Thursday, May 29, 2008

From Jim Cole #1


July 8, 1913 Sig Sautelle #2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Sig Sautelle, July 8, 1913
Buckles, Here are some photos from the "Circus in Newport, RI" series. Can you ID these elephants?
Jimmy Cole

"In my files I find that the three big elephants were leased from Wm. P. Hall. They had been included among the elephants Hall had purchased the previous winter from the defunct Campbell Bros. Circus.
No idea where the two little fellows came from or who the elephant man is. Looks like he has done it all before."
Buckles

Posted by Buckles at 5/29/2008 06:26:00 AM

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Would the riding position, with the legs draped forward, over the elephant's forehead, suggest Ringling experience? Or, was that a commonplace type of mount?

29 May, 2008 08:17
Buckles said...

Depends on the elephant, if she has an even gait this is the most comfortable position, Ringling or otherwise.

29 May, 2008 08:28
Bob Cline said...

Jimmy,
I've been researching the Campbell Bros. Circus for the last two years preparing an article for the Bandwagon one day.

Several things should be looked at. First there are many questions as to which elephants were on the Campbell Bros. Circus.

The final 1912 replevin will list Bughouse Alice, Annie and Wallace Lizzie. They all went to Wm. P. Hall. My records indicate they stayed at his farm in 1913 before being leased out in 1914.

Lee Greer, who had been one of the original owners, left the show after his wife died in 1905. She was a Campbell sister. Supposedly he had his own wagon show in 1906 and had three elephants. I can find no proof of any of this. However, in 1912 after the Campbell show folded, he filed suit against the Campbells for non-payment for using his three elephants the last three years of the show. I've never found any information after 1912 on these three elephants so who knows where they went.

Also remember that in 1910, the show carried 11 elephants including one male, Fritz. They had a terrible train wreck near Babcock, WI. where two elephants were killed. A couple weeks later in Lancaster, MO. ( Home of WM.P. Hall )the local newspapers do count 9 remaining elephants.

In 1912, the show is reviewed in a newspaper and details the parade. Again it lists 11 elephants. Accounting for the 6 elephants already mentioned, there are five elephants that are unaccounted for.

Some elephants that were on the show that have been unaccounted for since then are, Lulu in 1907, Mary in 1909, and perhaps Gentry Queen and Sells Topsy.

So all in all, you ask a very interesting question Jimmy.
Bob

29 May, 2008 08:45
Bob Cline said...

I also have a copy of a Billboard article from 1914 that states the Rollins three elephants in Ring 1 and the Rollins 4 elephants in Ring 3. George W. Rollins was a part owner in the show from 1911 to 1914.
Bob

30 May, 2008 09:26
Bob Cline said...

I didn't make that very clear. The article from 1914 with the Rollins elephants is for the Sig Sautlette Nine Big Shows.
Bob

30 May, 2008 09:27

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