Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-07-30
GIG SHOW ON HAND
Ringing Bros Mammoth Exhi-
bition Pitches Tents in
Davenport.
CROWDS GO OVER FROM HERE
Parade Is an Attractive Affar-Some
Notable Features Inside the
Canvas.

The greatest show on earth today
Ringing Bros arrived in Davenport
yesterday during the early hours of
morning in 50 cars. 1t was just after
daybreak when the first train arrived
over the Rock Island from Ottumwa
III contained the tents. kitchen utensils
etc, which were rushed to the show
grounds III the west end. The dining
tent was put up for the big crowd OF
employees who followed later and who
enjoyed a well prepared meal after the
grounds were put in readiness.
Great crowds of people Witnessed the
unloading of the wagons and the ami
mails from this train and the ones that
followed. Intense interest was mani
tested in the unloading of the elephants
and few expected the simplicity with
which it was done. There were five
cars of elephants, numbering about
forty and several cars of other animals
not in cages. 1t took Il large passen
ger cars to transport the employees OF
the show Few spectators left the
place of unloading until the last cal
was emptied.
The Parade.
Long before the time of the parade
across the river this morning the main
streets were filled with an expectant
people. In transporting the wagons
from the cars to the grounds all were
nicely covered with canvas. so finally,
Hnen the parade was given, all was
new.
The parade left the grounds on Rock
ingham road about 1890 o'clock and
passed through the main streets, taking
over half an hour to pass a given point.
The three cities have seen big parades
before. but none anywhere near as
large nor as imposing as the Ringing
Bros. street exhibitions. The horses |
were refreshingly groomed, several
hundred of them and the emblazoned |
,;iied wagons were all works of art |
The G,:Imal dens for the most part, an
exception to the rule with most circus |
es. were open and young and old were
delighted. The people were dressed
and wrapped in the richest costumes, |
mary of which were of imported fab |
RIGS and true to the style of the people |
in the country they represented. The |
cavalcade was an education in itself,
The enormous troupe of elephant: |
and camels were ridden by their keep |
ers in richly trimmed clothes and on
two of the larger elephants were golden |
thrones. draped gaily and in which sat
women riders. clothed in the bejeweled
costumes of the far east. The little
ponies. one hundred or more in num-
Der. delighted the little folks
Features of the Show.
When this afternoons performance
opened with a blaze and blare of the
beauteous spectacle, ''The Field of the
Cloth of Gold" thousands of people
occupied seats in the large tents and
gazed with admiration upon the radi-
ami. resplendent scene before them. All
the characters in this huge achieve
ment. 1900 in number. SEQ dancing
girls and 200 singing choristers, dress
ed in medieval fashion, lent color to the
unwinding glories The spectacle is
the most colossal ever produced under
one canvas.
A daring bicycle ride from the top
of the tent to the end of half loop and
a leap into a net is thrilling feature.
There is a bewildering array of aero
bats. horses and elephants in constant
action. The elephants and horses are
in their way as wonderful as the hui
man actors. They do everything but
talk. Pearl Souder. George Kealey and
George Sudorf with their herds of
pachyderms astonished the audience by
leading their animals through feats al
most incredible.
The performing elephants were as
much a feature as anything. The act
reached a climax when, upon pedestals
they danced TO the tune of There Will
Be Hot Time in the Old Town To
night
The performance will be repeated |
tonight at o'clock.
a Tragic Finish.