Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-24
BARNUM & BAILEY
ATTRACTS CROWD
Street Parade Doubtless the
Finest of It's Kind Ever
Seen in Rock Island.
MANY UNIQUE FEATURES
Immense Tents With Seating Capacity
Of $4,000 Are Pitched in
Exposition Park.

The circus parade. instead of losing
its interest. is becoming more popular,
and during the couple of hours that It
took for the Barnum and Bailey par
ade to traverse the thorougfares of the
city this morning. little work was done
in any OF the Offices.
The parade was doubtless the best
OF its character ever seen on our
streets. 1t was the biggest, the long.
est, and contained more real features
than any other parade. 1t left the cir.
Gus grounds on time, and in every way
realized the anticipation of the vast
crowd which thronged the streets.
Many unique and interesting feat
ures were shown A troupe OF trrIm-
peters and mounted heralds headed
the procession. followed by a military
band and a number of chariots of al
legorical significance highly embel-
lished in golden has relief A body OF
knights in tournament array, mounted
upon richly caparisoned horses, fol-
lowed. The second division, led by
band chariot, consisted of an equestri-
an display remarkable for the attrac-
tive character OF the horses, there be-
ing many candidates for the blue rib
bon. Four herds of elephants and a
caravan Of camels were followed by
ten tandem teams of great beauty.
driven by smartly gowned equestri-
ennes.
A feature entirely new and rarely
seen except in unusually significant
military parades was the mounted
band OF some thirty musicians on
beautiful gray horses. Roman racing
chariots, drawn by eight prancing
steeds; number of allegorical floats,
open cages, containing lions, tigers
and other wild animals. completed the
third division. A military band COM
posed of lady musicians was a decided
attraction to the parade.
The fourth division consisted of a
military band, many deliberately decor
ated floats, several open cages of wild
animals. performing Shetland ponies
and many other interesting features.
Big Afternoon Attendance.
An immense gathering filed the great
tents to witness the afternoon per-
Torrance at Exposition park. Ele-
plants danced, clowns cut merry cap
ers and the hearty laugh of childhood
resounded through the vast arena,
where fully $4,000 happy mothers. faith
ers. brothers and sisters kept the little
ones company.
The performance opened with an i'm
pressive grand spectacle, a veritable
tournament of gorgeously costumed
people and richly accoutred horses, ell
III ~
ing splendor OF an oriental pageant.
The spectacle told in pantomimic ac-
ton the fairy legend of THE Wizard
Prince of Arabia"
Following this spectacle twenty odd
elephants leaped into the three rings.
they waltzed. walked on their hind
legs. formed majestic pyramids. inter-
locked trunks in fanciful combinations
and played a game OF baseball. Sig
nor Bagonghi kept the audience in a
merry humor by his comedy equestri-
anism.
A shrek OF childish glee welcomed
the regiment of clowns which broke
into the hippodrome oval, as the ele
plants swung their unwieldy bodies
back to the menagerie. The reign Of
Joy continued until the acrobatic spe-
cialists began, when everyone held his
breath until the daring performers |
who did impossible things on fiimsy |
trapezes and bars high in the air. Gil
ants, midgets, fat women. wild men.
and a hundred interesting freaks make !
I'D the greatest side-show ever seen.
The little folks went into OBSTACLES
over the kitten-like ways OF the baby
animals in the zoo kindergarten.
The last performance will be given
tonight at o'clock, doors opening at Z
o'clock.