The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1905-06-16
WORLDS GREAT CIRCUS.
FoREPAUeH.sELLs THE ATTRAC,
TIoN IN NORFOLK TO-DAY.
A DAY OF SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
From the First Peep OF Dawn There
Has Been Something Doing to In.
terest and Entertain the Multitude.
A Splendid Parade.
Irrom Tuesdny,s DnIlyl

cles. aunts, and not infreQuently
grandparents, as chaperons, were up
with the first streaks of dawn this
morning to see the four circus trains
of Forepaugh and Sells Brothers un-
load. but their early rising was use.
less as the first train did not arrive
until after Z o'clock. They did, how
ever, enjoy the sights of the herds
of giant elephants, mammoth cages,
toy ponies and other animals and
paraphernalia that go toward the
making of one of the worlds greatest
shows, unload from the cars and take
their way to the show lots on the
Olney pasture between South First
and Second streets. This plot of six
or eight acres was taxed to its ut
most capacity to afford accommoda.
tions for the gigantic aggregation
and soon its surface was completely
covered with the great stretch of
canvas thatt shelters the animals, the
performers and the guests Of the
show from the heat and rains and
cold.
The tent and stake wagons for the
menagerie top were the first on the
ground and under the skilled direc-
ton of one of the "colones" of the
circus army, they were soon located
and the steady thump. thump of the
sledge soon provided the Foundation"
fnr nj tN mi tel ,T
the tent poles and their equipment of
guy ropes followed in order and in
almost less time than it takes to tell
it after the first wagon reached the
lot there was the first spread of can
vas, and the other tents appeared,
grew and raised up in manner that
would astonish the average mushroom
if it could but observe. 1t all worked
out as simple proposition and as
smoothly as very accurate and we'll
oiled piece of machinery, and before
people were well aware that a circus
was in town it had secured a tenn
porary home, alive with interest to
the public.
The care of the horses and the men
is one Of the first Considerations of
! the circus manager and among the
| first tents raised were those for feed
ing the army of worllmen and feeding
and protecting the well kept circus
! horses. While the other canvases
were being raised and other details
| looked after breakfast was being pre-
pared by the cook and their assist
ants and the hOstlers were busy with
the feeding and care of the horses.
The first train arrived from Omaha
at 1880 this morning and was fol-
lowed by the other three at brief in
tervals of time, the last arriving about
the middle of the forenoon. This left
but a few hours to complete all ar
rangements for the circus and make
preparations for the grand parade.
but it seems that the bigger the cir
Gus, the better the management, there
were no waits or delays from the time
of the arrival of the first train to the
parade through the streets.
The Parade.
The Forepaugh-Sells people give
particular attention to the parade fea-
ture of their performance, and it was
witnessed by thousands of people in
Norfolk this morning. It proved a
glittering pageant of gold and gor-
geousness, with many unique and in
teresting features. A body of trum-
peters and mounted heralds led the
procession, followed by a military
band, and a number of chariots of al
legorical significance, embellished in
golden bas relief. A group of 1tth
century knights in picturesque cos
tune, mounted upon richly capari-
isoned horses followed.
The second division, led by band
chariot, consisted Of an equestrian
display remarkable for the attractive
character of the horses; a large float
carrying fourteen men and women
costumed in the gowns worn at
Russian wedding feast; three herds
of elephants including Congo and
Zeffa, two African war elephants, said
to be the only two of the species in
captivity; a caravan of twenty-five
camels, followed by float bearing a
group of Japanese in their native hol-
iday dress; two tandem manage
teams of great beauty.
The musical clowns leading the
third division created considerable
merriment; a body of mounted Hus-
sars two Roman chariots drawn by
eight fiery racing steeds, a number
of allegorical floats; a military dis.
play representing the American ar
mics of the wars of 1776, 1872 1S4S.
1861, 1898; open cages containing
lions, tigers and other wild animals,
and an enormous tank cage showing
the hippopotamus completed the
third division.
The fourth division consisted of a
military band; many elaborately dec
GRATED floats several open cages of