The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-04-25
'SHEESLEY HAS
FLOOD EXHIBIT
PENSACOLA SNOWMAN NEARLY
CARRIED AWAY WHEN OHIO
RIVER AT b Ell EVuE, KY,
OVER FLOWS ITS BANKS.

Captain Sheesley's. Car, (Enroute),
April 24.-The first time a circus ever
gave an exhibition of Noah's ark on a
picnic occurred Tuesday in Bellevue,
KY, when 40 caravan wagons with a
half dozen cages of wild animals of
the Greater Sheesley Shows went
careering around the carousell and
various tents at the flooded low ground
of the ball park in a veritable sea 10
feet deep. 1t was the result of con-
slant rains, a final burst and the ris-
ing of the Ohio river.
Though it was not intended so by
the show men, it was their funniest
exhibition Two score of horses and
ponies were swimming about, bewil-
dered; fantastic show fronts of Ha-
waiian and Athenian festivities were
dancing up and down in the swirling
water; animal cages bumped here and
there, and lions, leopards and other
species beloved as the deep water
carried the wheels off bottom. Row
boats were Communicated, eight OF
nine of them. The occupants, with
what patience must characterize show
men, worked brayely to lasso the elu-
sive cages and to direct the course of
the bewildered horses.
When the thrush of water subsidized,
their efforts gained some effect. The
horses and ponies were led up to the
high and dry street. The floating cara :
vans, wagons and cages were moved
to the dry banks! That was the extent
of their efforts for the day. The sun
was getting low, and the water was
still too high to allow of work horses
wading in to get a foothold.
Thousands of people, many from
across the river in Cincinnati, gathered
about the high grand stand of the
park to witness the peculiar amuse-
ment, now and then applauding as
some plucky fellow SWAN out to res
cue a marooned poodle dog or some
floating piece of show paraphernalia.
AS the sun lost itself in the west, and
nature tinged the clouded sky shade
of old rose, the scene became one of
still life, changed from the droll to the
do1efu1, and yet strangely more fasci-
mating. The veritable sea was now
at it's high water mark, and calm, the
surface of the water being broken by
the jutting Of the battered canvas
gable of the side show, the animal
show, the lonely round top of the
carousell, the barred frame of the mo-
tordrome, of some circus ride.
The dense crowds remained until
darkness engulfed the now growing
dismal scene.
BY noon the next day, the water had
receded enough to allow of some of
the structures being disjoined. Real
work started. Strings of Steam horses
waded in belly deep to haul out some
of the wagons, and jog with them ur
the incline. 1t was Saturday before
all the water had receded to allow
the last of the structures being re-
moved. Fortunately show structures
are built to withstand wet weather
which fact limited the damage to a
small extent. Most of the structures
damages were repairable. No animals
were lost.
The incident was but one of the many
as a result of the cloud burst ana the
river rising. Flooded back yards and
cellars in the vicinity of Cincinnati
were as numerous as broken hearts in
saloondome after the Volstead act was
passed. But it was a wet time here
abouts.