The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-07-14
SHOW ON EARTH
Barnum & Bailey Presented a Mag
nificent Performance to Inn
mense Crowd.
nificent P

mense Crowd.
From every direction today people
came to see Barnum & Bailey's great
show. The distance was not too
great to drive and the people COM
meEced to flock in from the country
at an early hour. Special trains
were run over the Milwaukee road
from the south and east. coming
from Armour and Parker and the
coaches we're crowded to s%uffocation.
The west Milwaukee passenger had
on six extra coaches and these were
all crowded, while the Omaha
brought ia an immense number OF
people from as far east as Salem.
1t is estimated that the railroads
brought in yer 5000 people to the
big show. The weather could not
have been more propitious for circus
the sun was not very warm. For the
first time in the history of the circus
there was no parade and the people
were Il trihe disappointed as they
walked up and down the streets
waiting for tie hour Of the show to
begin. EARLY dinners were the rule
and a grand rush was made to the
big tents, which were located on
the fair grounds.
The vast area OF the tent was prac-
Lically filled and fully $4,000 people
watched with unvarying Interest
what occurred in the many rings and
platforms. 1t made a fellow wish
he had a dozen eyes to keep track
of all that was being done. From
the time that Prof. Claire's mag
niicent band commenced its concert
it was one b%ewildering scene OF bril-
liancy, the climax ofwhlch was cap
ped by the appearance Of DeJiers,
the young French lady who makes a
trip defying deathsin her automobile.
The performance in all rings was u S
pended while this young lady did her
daring aet. IN d moment she was
wRisked to the platform surrounding
the lofty steel structure and took her
seat in the machine. Two attendants
strapped her securely in place, and
the automobile efept forward until
the front wheels settled over the
brink. The machine was held in
lcheek until it stood almost at the
perpendicular Of the steep incline.
1t was a breatl3less moment and the
people leaned forward S if to stay the
progress .ef the machine, yet anxious
TO see the conclusion of the act. Sud-
denly it shot downward around a
sharp angle, plunged through space
upside down, struck the second in
cline with a fearfua bang, crash ed
down to the ground and sped forward
to the limit of the open space. 1T
was over and a great sigh Of relief
went up from the cadence. The
whole thing was done quicker than
it takes to tell it, and the people 81
fascinated by the dare devil act. A
cheer went up from the crowd in adj
miratiOn for the nerve of, the little
French an and she smillingiy
bowed her acknowledgements when size
was taken from the car.
The performance opened with the
gorgeous pageant known asstheDurbar
of Delhi.a sumptuous grouping Of
men and animals in the rich trap
pings and regalia of the, orient. The
historical spectacle was re-enaeted.in
la picture full of life and color, paint
ed with barbaric splendor.
The audience was captivated by
the amazing performances of trained
elephants. "a in all. The star act
represented 4 battery of artillery
in action and the ponderous brutes
actually worked the guns.
Bareback riding, in its grace anG
daring, realized all the traditions
LOT the ring and introduced some
pretty novelties besides. 1.-the girl
ridders in tilmy skirts, stately women
in the conventional habit, girls
with no skirts at all, and skillful
men, cantered through exhibitions of
finished horsemanship. The eques-
trian feats Of a beautiful dog ap.
peared as the acme OF canine accom-
pllshment
Aerial exploits on the flying trapeze
were executed with dash and nerve.
Girls participated in the thrillig acts
land. the snug crimson costumes ems
phasized some exceptionally pretty
Figures. There was a pretty sym
postum Of acrobats. The Grunatlo
troupe, comprising seven champion
|acrobats. put on a star performance, /
the perilous character Of which was
enhanced by the handicap Of long
skirts. Several other troupes were
: seen in startling feats, such as double