bugler.
The Buckley d Wick Circus consisted Of
forty horses, eight wagons and thirty-fve
persons, and the tent would hold 800 per-
sons.
The so-called bareback rider OF the cir
Gus rode on a pad That performer vas
Sylvester Spencer, and John H. Natnan
was the fancy rider. Miss Banks was the
female rider, and at that time there were
only two others in tho country. All used
broad pads on their horses. Matt Buckley
was the sack-rope performer and clown.
The menagerie was unheard Of in the early
circus days.
All the riders had to groom their own
horses, except Miss Banks, whose horse
was taken care Of by others. The orches-
ira put up and took down the tent.
The costumes worn by the riders Of
both sexes consisted of short jackets, with
lace collars and Wristbands, kneebreeches
and stockings. Tights came into favor
after Nelson Hover introduced them at
Rouse's Point as a matter OF necessity.
His regular clothes had not arrived and he
appeared in the ring in his drawers.
Tom Nathan sang Jim Crow and Long
tailed Blues" which were the melodies Of
the day.
After being in the circus one year, Eaton
Stone was taken away by his father. He
had been home only a short time when he
skipped out and joined Purdy, WEIGH d Co. q
circus, which was the first to travel with
band Of music and make real show while
on parade,
As bareback rider Eaton Stone became
one of the best in the business under the
direction of Bill Brown, the ringmaster.
He was in the South and the Southwest for
seventeen years In Arkansas the Chero-
kee tribe Of Indians were friendly, and the
chiefs, after he had performed for them,
gave Stone some bead suits.
The Pottowatomies once captured Stone
and held him prisoner for nine months,
but treated him we'll. for the reason that he
was an expert in riding wild horses. While
the hunters were busy, Stone. who had been
left in camp, stole pony and started for
the Widow Drew's cabin. thirty miles
away
Chief Red Rear and his son followed and
caught up with Stone. who. in order to
escape, had to shoot the son. When he
reached the Widow Drew's, he got a meal
and started for the Red River, which he
reached in safety.
The Indians, while Stone was prisoner,
taught him tricks which white men never
knew and later on he did an Indian act
on n wild prairie horse in the circus
In 1910 Stone joined John Raymo nd's
circus and went from Cincinnati TO Red
River. The first elephant ever seen in
that region was with that show. 1t bore
the name of Columbus.
From Texas the circus went to New
Orleans. at which place Columbus broke
loose, killing the keeper OF another ele-
phant Over one hundred men with guns
chased Columbus thirty miles along the
coast, filed his hide with shot and finally
advertised az having fifty pounds Of shot
in his body, and many persons paid dollar
to see him.
In 1854 Stone went to England under
contract to Gen. Rufus WEIGH, who paid
Stone half of the receipts. He opened in
the Drury Lane Theatre. Among the
spectators were Queen Victoria and Prince
fryuhtpnpI hp 10