Monday, May 28, 2007

Al G. Barnes #6


SAVE2885, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Barnes and "Tusko" at circus winter quarters in December of 1927.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

How many people did Tusko kill, compared to say Black Diamond?

Buckles said...

I'm not aware of him killing anyone.
He died in solitude at the Seattle Zoo 6/10/33.

Anonymous said...

Since he is heavily chained in several of these pictures was he known for running a lot, or was that just standard procedure in those days?
Carl

Anonymous said...

We've never seen another bull in any of your pictures with chainmail like this. Did he have a lot of bad habits or was his size that intimnidating??cc

Buckles said...

When he was bulling, he was a Holy Terror, in fact he was left in quarters throughout the seasons of 1924-25-26 and 29.
Since he was so heavily advertised Barnes decided to get another big tusker. Both "Diamond" and "Tusko" were with the show in 1928, it must have been something.

Anonymous said...

was the loss of his ivory due to the martingales ?
wasn't this the Tusko of Slim Lewis fame ? (I Loved Rogues)
Mr. Barnes certainly projects an image of authority, looking absolutely presidential on train vestibule

Buckles said...

I think the photo of him being taken to the Seattle Zoo on a flat bed trailer shows quite a bit of ivory remaining.
He may have rubbed most of that off while walking free in his outdoor pen.