Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-10-18
CIRCUS ANIMALS


Shows and Van Amburg's Wild Animal
shows which exhibited to two large
crowds in Yorkville yesterday was in
good humor when a couple of news
paper men dropped round to the big
top late yesterday afternoon and the
genial Irishman spent considerable
time talking circus and showing his
visitors the animals and giving out
some facts about them. Charlie is one
of those showmen who is a Snowman
because he couldn't help it if he
wanted to. He has been in the show
game ever since he was knee high and
as he expressed it yesterday, ''it just
comes natural now." Charles brother
Jerry Mugivan is the largest show
owner in the world. He owns practi-
cally all the stock in the big show that
exhibited in Yorkville yesterday; he
owns the Buffalo Bill Wild West show
and he has number of other organi-
cations exhibiting in various parts Of
the country now.
Despite the fact that he was well
over military age, Charlie Mugivan
was one Of the first TO enlist in the
1O6th Engineers when Uncle Sam got
into the World War and he was over
sexs in France and Germany for many
months. After getting overseas he
figured that he could best do his bit
by organizing Il circus for the soldier
lads and this ne did. The big show
Travelled all over the war area showing
day after day to crowds Of from lO,OOO
TO 10000 soldiers. Name and fame OF
Mugivan's circus was. far and wide and
there are no doubt many soldiers in
this section who will recall it.
This has been a hard year on cir
cuses according TO Mugivan. Short
crops and low prices for agricultural
products are responsible. When
farmers north south, east or west
don't get good prices for their pro-
ducts they can't come to see the cir
GUS" said Charlie.
1--WE haven't made any money IN
weeks and in fact, we have broken
even in mighty few towns. out OF
twenty seven towns in North Carolina
that we have played recently we MADE
little money in five. In the others
we suffered a big loss. We were
agreebly surprised at the attendance
in YorkVille and while we didn't make
any money here why we will break
about even. Our daily expense Is
about $4,000 and of course you see that
lots Of people have to pay the price OF
admission to get that much money
every day.
But it has been n bad year and il
the railroads strike comes it'may be q
good thing for us.
cbp,U &c CtrODp on animals
Charlie went on to say: People al
over the country like to see animals
land next year we e going to start ou,
with an exclusive wild animal show
The acrObatic stuff and other athletic
features don't go so much any more
and we are going to give the people
lust what they want. OF course the
clowns are still a good feature. They
always have been and always VIII be
Appeal strongly 10 the kids, yot
know
Conducting his visitors into the
menagerie OF the big show, Charlie gol
to talking wild animals.
See that big lion over there? That
Brutus. He is about eight years ole
and is one of the finest specimens OF q
male lion in captivity. Brutus is feel
ing badly now. We had to pull one OF
his teeth-a big jaw tooth the other
day. Brutus got in row with one ol
the lionesses and the old girl busteo
Brutus's jaw and we had to pull his
tooth. Brutus won't act. He probably
never will act. Too mean. Just keeE
him for breeding purposes. we
couldn't duplicate him for thousand
dollars"
Charlie showed his visitors a lioness
he
fellows are only a few weeks Old" he
said. There are three males and Il
female: The males are much more
valuable to the circus thar the females
We won't begin training them for a
wear or two yet. Doesn't pay to start
with them two early. Like human be-
ings they learn more as they grow
older and we will let them grow awhile
before we begin their training.
This big hippopOtamus over mere Is
named Vic. We bought him from the
National 100. in Washington. An eX-
pcnsive boOgcr he is, too. We paid
81 200 for him. He is a lazy old fellow;
Int pretty good naturcd. His favorlte
food Is dandeliOns and they are hard
10 find in some localities. We FEED
him bran as a substitute. lie likes
apples and other fruits and he Is iona
of candy.
"Hipps don't live in captivity very
long as "A rule but Vic appears to be
in good health and we hope that he Is
going To be with us Il long time"
Charlie tried to open Eic's big mouth
but the hipp wouldn't open so he call
cd Louie" the German animal trainer
To the cage.
Vic opencd his big front for Louis
without any trouble and the trainer
ulaccd his hand far down in the sea
bnhrmoth'S mouth and rubbed his
gums. The animal seemed to like II.
"Mv baby, he want apples said
Louie" 50 Charlie called Dad one OF
the circus rOustabOuts To go get apples
for Vic which the big hipp ate with
The kCcnest relish.
Lost couple of young pumas this
morning" said Charlie as he halted
his visitors in front of cage OF
pumas on American lions. They
were only few days old. The mother
got mad ut them this morning and
killed them. Wicked beasts those pu-
mas. They are as vicious as snakes
and we have Il lot of trouble with
them.
zone thing about them though, they
are cheap. out west IN the Rocky
Mountain country we can buy them III
any quantity. They are numerous out
there you know and lots of trappers
make Il living catching them for cir
cuscs and ZOOS. Had chance to buy
a couple Of beautiful specimens for Sl5
each last summer. | was busy when
the fellow came around and didn't do
t.aN