THE GRANDEST CIRCUS SHOW

P. T. Barnum and Tom Thumb

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, August 12, 1887.

THE GRANDEST [CIRCUS] SHOW

An Enormously Large Entertainment by Barnum.

   The mere mention of the approach of P. T. Barnum's great shows to enough to cause every child's heart to beat faster. It is like spring flowers to girlhood; in fact, all classes, rich and poor, old and young, are more or less interested in this event, for there is a pleasure, a joy, surprise, wonder, amusement, laughter, and instruction to be found within its truly enormous tents that can be found nowhere else, and the entertainment furnished this year is of so royally magnificent a kind that it has been compared to a "revel in wonderland" by the press and public.

   The naming of only few of the marvelous features of the United Barnum and London Shows is like reading of "Aladdin and the wonderful lamp." First, there are the performances by a triple circus in three big rings; then there are the special acts on a huge, elevated stage; then the many marvelous feats of the aerialists, ascensionists, trapezists, etc., and then follow the thrilling and glorious contests of the great Roman hippodrome, with two and four horse chariot races, elephant, camel, monkey-jockey, flat, hurdle, steeplechase, foot, and animal races, on a track forty feet wide and nearly half a mile around; then the mammoth museum, with its living wonders and curiosities; then the reproduction of the monster Jumbo, the big ivory-boned skeleton; Alice, Jumbo's widow , the wonderful hairy family from Burmah, King Theebaw's sacred mascots; Captain Paul Boyton in his marvelous aquatic performances in a specially-constructed lake of crystal water; the flying gymnasium, wherein Senor Myers performs daring feats on the trapeze while traveling at the rate of 30 miles an hour; then the two double menageries; then the 300 tons of performing elephants, and the 12 little fellows doing all kinds of odd tricks; then the world of natural history confined in cages, besides birds, beasts, and huge serpents; then the big tents, and the myriads of features, such as dwarfs, fat people, skeletons, etc.

   As a show, this is the greatest the mind of man ever gave birth to, and when exhibited in the city of New York attracted the enormous number of 500,000 visitors; creating in Philadelphia a most profound sensation, and everywhere else the same. It has been visited by judges, lawyers, clergymen, and the leading men of the army, navy, and the nation, and highly endorsed by all and everyone. It is certainly a most wonderful affair, and well deserves its title of the greatest on earth, while the admission price is the same as to an ordinary show—being only fifty cents. These monster nine shows combined will be here on Monday, August 15, 1887. Two performances will be given, at 2 and 8 P. M., and the parade takes place in the streets at 8 o'clock in the morning.

HERE AND THERE.

   A flagman has been stationed at the Port Watson street crossing on the S. & B. railroad.

   It is now a misdemeanor to intentionally give food or shelter to an English sparrow.

   Hugh Duffy and R. D. Woodford, of this place, have taken out letters patent on a shifting sleigh thill.

   Last week the Hitchcock Manufacturing Co. shipped 14,000 cutter bodies to their branch factory at Hammond, Ind.

   Bean & Faulkner have commenced rebuilding their oil cloth factory which was blown down in Homer a few days since.

   Stone Brothers, proprietors of the Home foundry, have taken the contract to build 75 looms for the Homer Wire Fabric Co.

   The Emancipation [Proclamation] celebration is in progress as we go to press. Only a few colored citizens are present from the surrounding counties.

   Comrade D. F. Dunsmoor has been appointed Assistant Inspector of Cortland county for the Grand Army of the Republic for the current year.

   Slices of lemon about one-fourth of an inch thick, applied to the temples, are said to be very effective in cases of sun stroke or prostration by heat.

   Mr. Burgess started a dime express in this village on Monday last. It will prove a great convenience for handling light packages. Orders left at business places will receive prompt attention.

   According to a law passed in the New York Stale Legislature last winter, all soldiers and sailors of the late war, who are unable to perform manual labor, or are pensioners, are exempt from paying a poll tax.

   Dr. E. U. Kingman is building a bathing house for ladies and gentlemen on the extension of Grant street, near the Crandall bridge. He is also building a boat house near the same place that will accommodate a dozen boats. He expects to open the same to the public Aug. 13th.

   A law passed by the late Legislature provides that any transfer or conveyance of real estate hereafter made by a married man directly to his wife, and every transfer or conveyance of real estate hereafter made directly by a married woman to her husband, shall not be invalid because such transfer or conveyance was made directly from one to the other without the intervention of a third person.

   Quite a crowd of sports gathered in front of Wells Hall, on Clinton Ave , last Saturday evening, and waited some time for the doors to be opened but Mr. Wells, it seems, refused to allow a boxing match to take place in his building. The match was to be between Dick Kerwin, of this place, and George Parker, of South Cortland. It is understood that Kerwin did not put in an appearance. He is an ordinary sized man, but very handy with his hands. Parker is a huge, powerful young man and looks as though be might fell an ox. The sports were considerably disappointed when they learned that the match would not take place.

   The old Bates carriage shops on James street. Homer, have been leased by W. S. Stephenson, who will carry on horseshoeing, blacksmithing, carriage painting, and repairing.

   Mrs. Harriet Henry, wife of Alexander Henry, committed suicide by hanging at her home in East Scott, last week Wednesday. She is said to have been insane. Coroner Bradford held an inquest and the jury found in accord with the above facts.

   The Telephone Co. orders every non-subscriber wishing to send messages out of town to go to the public office. It is an annoyance to subscribers, as well as to the manager and operator. Understand, no more such messages will be taken.

   The Homer Wire Fabric Company have purchased land opposite Gilkerson's foundry in that place, and will soon commence the erection of large buildings tor their use. The main building will be 142x70 feet, and three stories high. The engine and boiler room will be 28x37 feet. The company, although organized but a short time, seems to be prospering finely.

   Tuesday afternoon Oscar Horton visited the blacksmith shop of John Graham, in the rear of the Calvert block, during the latter's absence. He soon got into an argument with Dan Lee, who was in charge, and a fight resulted, during which Lee had a gash cut entirely through his left arm with some sharp instrument. Dr. Dana dressed the wound and Horton was arrested.

   Last Tuesday afternoon, while Miss Hattie Long was assisting her father, Mr. John Long, in V. Carpenter's sand bank on East River, she accidentally caught her foot in the horse power, smashing it badly. The same morning and at the same place, a bank gave way, burying Mr. O. Carpenter, who was working there, under three feet of sand. He was carried to the residence of Mr. Long, on Arthur Ave., in this village. Although pretty badly squeezed and nearly suffocated, he will recover.

   Parties who attend the show on Monday should remember that pickpockets and fakirs of all sorts are liable to be in town on that day. The management do not intend to allow crooked people to follow them, and keep none in their employ, but it is impossible to prevent such parties putting in an appearance occasionally. Our advice to the unwary is to play no man's game, and they will not be taken in and done for. Beware also of sleek and thrifty looking men who are wanting to purchase farms or other property. Parties who intend to purchase property are not looking for it on Barnum's day. Confidence men may lay in wait for you. Have as little to do with strangers as possible. No one has ever been swindled in any of Barnum's previous visits to this place, but it is well to be on the lookout for rascals. If any reader of the DEMOCRAT suffers, it will be because he did not profit by sound advice.

CRUSHED UNDER THE WHEELS.

Addison Stewart Run Over and Killed by a Train on the E. C. & N. Railroad.

   Last Tuesday morning the mangled body of a man was found at the head of the switch on the E. C. & N. road, about 275 feet south of the crossing on Railroad street. The body was so horribly mutilated and mangled that it could not be identified. About 9 A. M., Mr. Eli Colegrove, who boards at the Arnold House, heard the particulars and knowing that Addison Stewart, the hostler at the hotel had not appeared that morning, he and landlord Hodge went to the scene of the accident. The keys of the hotel barn were found on his person and they were also able to identity him by his clothing. He was evidently struck by the engine near the crossing and dragged or pushed along the rails to the switch where the body was thrown to one side. The fingers of one hand were cut off near where he was struck. But very little blood was found from that point to where the body lay.

   The head was nearly severed from the body, and little was left of it except the lower part of the face. One arm was torn in pieces and nearly every bone in his body was broken. In the hand that was uninjured was a plug of tobacco. Coroner Bradford of Homer, was notified and the following jury was empaneled: L. V. Smith, M. E. Rice, Patrick Dunn, E. D. Mallery, G. S. Edwards, J. B. Leonard and J. R . Eastman. The remains were taken to Firemen's Hall where the inquest was held.

   Two or three witnesses were sworn from whom it was ascertained that he was seen on Main street a little past 10 o'clock the evening previous, in a somewhat intoxicated condition. The inquest was adjourned until this morning when further testimony will be taken.

   He had been at work at the Arnold House for a month past and had signified his intention of quitting on Monday night. Previous to coming here he had worked in the lumber mills for Lee Calkins, in Haights Gulf, for a month or so. His home was in Georgetown, Madison county, and he came to Cuyler last fall where he worked for farmers a month or so, in a place, until he went to work for Calkins. Stewart was about 45 years of age, and was a single man.