Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-10-30
THE CIRCUS IN TOWN.
Sig. Sautelle's Colossus Menag-
erie Draws Crowds.
THE MATINEE PERFORMANCE A GREAT
SUCCESS.

Well, today is circus day in Annap-
oils The thronged streets have given
evidence of that fact for hours. Sig.
Sautelle's colossal circus, menagerie
and wild west arrived in this city via
the A., w. & b. Railroad in its own
special train of twenty weight big sew
enty-foot cars at an early hour this
morning, coming from Alexandria, Va. +,
where il exhibited before two large
audiences yesterday.
The unloading of the great train at
Washington street was eagerly wit
messed by crowds of interested specta-
tors. The mammoth elephants, the
massive cages of wild animals, the
huge wagons used TO transport the
gigantic tents, heavy poles and para
phernalia, were unloaded by the veteran
employees with apparently no effort
whatever. In fact, there was a per-
feet system to all the work that was
truly astounding. But that has always
been Characteristic of Sautelle's circus.
Soon after the train arrived in An
napolis the great wagons, drawn by
two, four and six horses, were rulnb
ling along the streets to the place of
exhibition, just off of Clay street,
near the railroad depot The first few
wagons to arrive at the show grounds
were those conveying the cooking out
fit and dining tents, which were I'M
mediately erected. The 'cook houses
as these are called, are always put up
first to enable the chef to give the
hundreds of hard working employees
an early breakfast In the meantime,
cages of wild beasts were constantly
arriving, an subsequently the menag-
erie top w erected.
This is always done at an early
stage to provide shelter for the ami
mails, many of which are very delicate
and susceptible to climatic changes.
Almost before the onlookers were
aware of it veritable city of white
tents loomed up, in "its mushroom
like existence, on what at sunrise
was a bare ten-acre lot. The Sig. Sau-
telle shows cover an acre of about
eight acres. The spread of canvas
which is the professional phrase,
meaning oil the tents, is III perfect
condition, and in its appearance call
not be eclipesd by the greatest show
ON earth The country folk began to
pour into the city early in the day,
and the morning trains brought hun
dreds of peolpe, all of whom came to
see the circus and enjoy holiday.
BY 10 o'clock the main thorough
fares were literally blocked" with
men. women and children, of all classes
and colors, all anxiously anticipating
the rare treat that was in store for
them-the parade. The pageant left
the show grounds at 10 O'Clock and
traversed the principal streets. And
oh what glittering, majestic, process
sion it was First came few beau
tiful traps, containing some of the
star actors and actresses, after which
came a large, handsomely carved band
wagon, in which were seated eighteen
or twenty italian musicians, who dis
coursed, in perfect harmony, the most
popular airs, as well as some of the
standard overtures and selections.
This band is one of the finest to be
heard with any show and was greatly
appreciated by music lovers all along
the line of march.
Following this musical aggregation
were several open and closed dens of
lions, tigers, leopards, hyenas and
numerous other wild beasts; colored
brass band ladies and gentlemen ar
rayed in medaevial costumes and rid
ing gaily caparisoned horses elephants
and camels, !; clowns driving donkeys
attached to queer little carts; more
cages, floats a clown band, which Gre
ated much mirth by its ludicrousness (;
Jockey, hurdle and chariot riders of
both sexes, and last, but not least a
steam calliope. Notwithstanding the
fact that the circus season is nearly
l,n sran NJ r1aYs "a n
s'spick and span" condition, the horses
being particularly good looking 1t
is doubtful if finer street pageant,
from every point OF view, was ever
witnessed. A sturdy farmer was heard
to remark as the procession was NOV
ing along Main street "That er
parade was wuth my drivin nine miles
to see, and he was right, for 1t was.
The doors opened at / o'clock to
afford patrons ample time to inspect
the peerless menagerie. This depart
ment is alone worh many times the
admission fee. While it contains more
animals than are to be seen in many
of Americas best-known ZOOS, interest
centered around BABY Bell, the
smallest elephant in all the world,
being but three feet tall; a one-month
old antelope, and the litter of three
cubs but two months old, all of which
are exceedingly cute and interesting.
1t is a singular coincidence that so
many babies are to be found in a
menagerie at the same time. The
afternoon performance was attended
by thousands. The writer of this arti-
Gle had time to see but three or four
acts, but those witnessed were suffi-
cient proof that the entire exhibition
was far above the ordinary.
One of the salient features, in fact,
said 10 be the only act of the kind on
earth. is a riding lion. The lion not
only rides pony, but performs many
other equally amazing feats in one of
the regular open rings. The act greatly
enhanced the audience by the fact
that lady trainer works the lion. 1t
is safe to predict that the huge water
proof tents will be packed at tonight's
performance.