P. T. Barnum's Great Roman Hippodrome, 1875

P. T. Barnum's Great Roman Hippodrome. Record of a trip around the U.S. and Canada in 180 days. Compiled and arranged by Phil McNutt. Wilstark, Baldwin & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1975. Circus World Museum's Parkinson Library provided the photocopy of this route book, which is a typed copy of an original located in the Weidener Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The typed copy was made by J. P. Grace in 1940. It seems to have an unusual amount of spelling errors, either in the original or in the typed copy. All information should be checked with additional sources. There will be spelling and typographical errors.

P. T. Barnum's Great Roman Hippodrome

    This Company was organized in New York City in 1874 and was first opened to the Public in that City, in the new building, 26th St. and 4th Ave., which occupied the entire block and was erected especially for this exhibition.
    Here they showed to crowded houses until Aug. 1st, when the entire company, 500 in number was moved to Boston, where they remained 3 weeks, and showed to crowded houses giving 2 and 3 performances each day
    From Boston, they went to Philadelphia and remained 3 weeks, which proved a great success. From there to Baltimore for 10 days. Here they met with the first mishap of the season. The canvas was blown down and received considerable damage. From Baltimore to Pittsburg for 10 days thence to Cincinnati. Here they had a novelty, in the way of a wedding, Mr. Chas. Colton and Mary Walsh being married in a balloon which was at least a mile high when the ceremony was performed.
    At the expiration of the advertised time, the whole company returned to New York and again opened in the Hippodrome building doing good business all winter up to the time they left on their present trip, April 11th, 1875.

Managers

W. C. Coup, Manager

S. H. Hurd, Treasurer, Gen’l Supt.

Dan Castello, Supt. of Amusements

Frank Whitaker, Asst. Supt. of Amusements.

Frank H. Gonier, Chief Ticket Agent

Chas. M. Colton, Asst. Ticket Agent

W. F. Sommerfield, Purchasing Agent

Thos. G. Douland, Distributing Agent

A. Sellers, Secretary and Paymaster

Geo. B. Bunnell, Direcotr of Parade

D. S. Thomas, Press Agent

C. W. Fuller, Gen’l Agent

W. W. Durand, Gen’l Press Agent

Geo. Field, Adv. Press Agent

F. A. Bartlett, Excursion Agent

E. A. Tinkham, Advance Agent

Chas. Lloyd, Publisher, advertising programme

Bill Posting Brigade

C. F. Haskins, Chief Carter Contourier, Advance Herald

J. M. Fuller, Lithograph Agent

Billposters:

George P. Davis	John Gregory	George Scott
F. G. H. Wilson	Dave Holbrook	Edgar Taylor

Asst. Bill Poster, F. A. Page

Chief Detective, S. F. Fisk. Assistant Detective, G. Baker

Jas. L. Hutchinson, Agent for Autobiography of P. T. Barnum. H. Lloyd, Assistant

Hartman’s Silver Cornet Band

Leader, Fritz Hartman. Asst. leader, C. Lucy

Hidanch	Schmitt	Blank	Gartland
Schultz	Lindler	Trueman	Gore
Markroft	Scranponi	Winter	Underhill
Lippkle	Geiger	Probst	Britton
Diricks	Camise	Sorlie	Borsby
Weber	Stinfell	A. Blank	Lamar
R. Trinkman	Woodell	W. Girard	Berquest

Drum Corps

Drum Major, Geo. W. Adams

Drummers:

Phillip Hunker	John Canard	Wm. H. Weed	Geo. Decker
Adolph Bode	Chas. Maur	Conrad Goegel

Baggage Master, Geo. Wade

Performers

Trapeze performers: Lazell, Milson and Master Lazell

Ladder Balancing Act: Satsuma and Alright

Roman riders: Dan Stevens, Frank Morgan, Lewis Whitaker

Champion Ped?, James Smith.

Chief Usher, Geo. K.Frazier

Assistants: Sam Smith, Gus Hornbrook, George Cable, Geo. Cook

Door Keepers: Chas. Warner, J. Cornish, G. Gullifer, C. Mitchell

Mail Agent: W. H. Conklin

Wig Maker, Juel Magory

Indian Life

Chief and riders, Indian riders and performers. L. Curtis, Indian Frank, Snake Squirrel, Coon Zella, Master Freddy Roberts.

Chief in charge: William Kennedy

Mexican riders & Mazeppa: Thos. Manning, William Car, Indian Deerfoot

Lady Performers: Miss M. Lewis, Mrs. Grady, Mrs. Woodhill, Madame DeAtley

Lady Riders:

Miss M. Jackson	Miss Phillips	A. Jackson	Mrs. Milson
J. Sawyer	Mrs. Roberts	Annie Yates	Aggie DeAtley
Miss M. Oswald	Miss M. Taylor	Mrs. D. Satsuma

Wardrobe

Mrs. A. Donovan

Assistants:

Annie Clifford	Mrs. Baker	Katie Steel
Mary Bowers	Mrs. Martin

Keeper of wardrobe: Henry Smith

Charge of dressing room, Mrs. Frank Whitaker

Prop Managers

Joe Baker, Fred Hamilton

Assistants:

H. H. Ware	J. Bradley	J. Wohr	J. Perfoskie
J. P. Oliver	D. T. Garrett	W. Patton	J. Kennedy
C. Winters	J. Deebee	J. Rabb

Master of Supernumaries, Charles Roberts

Assistants: Meehan Bros. R. Smith, J. Woods

Carpenters: A P. Martin, J. Crissye

Master of Repair, Alonzo Briggs

Master of Chariots, Samuel Madden. Assistant, A. Gardner

Paddler, John Woodward. Assistant, W. Flowler

Master of ???, J. E. Smith. Assistant, Zella.

Gas Engine, Geo. Waterman. 1st Assistant, A. Hellar.

Lighting: T. Crane, C. Stone, T. Joyce, J. Allerman, W. Morrisey

Harness Department, P. J. McNulty, H. Coddy

Zoological Department

This department is in charge of Prof. Chas. Warner or better known as “Alligator.”

Assistants:

Wm.Thom	Joseph Kelley	Geo. Thornley
Jos. Conley	Thos. Gilmartin	Antione

Keeper of Monkeys, Doctor Hodge

Sailmakers & Flagmen, in charge of Edw. Ray. Assistants, C. Seymour, H. Brown, S. Knapp

Side Show or Palace of Wonders

Proprietors, Bunnell Bros.

Manager, William Henshaw

Stage Manager, Chas. Yale

Master Mechanic and Senior Artist, Dan Black

This is not one of the things usually seen traveling with a show company, but is one vast tent as large as an ordinary circus, containing 12 cages of animals, 4 elephants, 5 camels and a number of curiosities. The performance lasts one hour and the managers have secured the following talent.

Ladies: Mrs. Simpson and daughter

Mr. & Mrs. Murray	Carlton Sisters	Mrs. E. Grady	Miss C. Danvarges
Mrs. Marshall	Miss V. Ferrand	Miss M. Heining

Gentlemen:

S. S. Smith	Wm. Kennedy	Sargent Burke	Chas. Yale
Chris Mathews	Master Whittaker	Dick Marshall	Kit. Carson
H. Williams

Side show canvas is in charge of Charles Hammelton, with the following canvasmen:

Jas. Daley	John Barney	Chas. Wake	Moses Loomes
Frank Howard	Gil. Martin	James Antonell

Confectionery Department

Proprietor, G. W. Coup

Manager, Bob Westendorf

Assistants:

Sam. Eclis	C. Barker	Dan. Hertzog	J. H. Steere
John McGee	Bob Gill	Jas. McGee	F. McGuire
Shell Hange	F. Dele	Ed. Masters	Jas. McIntyre

Proprietors, L. S. Edgerly & Zack Coup

Chief cook, Oscar Johnson. Assistants: Wm. Smith, Jack Woods.

Waiters:

Jas. Dunigan	John McCullough	Wm. Kenton	G. Kelly
Joe Ward	John Costello	Robert Jones	Chas. Walters
Chas. Desmond	John Maloney	E. Riley	Fred Stiner
Jas. Drew	Jas. Calligan	P. Furman	O. Zimour

Canvas Department

Boss Canvasman, E. Carey. Assistants, Chas. P. Murray, H. Clifford

2nd Asst., L. Putnam

3rd Asst., P. Walsh

And 200 canvasmen

Canvasmen:

B. Cochlin	H. Green	P. Reddy	J. H. Reily
A. M. Reid	S. C. Hill	R. Moody	J. Collins
M. Augustin(?)	G. Hufman	G. Logan	A. J. Whitman
H. Parsons	G. Miller	D. Coots	E. Cullen
W. Boswell	J. Lewis	F. Odon	Wm. Bradley
C. Goodwine	J. Cahoon	J. Miller	M. McLoughlin
J. Emery	J. Grady	D. Waterman	J. Keller
J. Miller	C. Davis	C. Keeler	W. Pomeroy
C. Hiber	F. Mamroue	O. P. Holland	J. Underwood
R. Bryan	N. Conway	J. Irving	J. Taffe
M. Reddy	J. Fenton	J. Whalen	T. Murray
F. Wells	C. Goodal	G. M. Gardner	W. Lynch
T. Austin	T. Casey	J. Riney	T. Werring
J. Bean	W. Davis	J. Davis	D. Dougherty
J. McCarty	M. Quinn	J. Koppy	J. Hewes
Wm. Crane	K. O’Brien	D. Kanin	F. Harrison
W. H. Short	J. Reed	W. Newman	H. Henley
G. Bursam	M. Shaw	W. Hurbert	F. Brown
F. Hadnot	John the Baptist	W. Shinton	J. Reed
J. Brady	E. Hufman	E. Rogers	J. Allen
A. Good	W. Dunn	R. Good	W. Rieby
J. Sullivan	H. Brown	W. Duffey	T. Wilkinson
J. Baldwin	T. Lee	J. Smith	C. Fox
J. Brown	W. Kelly	J. McLaughlin	R. Hartman
W. Carroll	G. Kopp

J. Edmond, S. Rose, C. Brown, F. Hafner, Joe Steele, T. Brumbour

Veterinary Surgeon & Master of the Horse Department, Dr. W. W. Mitchell

Assistants: William Smith, John Strickland

Drivers:

J. Ward	D. McCarty	Joe Bursham	W. Doran
W. Ray	C. Crossgrove	D. Maley	T. Erd
C. Tobin	F. Phillips	E. Murdoc	W. Boozan
C. Wilbur	J. Chapman	G. English	J. Murphy
A. L. Page	A. Willmouts	S. Chauncy	J. Tanner
A. L. Chase(?)	P. McCormick	E. S. Hall

Race stock, 70 in number. Supt. David McKay

Grooms:

R. Reiley	E. Jones	L. Aults	J. Miller
P. Clancey	W. Gorman	H. Butcher	W. Smith
T. King	Tom Gray	W. Race

Jockeys:

W. Ennes	W. Bishop	J. Kelly	J. Henry
J. Clay	Ben. Wright	A. Fitsximons(?)	Jim Johnson

Transportation

Master of Railroad Transportation, P. S. Halstead. Assistant, Jas. Halstead

Car Inspector, J. Remington

Sleeping Car Conductor, Oscar Burns

The transcribed route book does not provide the name of the city for the dates. Click here for the route with cities. Opens in a new window or tab.

April

Monday, 12th. Business bad; weather cold and disagreeable.

Tuesday, 13th. Weather continued cold, with sleet and snow storm. At 7 p.m. it commenced snowing hard and at 6 a.m. the canvas fell down from the lot of snow. No damage except to the canvas.

Wednesday, 14th. 50 sail makers were put to work repairing damages.

Thursday, 15th. The managers telegraphed for Higgins of New York and his full force, 60 in number. They arrived at 1 p.m. and immediately went to work and completed it on Thursday night at 2 a.m.

Friday, 16th. Canvas was . . . fair house in the afternoon but at 6 p.m. it again commenced snowing and spoiled the night business.

Saturday, 17th. Sun shone out early in the AM and the day promised to be fine but at 12K the weather changed and became very cold. Business, fair.

Sunday, 18th. Storm continued. It snowed for 24 hours. McLean was alert and lowered his top.

Monday, 19th. Weather continued cold and changeable. Business fair.

Tuesday, 20th. Business dull and weather cold.

Wednesday, 21st. Business dull owing to the severity of the weather.

Friday, 23rd. Business fair, weather stormy

Saturday, 24th. Weather continued stormy. The canvas was crowded to the utmost capacity. At 7 p.m. it commenced snowing and at 9 p.m. the canvas fell from the weight of the snow.

Sunday, 25th. Started for Brooklyn to remain 6 days.

Monday, 26th. Business bad.

Tuesday, 27th. Weather continued cold. Prof. Donaldson made an ascension with the press delegation present and landed 30 miles north of the city.

Thursday, 29th. Business fair. Weather moderating.

Friday, 30th. Business fair, weather fair.

May

Saturday, 1st. Weather continues fair. Business good. Prof. Donaldson with press delegation made an ascension and landed 20 M from the city.

Sunday, 2nd. Left New York for Bridgeport, Conn. 58 miles.

Monday, 3rd. Weather fair. Business good.

Tuesday, 4th. New Haven, Conn. 18 miles. Business good. Rained hard.

Wednesday, 5th, Business good. Prof. Donaldson attempted an ascension in a gale, struck a tree and burst his balloon.

Thursday, 6th. Arrive at Hartford at 7 a.m. to remain two days. Distance 28 miles. Business good, weather cloudy and rainy.

Friday, 7th. Weather cloudy and in consequence of the track being in bad condition, we had to abandon it and proceed to Springfield.

Saturday, 8th. Springfield, Mass.

Monday, 10th and 11th. Worcester, Mass. 2 days.

Wednesday, 12th, 13th, 14th. Three days. Providence, R. I.

Thursday, 15th. Taunton, Mass.

Friday, 16th. Sunday, arrived Boston, Mass. and stayed 10 days.

Friday, 28th and 29th. Lynn, Mass.

Sunday, 30th. Started for Portland, Me.

Monday, 31st. Portland, Me.

June

Tuesday, 1st. Lawrence, Mass.

Wednesday, 2nd. Manchester, N. H.

Thursday, 3rd. Concord, N. H.

Friday, 4th. Lowell, Mass.

Saturday, 5th. Fitchburg, Mass.

Sunday 6th. Started for Pittsfield.

Monday, 7th. Pittsfield, Mass.

Tuesday, 8th. Albany, N. Y.

Wednesday, 9th. Troy, N. Y.

Thursday, 10th. Utica, N. Y.

Friday, 11th, 12th. Syracuse, N. Y. 2 days.

Monday, 14th -17th. Rochester, N. Y. 4 days.

Friday, 18th. St. Catharine, Ont.

Saturday, 19th. Brantford, Ont.

Monday, 21st. Hamilton, Ont.

Tuesday, 22nd, 23rd. Toronto, Ont.

Thursday, 24th. Guelph, Ont.

Friday, 25th. Stratford, Ont.

Saturday, 26th. London, Ont.

Sunday, 27th. Arrived at 8 a.m.

Monday, 28th, 29th. Detroit, Mich. 2 days.

Wednesday, 30th. Toledo, Ohio.

July

Thursday, 1st. Adrian, Mich.

Friday, 2nd. Jackson, Mich.

Saturday, 3rd. Lansing, Mich.

Monday, 5th. Grand Rapids, Mich.

Tuesday, 6th. Kalamazoo, Mich.

Wednesday, 7th. Fort Wayne, Ind.

Thursday, 8th. Logansport, Ind.

Friday, 9th. Lafayette, Ind.

Saturday, 10th. Danville, Ills.

Monday, 12th to Saturday 17th. Chicago, Ills.

Monday, 19th to 24th. St. Louis, Mo.

Monday, 26th. Jacksonville, Ill.

Tuesday, 27th. Springfield, Ill.

Wednesday, 28th. Decatur, Ill.

Thursday, 29th. Bloomington, Ill.

Friday, 30th. Peoria, Ill.

Saturday, 31st. Galesburg, Ill.

August

Sunday, 1st. W. Steel drowned at Quincy.

Monday, 2nd. Quincy, Ill.

Tuesday, 3rd. Keokuk, Iowa.

Wednesday, 4th. Burlington, Iowa.

Thursday, 5th. Ottumwa, Iowa.

Friday, 6th. Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Saturday, 7th. Des Moines, Iowa.

Monday, 9th. Iowa City, Iowa.

Tuesday, 10th. Davenport, Iowa.

Wednesday, 11th. Rock Island, Ill.

Thursday, 12th. Freeport, Ill.

Friday, 13th. Dubuque, Iowa.

Saturday, 14th. Waterloo, Iowa.

Sunday 15th. Enroute to Minneapolis, Minn.

Monday, 16th, 17th. Minneapolis, Minn. 2 days.

Wednesday, 18th. St. Paul, Minn.

Thursday, 19th. Red Wing, Minn.

Friday, 20th. Winona, Minn.

Saturday, 21st. Lacrosse, Wis.

Monday, 23rd. Madison, Wis.

Tuesday, 24th. Janesville, Wis.

Wednesday, 25th. Fond du Lac, Wis.

Thursday, 26th. Oshkosh, Wis.

Friday, 27th, 28th. Milwaukee, Wis. 2 days.

Sunday, 29th. Arrived in Rockford.

Monday, 30th. Rockford, Ills.

Tuesday, 31st. Dixon, Ills.

September

Wednesday, 1st. Clinton, Iowa.

Thursday, 2nd. Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Friday, 3rd. Marshalltown, Iowa.

Saturday, 4th. Boone, Iowa.

Sunday, 5th. Laid over in Grand Jct account break in roads.

Tuesday, 7th. Started for Omaha 7 a.m. and got as far as Dunlapand, detained there several hours. Reached Gordon, a village of 200 and had to remain all night. Had breakfast at 7 a.m. Omaha, 6th, and Council Bluffs, 7th lost. Arrived at St. Joseph 7 a.m. 9th, losing the 8th. Distance 132 miles. Business good.

Friday, 10th. Kansas City, Mo.

Saturday, 11th. Moberly, Mo. Detained 4 hours account freight off track.

Sunday, 12th. Enroute to St. Louis for 3 days.

Monday, 13th, 14th, 15th. St. Louis, Mo.

Thursday, 16th. Belleville, Ills.

Friday, 17th. Carmi, Ills.

Saturday, 18th. Evansville, Ind.

Monday, 20th. Vincennes, Ind.

Tuesday, 21st. Terre Haute, Ind.

Wednesday, 22nd. Indianapolis, Ind. 2 days.

Friday, 24th. Louisville, Ky. 2 days.

Monday, 27th. Cincinnati, Ohio. 4 days.

October

Friday, 1st. Richmond, Ind.

Saturday, 2nd. Dayton, Ohio.

Monday, 4th. Columbus, Ohio.

Tuesday, 5th. Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

Wednesday, 6th. Akron, Ohio.

Thursday, 7th, 8th, 9th. Cleveland, Ohio.

Closed.

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