Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-07-01
.bARNUM & BAILEY
CIRCU S GREETED
BY GREAT THR0NC

Barnum & Bailey's came, it saw but
1t did not conquer. Although the skies
shone upon it and one Of the most
perfect days of the year greeted it, the
terrible condition of the field where
they appeared caused the street parade
to be given up and delayed the open
ing Of the afternoon performance about
one hour 1t also caused them to give
up the chariot race and Put a dent In
the plans Of the clowns, for they start
ed to circle the arena with Ford
I but it got stuck before it had gone
many feet and it was necessary for the
crew of tent men to get about and
carry it out of the tent. The circus
was greeted by great crowds both
afternoon and evening, the tent being
packed for each performance and the
show was fully up to the expectations
of all concerned as it was one of the
finest that has ever been seen in the
city
The trains arrived from Portland at
about the usual time on Friday morn
ing and the work of unloading was
quickly started The first wagon to the
lOt was lIlS COoh "dSO1l, bOt IL was loui
hours before it was finally landed in
place. The other wagons came along
slowly and all through the forenoon
the circus people struggled to get the
wagons onto the lot across ground into
which the wheels sunk almost to the
hubs. On some of the heavier teams
it was necessary to put on as high as 40
oy,6 thoU would all
to strain to haul it through the turf
1t was 1915 before the last wagon was
In place on the lot and the tired team
sters and horses were allowed a chance
to rest and eat. During the entire fore
noon there was a large crowd on hand
to watch them and those people who
were interested in good teaming and
good horses derived as much interest
and enjoyment from the work Of plac-
ing the wagons on the lot as they
would have in seeing the show.
The crowd began to arrive early but
were met with the statement that the
show would be late in opening.
The circus people instead Of letting
the crowd in so that they would have
a chance to see the animals held them
outside until they were ready and the
result was great rush at the gates
which lasted for nearly an hour. The
PEOPLE poured through the animal tent
and into the main top and 1t filled up
very rapidly. 1t was about 2.45 when
the first act Of the big show began and
the performance lasted for practically
two hours, introducing a number Of
new features. The races which closed
the show were very tame as 1t was
impossible for the hoi ses to be run on
the field and no one expected the cir
Gus people to try it, the chariot race
being given up entirely.
During the entire forenoon a great
crowd waited on the line Of march for
the parade as it was announced but
they waited in vain for the teams were
all engaged in getting the necessary
things to the lot and the parade wag-
ons set up near the station just where
they had been placed when they were
unloaded. 1t was nearly IL o'clock be-
fore the people finally gave up hope
Of the parade coming and started to
rush to the eating houses, which were
busy places for the next hour.
AS soon as possible in the afternoon
the work Of loading the circus was
started and hard luck came to them
almost at the start one OF the heavy
wagons with material for the cook tenn
tipping over so that it. laid on it's side
blocking the road. 1t took some time
to get this back and in the meantime
it was necessary to haul around an.
other way. The road nearly in front Of
the field also went to pieces and deep
holes were dug in it by the teams and
every team had to have practically all
the horses they could get on 1t to get
it off the field so that it was a late
hour when the last team left and the
circus was on it's way to Bangor