Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-29
BIG SHOWS ATTRACT
GRAND STREET PARADE OF
FOREPAUGH-SELlS CIRCUS
A BRILLIANT SUCCESS.

'io'aSoHe Td9Sdnt witnessed ny
Thousands Of Spectators Along the
Principal Streets - Afternoon Per-
Torrance Pleased An Immense Au-
dience.
From Mondays Daily.
| The Forepaugh-Sells street parade,
which attracted crowds of spectators
to the central district. was glittering
pageant of gold and gorgeousness, with
many unique and interesting features.
A body of trumpeters and mounted
heralds led the procession followed by
military band and number of char
lots of allegorical significance, embel-
lished in golden bas-relief.
A group of fourteenth century
knights in picturesque costume mount
ed upon richly caprisoned horses fol-
lowed. The second division led by a
band chariot, consisted of an eques-
trian display remarkable for the at
tract1ve character of the horses. A
large float carrying fourteen Russians,
men and women, costumed in the
, gowns worn at Russian wedding
feast, three herds of elephants, in
Guiding Congo" and "Zeffa," two At
rican war elephants said to be the
only two in captivity, cavalcade of
camels, followed by float bearing
group Of Japanese in their native hol-
iday dress; two tandem teams of
great beuaty.
The musical clowns leading the
third division created considerable
merriment. A body of mounted Hus-
sars, two Roman racing chariots
drawn by eight fiery steeds, number
of allegorical floats, military display,
representing the American armies of
the wars of 1875, 1912, 1848, 1861 and
1898, open cages containing lions,
tigers and other wild animals. An
enormous tank cage showing the mon
ster hippopotamus completed the third
division. The fourth division consist
ed of military band, many elaborate
ly decorated floats, several open cages
of polar bears, the performing Shet-
land ponies and many other interest
ing features.
An immense gathering Of people
witnessed the opening of the after
noon performance. The elephants
danced, clowns cut merry capers and
the laugh Of the small boy resounded
through the great arena where fully
several thousand of his mothers, faith
ers, sisters and brothers kept him
company.
A series Of interesting historical
tableaux, in which nearly one thous-
and actors, horses, elephants and cam
els portrayed the changing scenes in
cident to the opening of the Panama
canal, opened the main performance,
after the spectators had passed an
hour in the menagerie.
Following this spectacle which van
ished like a mirage, twenty odd ele-
plants bounded into the three rings,
and waltzed, walked on their hind legs
and interlocked trunks in fanciful
combinations. A Shrek from the host
of children welcomed the regiment of
clowns which broke into the hippo
drome oval as the elephants swung
their unwieldly bodies back to the me-
nagerie. The reign of JOY continued
until the acrobatic specialties began,
when everyone held his breath at the
daring performers who did impossible
things on flimsy trapezes and bars
high in the air. Wonderful equestrian
acts came next. Bud German won
hearty applause with his string of
thoroughbred Kentucky beauties Julia
Lowande's artistic bareback riding
was warmly praised, and the seven
O'Briens did marvellous stunt with
their "tally-ho and four"
The final performance will be given
tonight at s o'clock.
The Forepaugh-Sells combined
shows is one of the big three, Barnum
& Bailey and the Ringing Brothers
being the other two. 1t arrived here
Sunday, quietly and leisurely put it.
self away on the circus grounds. Dur
ing the day the scene was visited by
thousands of people who found it an
extremely interesting place. The tents
were all up excepting the big main top
and the accessory show tents Part of
the day vase devoted to a general
cleaning up of the equipment and
bathing the animals, after which the
employees turned in for rest and the
tented city was as quiet as the tomb,
Humanity and animal life rested. The
good order and Sunday quiet about
the grounds was remarkable feature
At O'Clock last night the lights were
out excepting few here and there as
guides and pilots and the great white
expanse glinted under the stars So far
as we could tell there was no life
der those tents. The good order that
was maintained certainly was credit
able to the discipline that some mas
ter mind had worked. The circus is
all that it is advertised to be-im-
mense. clean, up-to-date, novel and
worth an evenings time and the price
OF entering. With delightful weather,
an immense crowd is awaited tonight.
DARBYvILLE.
Darbyville Aug. 26.-Geo. Simmons
;es