The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-06
CIRCUS GAVE 1T UP
Made No Attempt to Give a Show
in Topeka.
Unable to Erect Big Tent Be-
cause of Wet Grounds.
MAKE A LONG JUMP.
Do Not Expect to Stop This Side
of Great Bend.
Great Difficulty Experienced in
Getting Wagons Out.

1t was the circus day that wasn't
Shortly after noon the big Labor day
crowd began to fill the street cars
which were headed in the general di-
rection of Kenwood, but the pleasure
seekers arrived on the water-soaked
grounds only to find that the circus
management had abandoned the
thought of giving even a matinee per-
Torrance in the mire. They were un-
able to erect the big tent or make the
seats safe.
1t was hours before the expectant
throngs would be convinced that there
was really to be no show and the out
going cars continued to carry capacity
loads to the scene of disappointment
until early evening when the last
wagons made their departure from the
grounds.
Kenwood was a regular slough of
despond,' and to give show under
the prevailing conditions was prac-
tically a physical impossibility. The
seats sank in the mud, the tent pegs
would not hold, and the rings were in
a sad condition.
I'VE have a reputation to maintain
and that is worth more to us than the
financial loss we have sustained in To-
peka, said Henry Ringing. 1T would
be an injury to our reputation to go
ahead and give an incomplete show"
1t was a most interesting sight to
watch the big circus strike" and the
thousands of persons who f1ocked to
the grounds felt that Notwithstanding
the fact that there was no perform
ance given in the main top" they had
been we'll entertained.
A side show was going full blast and
drew capacity crowds. but 1t was the
work Of getting the big wagons out of
the mire that particularly interested
the throngs.
Pole Wagon Moved With As Horses.
The climax was reached in the gen.
eral interest when the great pole wagon
the last one to leave the grounds
weighing 81 tons, was simply dragged
through the mud by 4S horses. With
SO many powerful draft animals exert
ing their full strength at once some
thing simply had to happen. At first
slowly and then faster the great wagon
was dragged to the pavement.
It required on the average "a horses
to handle the wagons, and for the on
lockers 1t was a matter of considerable
education. If a wagon stood second
one could see 1t begin to slowly sink.
and 1t was not long before it was down
hub deep.
The fact that there would be no
afternoon show was announced on the
State Journal bulletip-I boards shortly
after o'clock, but by this time many
persons had already started for the
show grounds. "a
The result of there being no show
was the crowding Of the downtown
places of amusement, the show houses
having capacity audiences.
The evening crowd on the streets was
a large one. and it was evident that
everybody was on pleasure bent" The
crowds awaiting entrance at the NOV
ing picture shows extended to the
street, and was a record breaker in
every respect.
Ringling's circus left last night for
Other bookings in Kansas
are at Salina and Great Bend. Word
was received from Concordia to the eff
feet that the grounds at that place
were two feet under water which is not
to say the least. Henry
Ringing announced before he left that
he would probably not unload this side
of Great Bend or until the limits Of
the rain belt were reached.