Saturday, July 01, 2006

Cole Bros. Circus horses #1


Boxing horses presented by Mahlon "Alabama" Campbell and Capt. John Smith.

Posted by Buckles at 7/01/2006 06:31:00 AM

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

What about boxing elephants?
You know Adam Forepaugh's John L. Sullivan?
I read were Adam Forepaugh had custom some over size boxing gloves to put on his front feet and he boxed another elephant(possibly Dunk who later went to the National zoo)
They also made him a huge diamond studded championship belt to put on John L. Sullivan the elephant.
Also they put a glove on his trunk and he boxed his trainer.
You have any photo's of John L. Sullivan?(the elephant that is)

01 July, 2006 14:55
Buckles said...

In the 1887 Adam Forepaugh program:
Display # 18
Ring 1- The boxing elephant John L. Sullivan introduced by H. Thompson.
Ring 2- Performing donkeys
Ring 3- Clown elephant Pickaninny performed by Charles McCarthy.

1889 Program:
Ring 1- Quadrille of dancing elephants
Ring 2- Performing donkeys
Ring 3- The pugilistic elephant John L. Sullivan

1892 Program:
Ring 1- The famous Forepaugh trained elephants presented by P.M. Meagher.
Ring 2- The favorite clown and boxing elephant John L. Sullivan presented by William Delavoye.
Ring 3- Trick elephant marvels of animal wisdom presented by the king of all animal trainers George Arstingstall.

I have seen caracatures of the boxing act showing "John" with a glove on the end of his trunk flogging a clown.
I have known several elephants that could accomplish this feat with no training at all.

01 July, 2006 18:04
Anonymous said...

I think Patsy Meager(aka Patsy Forepaugh also use to box
John L. Sullivan on stage on the theatre circuit tour during the off season.
He(Patsy Forepaugh) was later killed by Big Sid at the Sells Bros. winter quaurters in Columbus Ohio in December 1899.

03 July, 2006 15:00

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