Circus Historical Society
P. T. Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth, 1877
Route Book, Season of 1877, P. T. Barnum's New and Greatest Show on Earth, Giving a complete list of all the towns and cities visisted, number of miles traveled by railroad, names of all parties connected with the show, synopsis of business, incidents, etc.. Compiled by Robert Good, Spangler and Davis, Prs. 529 Commerce Street, Phila. Circus World Museum's Parkinson Library provided the photocopy of this route book. All information should be checked with additional sources. There will be spelling and typographical errors.
P. T. Barnum, Proprietor
Geo. F. Bailey, General Manager
A. M. Nathan, Assistant Manager
Lewis June, General Agent
Charles Stowe, Press Agent
Fred Lawrence, Assistant Press Agent
Ben. Fish, Treasurer
W. C. Robers, Ticket Agent
J. J. Nathan, General Purchasing Agent
Robert Fellingham, English Agent, London
Wm. Cropp, English Agent, Liverpool
James Myers, French Agent, Paris
Hagenback Bros., German Agents, Hamburg
Thomas Kelly, Commissary and Layer Out
R. H. King, Commissary and Layer Out
Chas. B. Warren, Chief Doorkeeper
George H. Wade, Baggage Master and Assistant Doorkeeper
Names of Killed and Wounded Men belonging to the P. T. Barnum Advertisement Car, in the wreck that occurred near Des Moines, Iowa, on the night of August 28, 1877.
| F. A. Keeler, Conductor, uninjured | Jack Breeze, Foreman, killed |
| Green Rerry, Railroad Excursion Agent, killed | Henry Jennings, Lithographer, wounded |
| Charles Thompson, Programme Agent, killed | A. E. Fling, Programme Agent, uninjured |
| F. A. Baker, Programme Agent, killed | Andrew Mack, Poster, killed |
| Wm. Clayton, Poster, wounded | Abner West, Poster, wounded |
| Edward Dunn, Poster, wounded | George Rockwell, Poster, killed |
| John Brosell, Poster, killed | James Baker, Poster, wounded |
Advertising Department
F. A. Keeler, Conductor
Walter Waterman, Contracting Agent
James Jennings, Foreman
Henry Jennings, Lithographer
Wm. Van Velson, Programme Agent
Posters
| Robert McGrath | Alex Workman | Wm. Jenkins | R. A. Bowe |
| Charles Ramp | A. E. Fling |
Fred Pride, Animal Book Agent
Frank Townsend, Agent for Barnum’s Autobiography
Thomas Lee, Dispatch and Mail Carrier
Museum Department
W. L. Jukes, Superintendent
J. R. Moore, Engineer
Charles Betts, Adolph Renner, T. H. Segee, L. Moore.
Bohemian Glass Blowers
W. L. Jukes, Oliver Locke, Alfred Seabury.
Captain George Costentenus, Greek Albanian, captured by the Chinese Tartars, and tattooed from head to foot.
Wm. J. Dalrymple, Agent.
Zoological Department
Felix MacDonald, Superintendent and Elephant Performer.
Dr. Oscar Kohn, Trainer of Hippopotamus.
Keepers:
| Fred Rivers | Charles White, Jr. | Samuel Hodge | Harry Worman |
| Joseph Barrett | Cad. Swisher | Henry Smith | James Carter |
| John Betts | William Winnter |
Wm. Newman and Chas. Schule, Elephant Drivers.
Prof. S. S. Smith, Expositor of Natural History and Human Curiosities.
Admiral Dot, the smallest Character Artist in the world.
Mr. & Mrs. Kohn [Kahn?], Father and mother of Admiral Dot.
L. S. Edgerly, Agent for Admiral Dot.
Oblong Canvas Department
Lucius Foster, Superintendent of Oblong Pavilions.
Mike Austin, First Assistant.
John Fenton, Charge of Flags.
Oblong Canvas Men:
| Wm. Fitch | John Teller | John Austin | Walter W. Rice |
| R. Bryan | Michael McNally | Michael Kiernan | John Eatons |
| G. H. Harrison | P. Curnee | Thomas Burns | Luke Webb |
| H. G. Vanburen |
William Rose, First Assistant
Hippodrome
Ben. Maginley, Equestrian Director
Frank Howe, Ringmaster
Performers
Charles Fish, Champion Bareback Somersault and Trick Rider of the World.
Charles Reed, Principal Pad Rider.
Miaco Brothers, Gymnasts.
Leotard Brothers, Acrobats.
George Lair, George Shrode and George Bliss.
Japanese, Satsuma and Allright.
Jennie Louis Hengler, Lady Menage Rider.
Mons. Oscar, Trakene Stallion Performer.
Ted Almonte, Clown.
Wm. Aymar, Scene Rider.
Dan Castillo, Indian Hurdle Rider.
Martinho Lowande, the Brazilian Champion, in his horseback carrying act, also four and seven horse rider.
Tony Lowande, Child Wonder (left in Kansas City, September 19th).
Miss Millie DeGranville, the female Hercules (left in Joplin, Missouri, Sept. 22d).
Mad. Berdue, Principal Lady Rider.
H. Berdue, Tumbling Clown.
Felix MacDonald, Elephant Performer.
Leapers, Tumblers, Acrobats, etc.
| George Bliss | George Lair | Charles Ellis | Charles Reed |
| William Carroll | Bonnie Runnels | Dave Castillo | James Hankins |
| George Shrode | Wm. Aymar | Al Miaco |
Lady Entree Riders:
| Mrs. Charles Reed | Mrs. Miaco | Mrs. Satsuma | Mrs. Howes |
| Mrs. Carroll | Mrs. MacDonald |
Property Men
Alonzo Dunbar, Master of Properties.
William Dunbar, Assistant.
Chas. B. Teese, George Litle, James McNally.
Big Top Canvas Department
Charles H. McLean, Superintendent of Pavilions. Leonard D. Putnam, First Assistant.
John Sullivan, Charge of Seats. John Weaver, Assistant.
John Wilson, Ring Maker.
John J. Riney, Carpenter and Repairer.
Charles Boshell, Charge of Flags and Banners.
Big Top Canvasmen:
| James Davis | James McEvoy | Elisha Barrett | Edward Cosier |
| Jarvis Barrett | John Bassett | John Ryan | James Reed |
| Charles Loucks | Charles Baker | Joseph Hammeyar | Harvey H. Ware |
| Wm. Herbert | Arthur Delaney | Robert Good | Wm. Pomeroy |
| Charles Hamilton | Alfred Good | Sam. Kelley | Wm. H. Smith |
| Ed. Culen | Herbert T. Russell | Terrence Quinn | Wm. Austin |
| Alex Blais | James Davarix | Charles F. Lee | David Stine |
| James C. Ring | Edward Willaim | George Alexander |
Withers’ Silver Cornet Band
Prof. J. H. Withers, Conductor
| R. Withers | C. Schnider | W. Little | C. Blanck |
| J. Richols | J. Willett | G. W. Pearson | R. Trenekman |
| J. B. Sayers | D. Immich | J. Smith | F. Sowden |
| J. H. Allen | J. Cominthe |
Reserved Seats
S. L. Van Wart, Door Keeper
A. G. Spencer, Ticket Agent
Mary Watson, Mistress of Wardrobe
Horse Department
Dr. Asa C. Berry, Veterinary Surgeon and Superintendent of Horse Department.
Wm. Smith, Assistant.
Drivers:
| P. McCormack | Louis Mead | Steve Quick | J. Woods |
| J. M. Walsh | Barney J. Kelley | E. Murdock | S. B. Coles |
| C. J. Ellis | E. Buckley | David Harrington | Wash. Smith |
| Jackson Bradford | Ed. Farley | Douglass Paul | A. J. Chapin |
| Charles Loomis | Webb Pease | Al Johnson | John Harley |
| L. S. Marcy | Jos. Burnham | H. McQueen | C. L. Whitney |
| E. Hack | Wm. Loughlin |
Horse Canvas
Robert Schultz, First Assistant
Fred Hafner, T. Burnham. Jos. Thomson, Geo. Heyett, Leonard Loaks.
Tableaux Men
Fred Bailey, First Assistant.
Ed. Quigley, Mike Conner, Henry Deshays.
Lyman Teator, Chief Oiler.
Ring Stock
Hebb Wilcox, Padder.
Pat. Clancy, Mons. Oscar’s Groom.
Wm. Omeil and George Harvey, Stallions.
James Bealer, Fish’s Groom.
Budd Howe and John Harley, Ponies.
Ticket Department
| T. Foster | W. J. Gould | John H. Flandrow | E. C. Howe and Brother |
| W. Hennian | S. Soals | F. Woodruff |
Railroad Department
P. S. Halstead, Master of Transportation.
James Halstead, Assistant Master.
George P. Reed, Conductor of Sleeping Coaches.
A. J. Remington, Car Inspector.
Beverly H. Freer, Day Watchman.
A. D. Burdick, Night Watchman.
J. S. Sherwood, Night Watchman.
J. H. Anderson, Carpenter.
Railroad Men:
| Geo. W. Townsend | E. J. Kirk | Dave Morris | Wm. Tidd |
| J. D. Firgson | Mose Bossel | Fred Witehon | A. A. Scott |
| S. Smith | John Casey | James L. Kennedy | John Kenner |
| Thomas Headdy | Frank Boss | S. Hitt | O. Whillims |
| C. A. Parks |
Confectionery Department
Robert Wetsendorf, Proprietor and Manager.
Albert Roth, Assistant Manager.
| E. C. Penny | Barney Rice | Joe Garrett | Charles Baker |
| Ed. Albee | John Conklin | J. W. Holmes | Harry Coddington |
| Charles Wright | Frank Blackman | Charley Stebbens | Frank Delaney |
| Sam. Ellis | Charles Smith | C. J. Ferriss |
Hotel De Barnum
W. G. Collins, Proprietor.
E. D. Blanchard, Manager.
Ralph Hewes, Contracting Agent.
Cahrles Barnes, Carver.
George Dorin, Carver.
George Hawley, Cook.
Jacob Ockerman, Assistant Cook.
Albert Hollenweber, Head Dish Washer.
Waiters:
| Ed. Kelley | John Welch | J. E. Cronin | Frank Clark |
| Frank Lee | Charles Berry | Sam. Wort | Douglass Watson |
| J. G. Wohllhaver | Charles Fisher |
Annex, or Palace of Wonders
Bunnell Bros., Managers.
A. W. Hall, Lecturer.
Harry Williams, Harry Ambler, Ticket Agents.
Performers
Dan Luke, Stage Manager.
Dick Sands, World-renowned Clog Dancer.
Miaco Bros., Performers in General.
Holbrock and Ryan, Song and Dance.
Bonnie Runnells, Dutch Comique.
Al Miaco, Banjoist.
Bill Carroll, Song and Dance.
Ladies:
Zoe Meleke, Circassian Lady.
Zenopio, the Fan Child.
Ettie Rogers, Albino.
Hannah Battersby, Giantess, weighing 718 lbs.
Augusta Reis, Johanna Reis and Herman Reis, German Dwarfs.
Zip, the What Is It.
Yeppo, African Wild Boy.
Al. Winters, Superintendent of Curiosities.
Canvas
John Barry, Master of Canvas.
| Joes Ahren | George Hagerty | John Wagner | John Brennen |
| Thomas Havens | Antone |
Number of men employed with the P. T. Barnum Show — 299
Number of Ladies — 18
Number of Animal Cages — 25
Number of Museum Cages — 13
Number of Baggage Wagons — 22
Number of Railroad Cars — 50
Number of Horses — 117
Number of Ponies — 7
Number of Elephants — 4
Number of Camels — 4
Number of Mules — 1
Number of Ticket Wagons — 1
Number of Tableaux Cars — 4
Number of Miles traveled by the P. T. Barnum Show is — 8,2999
Opening of the Season
At Gilmore’s Garden, on Fourth Avenue, Between Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Street, for the season of four weeks, commending April 9th until May 5th.
May
Monday, 7th, Danbury, Conn., weather fair, 64 miles.
Tuesday, 8th, Bridgeport, Conn., weather bad and rain, 41 miles.
Wednesday, 9th, New Haven, Conn., weather cool, 36 miles.
Thursday, 10th, Hartford, Conn. weather cool, 36 miles.
Friday and Saturday, 11th and 12th, Providence, R. I. A boy received a stroke from one of the young lions, cutting the scalp slightly. Cool and sun warm. 90 miles.
Monday, 14th, Pawtucket, R. I., weather warm, 4 miles.
Tuesday, 15th, Fall River, Mass., weather warm, 22 miles.
Wednesday, 16th, Woonsocket, R. I., warm and some rain, 36 miles.
Thursday, 17th, Worcester, Mass., weather very warm, 32 miles.
Friday, 18th, Springfield, Mass., very warm, 55 miles.
Saturday, 19th, Pittsfield, Mass., weather fine, 56 miles.
Monday, 21st, Rome, N. Y. Sun warm in morning; rained hard in afternoon. 187 miles.
Tuesday, 22d, Oswego, N. Y., rained all day, 73 miles.
Wednesday, 23d, Watertown, N. Y., weather cool, 72 miles.
Thursday, 24th. Ogdenburg, N. Y., weather cool and some rain, 69 miles.
Friday,25th, Malone, N. Y., rained all morning, 72 miles.
Saturday, 26th, Plattsburg, N. Y., weather cool; Sunday very fine; 61 miles.
For three days, 28th, 29th, 30th, Montreal, Canada. Baby monkey was born Monday morning, the 28th. Weather fine, 65 miles.
Thursday, 31st, Cornwall, Canada, warm and some rain, 67 miles.
June
Friday, 1st, Brookville, Canada, weather warm, 65 miles.
Saturday, 2d, Ottawa, Canada, warm and some rain, 72 miles.
Monday, 4th, Kingston, Canada, weather fine, 113 miles.
Tuesday, 5th, Bellville, Canada, weather fair, 40 miles.
Wednesday, 6th, Port Hope, Canada, weather very fine, 52 miles.
Thursday, 7th, Oshawa, Canada, weather warm, 38 miles.
Friday and Saturday, 8th and 9th, Toronto, Canada, weather warm, 30 miles.
Monday, 11th, Hamilton, Canada, weather very fine, 40 miles.
Tuesday, 12th, Brantford, Canada, weather cool, 27 miles.
Wednesday, 13th, London, Canada, weather very fine, 60 miles.
Thursday, 14th, Simcoe, Canada, warm and some rain, 65 miles.
Friday, 15th, St. Thomas, Canada, weather warm, 62 miles.
Saturday, 16th, Chatham, Canada, weather warm, 62 miles.
Monday, Tuesday, 18th and 19th, Detroit, Mich. A boy caught in the face by the claws of the young lions and injured badly. Mr. L. D. Putnam and L. Foster each received a fine gold watch and chain as a present from the employees of the Barnum’s show. Weather fair. 45 miles.
Wednesday, 20th, Pontiac, Mich., weather warm, 26 miles.
Thursday, 21st, Flint, Mich., weather and some rain. Gave three performances. 38 miles.
Friday, 22d, Bay City, Mich., weather cool, 46 miles.
Saturday, 23d, East Saginaw, Mich., weather warm; Sunday rained; 14 miles.
Monday, 25th, Lansing, Mich., rained in afternoon, 67 miles.
Tuesday, 26th, Grand Rapids, Mich., weather bad, rained, 107 miles.
Wednesday, 27th, Jackson, Mich., weather fine, 90 miles.
Thursday, 28th, Battle Creek, Mich, weather warm and fair, 39 miles.
Friday, 29th, Kalamazoo, Mich., weather very warm, 23 miles.
Saturday, 30th, Niles, Mich., rained in morning, 48 miles.
July
Chicago, Ill., for the season of one week, 2d until the 8th. Monday evening, raised performance on account of hard rain. Friday afternoon, raised half performance on account of hard rain. 93 miles.
Monday, Tuesday, 9th and 10th, Milwaukee, Wis., weather fair, 85 miles.
Wednesday, 11th, Sheboygan, Wis., weather fine, 52 miles.
Thursday, 12th, Fond du Lac, Wis., weather fair, 42 miles.
Friday, 13th, Oshkosh, Wis., weather warm and fair, 18 miles.
Saturday, 14th, Janesville, Wis., weather fair, 103 miles.
Monday, 16th, Eau Claire, Wis., weather fair, 238 miles.
Tuesday, 17th, St. Paul, Minn., weather fine, 93 miles.
Wednesday, 18th, Minneapolis, Minn., weather fine, 14 miles.
Thursday, 19th, Red Wing, Minn., light rain morning, 54 miles.
Friday, 20th, Winona, Minn., weather cool, 63 miles.
Saturday, 21st, La Crosse, Wis., weather warm, 28 miles.
Monday, 23d, Madison, Wis., weather warm, 140 miles.
Tuesday, 24th, Rockford, Ill., weather warm, 74 miles.
Wednesday, 25th, Elgin, Ill., got laid over on account of railroad strike and has to jump LaPorte, Ind., and lost one day show Wednesday night, light rain, 60 miles.
Friday, 27th, Elkhart, Ind., weather fine, 159 miles.
Saturday, 28th, Coldwater, Mich., weather cool and some rain, 53 miles.
Monday, 30th, Adrian, Mich., weather warm, 54 miles.
Tuesday, 31st, Hillsdale, Mich., weather warm, 36 miles.
August
Wednesday, 1st, Fort Wayne, Ind., weather fair, 85 miles.
Thursday, 2d, Logansport, Ind., weather warm, 72 miles.
Friday, 3d, Lafayette, Ind., weather very warm, 37 miles.
Saturday, 4th, Crawfordsville, Ind., weather very warm, 52 miles.
Monday and Tuesday, 6th and 7th, Indianapolis, Ind. Monday, fair. Tuesday, rain at night, 43 miles.
Wednesday, 8th, Terre Haute, Ind., weather very warm, 73 miles.
Thursday, 9th, Mattoon, Ind. [IL], weather fair, 52 miles.
Friday, 10th, Champaign, Ind. [IL], weather very warm, 43 miles.
Saturday, 11th, Bloomington, Ill., weather warm and some rain, 56 miles.
Monday, 13th, Peoria, Ill., warm and some rain, 43 miles.
Tuesday, 14th, Lincoln, Ill., warm and some rain, 52 miles.
Wednesday, 15th, Decatur, Ill., weather warm, 32 miles.
Thursday, 16th, Springfield, Ill., weather very warm, 39 miles.
Friday, 17th, Carlinsville, Ill., a man got a foot crushed while crossing the baggage train. The weather warm, with rain at night. 32 miles.
Saturday, 18th, Alton, Ill., we showed alongside of a long straw stack, which was set on fire about 8:30 p.m., the canvas came down in a hurry, everything was saved and nobody injured; weather fine, 45 miles.
St. Louis, Mo., for the season of one week, from 20th until 26th. Lion cub died Tuesday, the 21st; weather, Monday, warm; Tuesday, rain; Wednesday, some rain; Thursday, warm; Friday, fine; Saturday, fair; Sunday, warm. 21 miles.
Monday, 27th, Jacksonville, Ill., weather, rain in evening, 110 miles.
Tuesday, 28th, Quincy, Ill., truck under one of the stock cars broke down; weather fair, 81 miles.
Wednesday, 29th, Hannibal, Mo., a horse was struck by an engine while crossing the track with the ticket wagon and was injured badly; weather fine, 22 miles.
Thursday, 30th, Keokuk, Iowa, four stock cars run off a switch, and it delayed the train so that they couldn’t get in town until half past twelve o’clock, gave afternoon show at 3 o’clock; weather fine, 55 miles.
Friday, 31st, Burlington, Iowa, weather fine, 47 miles.
September
Saturday, 1st, Muscatine, Iowa, weather cool and clear, 72 miles.
Monday, 3d, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, weather fine, 54 miles.
Tuesday, 4th, Clinton, Iowa, weather fine, 81 miles.
Wednesday, 5th, Dubuque, Iowa, weather warm and some rain, 60 miles.
Thursday, 6th, Freeport, Ill., cool and cloudy, 82 miles.
Friday, 7th, Davenport, Iowa, weather fine, 100 miles.
Saturday, 8th, Iowa City, Iowa, fair; Sunday, rain all day, 60 miles.
Monday, 10th, Des Moines, Iowa. A man run over close by where we was loading and had both legs crushed; he died two hours afterwards. Cool and some rain. 120 miles.
Tuesday, 11th, Atlantic, Iowa, weather very fine, 89 miles.
Wednesday, 12th, Council Bluffs, Iowa, weather fair, 61 miles.
Thursday, 13th, Hamburg, Iowa, weather warm, 51 miles.
Friday, 14th, Craig, Mo. Gave afternoon performance, but could not give any evening performance on account of the smallness of the town. It rained in torrents just as they commenced to load, and it took from 5 until 9 o’clock to get loaded. 33 miles.
Saturday, 15th, St. Joseph, Mo., weather clear and a light rain Sunday, 55 miles.
Monday, 17th, Atchison, Kan., weather fine, 22 miles.
Tuesday, 18th, Leavenworth, Kan. John Bull, one of the grooms, had his collar bone broken by falling over a stake. A man was shot in the back. Giraffe died. Weather fine, 23 miles.
Wednesday, 19th, Kansas City, Mo., weather fair, 27 miles.
Thursday, 20th, Paola, Kan., weather fine, 47 miles.
Friday, 21st, Fort Scott, Kan., weather very fine, 55 miles.
Saturday, 22d, Joplin, Mo., great lead mining town, weather fine, 55 miles.
Monday, 24th, Clinton, Mo., weather fine, 130 miles.
Tuesday, 25th, Sedalia, Mo., weather very warm, 40 miles.
Wednesday, 26th, Jefferson City, Mo., lost evening performance on account of hard rain, in the menagerie and museum water was knee deep. 63 miles.
Thursday, 27th, Washington, Mo., weather fine, 71 miles.
Friday, 28th, Nashville, Ill., a boy got his foot crushed while climbing on the cage train. Weather fine, 103 miles.
Saturday, 29th, Evansville, Ind. Wm. Smith, Assistant Boss Hostler, had butter of antimony thrown in his eyes while doctoring a horse, and came near blinding him. Weather fair, 112 miles.
October
Monday, 1st, Vincennes, Ind., weather fine, 51 miles.
Tuesday, 2d, Seymour, Ind., weather fair, 104 miles.
Wednesday, Thursday, 3d, 4th, Louisville, Ky., weather fair and cool, 70 miles.
Friday, 5th, Lexington, Ky., weather fair, 94 miles.
Saturday, 6th, Frankfort, Ky., weather fair, 29 miles.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 8th, 9th, 10th, Cincinnati, Ohio. “Pomp,” one of the largest lions, paralyzed in the hind quarters. Sunday, rained at night; Monday, rained most all day; Tuesday, shower at night; Wednesday, fair. 118 miles.
Thursday, 11th, Chillicothe, Ohio, weather cool, 99 miles.
Friday, 12th, Parkersburg, Ohio [WV], weather fair, 106 miles.
Saturday, 13th, Clarksburg, Va. [WV], weather fair, 82 miles.
Monday, 15th, Cumberland, Md. Stock car run off track crossing Blue Ridge Mountains, and got a wheel loose and had to be laid off on a switch for repairs, and arrived in town 4:40 p.m. Weather Sunday and Monday was fine, 104 miles.
Tuesday, 16th, Martinsburg, Va. [WV], weather fair, 78 miles.
Wednesday, 17th, Winchester, Va., weather fair, 51 miles.
Thursday, 18th, Staunton, Va., weather fair, 94 miles.
Saturday, 20th, Danville, Va. Were delayed at Charlottesville, so that we got in Lynchburg, Va. too late to give a show, so lost one day show and went through to Danville, arriving 7:30 p.m. Rained hard all afternoon and night. 165 miles.
Monday, 22d, Charlottesville, Va. Sunday, rain at night; Monday cool. Gave one performance. 126 miles.
Tuesday, 23d, Richmond, Va., weather fair, 99 miles.
Wednesday, 24th, Culpeper, Va., weather cool, 105 miles.
Thursday, 25th, Alexandria, Va., weather cloudy, 62 miles.
Friday and Saturday, 26th and 27th, Washington, D.C. Prof. S. S. Smith and Capt. George Costentenus were before President by special request, and Captain Costentenus is to receive a fine gold medal as a present from the President of the United States, R. B. Hayes. Friday, weather bad and rain; Saturday, bad all day; Sunday, cloudy, bad rain. 17 miles.
Monday and Tuesday, 29th and 30th, Baltimore, Md. 49 miles.
Four days, October 31st, November 1st, 2d and 3d. Philadelphia, Pa. 96 miles. Closing of the traveling season.
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Last modified March 2010.