Sunday, November 27, 2005

Barnum & Bailey Street Parade 1903/ Forty horse hitch


Jake Posey's view while driving the Two Hemispheres band wagon.

Posted by Buckles at 11/27/2005 06:49:00 AM

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

No disrespect to the animals, but this is a perfect shot of animal rights personel. My favorite one is second from the left. I did not see a cb brand on it, but reconize the face anywhere.

27 November, 2005 08:05
Anonymous said...

The "40 horse hitch" consisted of 4 horses abreast, one rein to each pair of horses. On each side of the wagon pole were a pair of horses called "polers". Ahead of them were two pairs hitched to a swinging wagon pole.All of the horses in front were hooked by traces and reins. The lead horses were 80 feet from the driver.

The "40 horse hitch" was recreated under the sponsorship of Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co., Robert Uihlein, Chairman, at the urging of Chappie Fox. The unit originally appeared in Old Milwaukee Days/Schlitz Circus Parade in Milwaukee. The parade was renamed the "Great Circus Parade" after Schlitz stopped sponsoring it. The driver who recreated the "40" was Dick Sparrow and in the last few parades the hitch was driven by his son Paul.

27 November, 2005 16:30
Anonymous said...

I can still remember the day on the Milwaukee Lake Front "Great Circus Parade" lot during the course of a practice run of the "40 horse hitch" was coming down the sea wall road. When all at once an overhead cherry picker with the female photographer aboard taking pitches for her book spoked the horses...Well, needless to say a couple of wooden picnic tables were turned into toothpicks..don't believe anyone was seriously injured but it wasn't a pretty picture...I have to credit either the older Dick Sparrow or the son for handling the "40 Horse Hitch" like a professional teamster.

27 November, 2005 18:27
Anonymous said...

The female photographer mentioned in the above comment was Lynn Goldsmith who was shooting the Great Circus Parade for National Geographic Traveler. During the train ride from Baraboo to Milwaukee, she was hanging by one foot out of a helicopter getting pictures of the GCP train. She later published a book, "Circus Dreams" which is sold in the Gift Shop at Circus World Museum.

The family had been sitting at the picnic table when the "40 horse hitch" trampled the table. The only one injured was a nine year old boy. The family refused an ambulance ride too the emergency room and choose to drive the boy to their doctor. The father of the boy commented to myself and a couple of others from the Great Circus Parade office that he was relieved that none of the horses had gone off the sea wall into the lake. If that had happen in Chicago or New York, the lawyers would have been on the scene immediately handing out cards.

29 November, 2005 12:26
Anonymous said...

I recall a similar occurrence at the
Erie County Fair, Hamburg, New York in August 1977. Dick's son Paul was driving the 12 Horse Hitch on the track when a woman with a baby stroller crossed the track in front of them (Don't know where Security was to stop them) and spooked the horses.It was only because of Dick Sparrow's heroic efforts, that he was able to stop the run-away horses and prevent any further injuries.
Dick was slightly injured(I know,
because I took him to the hospital), but the 40 Horse Hitch did not go on that night.
Rita Francisco
Yorkshire, N. Y.

26 July, 2010 00:41

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)