P. T. Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth, 1879

Route Book, Season of 1879, 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. 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.

G. F. Bailey, Manager.

A. M. Nathans, Ass’t Manager.

J. J. Nathans, Director of Amusements.

W. E. Sinclair, Treasurer.

W. E. Rogers, Ticket Agent.

Lewis June, Railroad Contractor.

Charles Gaylor, General Press Agent.

Fred. Lawrence, Press Agent.

George O. Starr, Ass’t Press Agent.

F. A. Kelsh, Railroad Excursion Agent.

F. L. Couldock, Contracting Agent.

Robt. Fillingham, English Agent, London.

William Cross, English Agent, Liverpool.

James Myres, French Agent, Paris.

Hazenback Bros., German Agents, Hamburg.

Thomas Kelley, Commissary and Layer-out.

R. H. King, Commissary and Layer-out.

Prof. Dan Lukes, Zoological Lecturer.

Peter S. Halstead, Master of Transportation.

Charles H. McLean, Superintendent of Pavilions.

S. L. Van Wart, Ass’t Sup’t of Pavilions.

Wm. L. Wilson, Ass’t Sup’t of Pavilions.

Doctor Wm. Smith, Veterinary Surgeon.

Charles B. Warren, Doorkeeper.

George Wade, Baggage Master.

Performers

James Cooke, Equestrian Director.

Walter Waterman, Equestrian Manager.

W. Fred. Aymar, Ring Master.

Madame Eliza Dockrill, The Empress of the Arena.

Miss Katie Stokes, Bareback Rider.

Linda Jeal, Female Hurdle Rider.

Miss Lizzie Marcellus, Equestrienne.

Miss Emma Lake, Queen of the Menage.

Signor Sebastian and Master Louis, Bareback Carrying Act.

Carl Antony, Stallion Performer.

Herbert Bros., Champions of the World.

Langlois Bros., Egyptian Jugglers.

William O. Dale Stevens, Equalibrist.

Clowns

James Hollaway, The Great English Clown.

Charles Seeley, Grotesque Clown.

John Robinson, Acrobatic Clown.

W. H. Stowe, Shakesperian Clown.

Tumblers, Leapers, Acrobats and Gymnasts

John Batchellor, Champion Double Somersaulter.

Tumbler and Leapers:

George Francis	John Barry	W. O. Dale Stevens	William Carroll
Fred Herbert	Edwin Fritz	James Hollaway	John Robinson
Edward Herbert	Napier Lowande	Charles Seeley	Burt Johnson
Charles Herbert

Entree Riders: Mrs. Sebastian, Miss Agnes Kingston, Miss Watson.

Mrs. Charles White, Mistress of Wardrobe.

Properties

Alonzo Dunbar, Master. William Dunbar, Assistant.

Jacob Wald, Duncan Ferguson, Arthur Reed, Ben. Newman.

Reserved Seats

Joseph Richardson, Ticket Seller.

Charles Benedict, Doorkeeper.

Ushers

Robert Good	Fred. Hall	Barney Kelley	Alfred Good
Will R. Malone	Frank. Clemons

Advertising Department

Fred A. Keeler, Advertising Car Conductor.

G. E. Hardy, Lithographer.

Programmers: William Van Velsor, J. E. Thies.

Posters

G. B. Bouman	A. S. West	R. McGrath	Dave Holbrook
A. E. Fling	J. H. Brown	?. F. Donahue	G. W. Simmons
W. H. Perry	J. H. Wild	F. Andrew

Wither’s Silver Cornet Band

Joseph Withers, Conductor.

Reuben Withers	Harry Rowe	John Rowe	Isaac B. Sayers
Adolf Nichols	Peter Ohel	John Hunt	James Lydon
Charles Blanck	William Wrench	Charles Smith	Adolf Weckner
Joseph Allen	C. M. Hardy	Adolf Von Duren	John Willett
John Denny	William Little

Main Exhibition Tent Canvasmen

Charles H. McLean, Superintendent.

S. L. Van Wart, Assistant.

Charles Hamilton, Charge of Seats.

Elisha Barrett, Ring Maker.

Daniel Lockwood, Carpenter.

Gus. Rhein, Charge of Flags.

Isaiah Smalley	James Barrett	Michael Connaughton	Fred. Townsend
Fred. Hall	C. R. Campbell	Taylor Myers	Martin Connell
Thomas Hughes	George Allen	Elbert Mead	Richard Bryan
H. Van Scoy	H. J. Cunnihgham	Alfred Good	Daniel Carroll
William Dalton	Joe Cumiskey	Harvey H. Ware	Matthew Denz
William Brooks	Thomas Casey	Collins Mallory	John Mooney
Thomas Austin	Jarvis Barett	Wm. Pomeroy	Ed. Keating
Robert Good	Joseph Simons

Museum and Menagerie Canvasmen

Charles H. McLean, Superintendent.

William L. Wilson, Assistant.

John P. Frink, Charge of Flags.

Michael Austin	Samuel Greenwood	Jeremiah Tomkins	Henry Armstrong
John Teller	Isaac Leco?nt	Charles Melville	Joe Thompson
John Ward	John Austin	George Seeley	Frank Long
James Wilson	Thomas Maxwell

Horse Canvas

Robert Schultz, Master.

Fred Hafner, Dora Lake, Miran Schneider, Charles E. Illson, James H. Hathaway.

Leonard Loucks, Wagon Greaser.

Gas Men

G. W. Austin, John F. Allen.

Animal Men

Prof. Chas. White, Superintendent.

Keepers:

Fred Rivers	Joe Barrett	Herbert Morrow	Chas. B. Teese
Sam’l Hodge	Geo. Maetrich	Leonard Boynton	Chas. Williams
John Betts	Julius Barton	Fred. Sutherland	Alec Mervine
Geo. Gillespie

Elephant Drivers

Wm. Newman, Chas. Schule, Wm. Durham.

Museum

Prof. W. L. Jukes, Superintendent.

Engineers: Reese Moores, James Higby.

Thos. Segee, Fred. Hamilton, Chas. Betts, Walter Flynn.

Linus Moores, Bohemain Glass Blower.

Curiosities

Captain George Costentenus, Tattooed Greek.

Colonel Ruth Goshen, Palestine Giant.

Miss Nellie Keeler, The Indiana Midget.

John Hannigan, Agent for Capt. Costentenus.

Mr. Ezra Keeler, Father of Miss Nellie.

Grooms and Drivers

William Smith, Supt. of Horses. William Lewis, Assistant.

P. McCormack	T. H. Jones	E. Murdock	Ed. Buckley
Charles Clark	Samuel Bissell	Joe Burnham	Sam Sawyer
William Reed	Barney Kelley	Eugene Munn	Dave Denio
William Riley	James Burton	William Moore	Frank Altz
George Riley	Frank Bradley	Wash Smith	Chas. Ellwood
Hullis Rogers	Thomas Cottrell	George Huey	James Woods
James Thomas	Eb. Hack	John Chapman	Hamilton Spencer
Frank Gaskins

Ring Stock

Budd Howe	William Peterson	Hugh Smith	John Harley
Ignots Abstriter	John Nelson	George Van Wart	Wm Loughlin
Thomas Cannon	George Carey

Chariot Men

Frank Millhaven, Silas R. Frost, Wm. Pendergast, George White.

Outside Ticket Agents

Albert Howe	Frank Webb	Egbert Howe	Frank Woodruff
John Flanders	Chas. B. Mitchell

Railroad Men

Peter S. Halstead, Master of Transportation.

James Halstead, Assistant.

E. Ervin, Car Inspector.

E. Kirk, Carpenter.

Watchmen: B. H. Freer, G. W. Townsend, G. Hyatt.

George Reed, Sleeping Car Conductor.

Samuel Hitt	G. Ferguson	F. Kirk	W. Kirk
G. H. Witham	J. E. Smith	C. Ferguson	S. Cooper
S. Henwood	A. Thompson	J. Ferguson	O. Williams
F. Townsend	J. Hitchcock	J. Heffern

History and Photograph Department

R. T. Westendorf, Manager.

Col. Ruth Goshen, Henry Scott, Agent.

Miss Nellie Keeler, J. De Lanty, Agent.

Programme

R. T. Westenforf, Proprietor.

E. T. Underhill, Solicitor.

Barnum’s Hotel

W. L. Jukes, Proprietor.

D. K. Black, Manager.

G. D. Davis, Contracting Agent.

A. Renner, Foreman.

J. Ockerman, Steward.

G. W. Hawley, Chief Cook.

E. Renner, Assistant Cook.

Waiters:

Thomas Martin	Isaac Hall	Ed. Walsh	Thomas Campbell
Sam Loughlin	Thomas McEvoy	John Severns	Michael Burns
Thomas Quinn	Joe Brown	Michael Liddy	William Salsman

Confectionery Department

Robert T. Westendorf, Proprietor and Manager.

Thomas J. Gallagher, Assistant Manager.

William Breen	Lew Wright	Henry Scott	William White
William Albee	John De Lanty

Concert and Side Show

G. B. Bunnell, Proprietor.

William Henshaw, Manager.

Frank Townsend, Treasurer and Doorkeeper.

Al Winters, Ticket Agent.

J. W. Whiston, Stage Manager.

Prof. Coyle, Lecturer.

Performers

The Tudors, John and Amy, European Specialty Artists.

Miss Carrie Atherton, Vocalist and Dancer.

Miss Lillie Tudor, Character Vocalist and Dancer.

La Petite Julia, Juggling on the Running Globe.

Wallace and Idaletta, Man-Fish and Water-Queen.

Dick Sands, Champion Clog Dancer.

W. H. Stowe, Electric Changes.

J. W. Bingham, Ventriloquist.

J. W. Whiston, Humorist.

The Carrolls, Negro Sketch Artists.

Daniel Lukes, Irish Comedian.

Master Cocoa, Jig Dancer.

Curiosities

St. Benoit Twins, The Two-Headed Boy.

Ashbury Benjamin, Leopard Boy.

Zip, The What Is It.

George C. Dayton, Charge of Curiosities.

The Canvas

John Barry, Master.

Thomas Ahern, George Haggerty, Ed. Paine, John Turner.

William Morrissey, Gas Engineer.

For the 1879 route, click here. Opens in new window or tab.

Notes and Incidents of Travel

April Notes

    Grand opening of Saturday night with everything fresh; and the Ring Performance, as well as the Menagerie and Museum, gave great pleasure to our visitors.
    On Monday, showing to a very large audience. The horse ridden by Miss Emma Lake became unmanageable and jumped out of the ring; and while trying to stop him, Mr. J. J. Nathans was severely injured, by having collar bone and two ribs broken.
    The business for the time we were here was so good that those who did not come before eight o‘clock could not be admitted, as every seat in the house was sold by that time.
    Removed everything Saturday night to Brooklyn, where our pavilions were already erected, and on Monday gave our first show under canvas for this season. Notwithstanding a slight sprinkling of rain we had two very fine houses; the weather being so fine the rest of the week, and the demand for tickets so large, that we were compelled to close the doors half an hour before every performance; and, being advertised several months ahead we could not remain any longer, thus leaving Brooklyn with thousands of people who had not had the opportunity of seeing the Greatest Show on Earth.

May Notes

    Left Brooklyn Saturday night; had everything transported to Mott Haven by Sunday morning; remained there till evening, then left for Stamford, Connecticut, where an animal keeper had his eye torn by a black Leopard.
    Danbury, a man shoved his hand in the Elephant’s mouth, but very quickly pulled it out, minus one finger.
    Bridgeport, horse tent blown down. Very bad lot in Middletown. Laid over in Hartford on Sunday. Splendid weather all the week.
    Waterbury, one of our railroad men had his fingers crushed by a snatch block.
    O. Dale Stevens caught on fire in the ring, in Springfield, while holding a fire hoop for Linda Jeal.
    Rained the first day in Providence; no parade; fine the next day; gave parade and showed to overflowing houses.
    Rained in Pawtucket; no parade.
    Very small lot in Newport; could not get all our canvas up; damp, cloudy day.
    In New Bedford everybody wore their overcoats.
    Brocton, all the insides of our Organ Tableau destroyed by fire. Left Brocton Saturday night and arrived in Boston Sunday morning. The elephant Emperor attacked Chas. Schule, his keeper, and injured him badly. Peterson, the groom, got kicked by the leaping horse. The weather here, after the first day, was very warm and close. So as to accommodate all the people that came to attend our exhibition, we gave four extra performances to full houses.

June Notes

    The month of June ushered us into Lynn with delightful weather. Bill Dunbar got his nose broken by Batchellor while leaping.
    Rained in Lawrence and Haverhill; made no parades.
    Portland, Maine, fine in the morning; light sprinkling of rain and terrible wind storm at night.
    August, Batchellor got hurt while leaping. Left Augusta Saturday night for a Sunday run to Woodstock, N. B. Weather very cold, here we had the pleasure of seeing snow on the 8th of June. Emma Lake’s horse fell on a stake and was hurt badly.
    Got late into Calais, Me., lost parade. Gave only one show in Fredericton, rained all day.
    Rained again in St. Johns; made parade the second day. Left our cars here and loaded on cars hired from the Intercolonial Railroad; the pole wagon fell through a car, after a little delay it was got out all right.
    Sunday run from Moncton to Halifax. Laid over on the way at Londonderry, and unloaded cook and horse tent wagons. After supper reloaded and proceeded to Halifax; rained here, weather very cold. Admiral Engleton, of the British Navy, visited us here the second day; very good business notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather.
    Put up the round top in Truro. Arrived in Sackville without the reserved seat wagon. McLoughlin had his foot crushed while loading the cars.
    Sussex, we had the smallest night house of the season. Loaded Saturday night to leave the Provinces. Ran to St. Johns, unloaded here and then reloaded at Fairville on our own cars, to the delight of everybody connected with the show; and while on the run fire originated in the property wagon destroying a lot of wardrobe. Arrived in Bangor Sunday evening; baby Elephant died.
    Waterville, Ostrich cage upset in parade; great temperance town, free ice water on every street. Very low, hollow lot in Farmington; doubled up all the teams to pull the wagons out; several sets of our harness cut here.
    Lowell, Mass., Buckley’s team got entangled in Oscar Fresh’s snack stand, and the consequence was that Oscar’s sandwiches bit the dust.

July Notes

    Splendid weather up through Vermont. Held our glorious 4th in Burlington on the banks of Lake Champlain, and gave three performances to fair houses.
    St. Albans, the last day in Vermont, the weather was very cold and stormy.
    Potsdam, N. Y., we could not accommodate all the people with seats that came to attend our afternoon performance.
    Packed up a wet canvas in Watertown. Laid over in Rome, Sunday. Rained in Rochester before opening; cleared up in time to give our afternoon performance. A boy got run over in Batavia.
    Very warm weather in Buffalo; great business. Several of our company visited Niagara Falls on Sunday. Left Buffalo Sunday night for St. Catherines, Ca., where McCormack, while driving the pole wagon, was thrown from his seat and hurt severly.
    Steady rain in Hamilton. Fine weather and good business in Toronto; a team ran away on the lot, but were caught before any damage was caused. Rained at night in London.
    Strathroy, very warm day, the larger part of our audience was composed of Indians. Next run to Port Huron, Mich., ferried at Port Sarnia, across the St. Clair river, on the finest ferry boats in the country, each boat carrying fifteen cars; afternoon house crowded to the ring bank, weather very warm.

July Notes

    The first week of August finds us in Michigan. While laying over in East Saginaw, Ignots, one of our grooms, met with a very unfortunate accident, by having his leg broken, caused by skylarking. Gave three performances in Allegan.
    Put up the round top in Niles, the lot being too small for all our canvas. Left Niles Saturday night and arrived in Chicago Sunday morning, and got everything in readiness for our first performance Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, the 12th, Madame Dockrill, when about to finish her principal act, fell from her horse and dislocated her ankle, which rendered her unable to ride for some time. Splendid weather and good business all week.
    Ottawa, a team ran away at the depot; no damage caused. Very warm weather and hard lot in Peoria, but nevertheless the toe-pin gang stuck it out, but confess it was the hardest lot they ever struck.
    The pole wagon fell through a bridge in Galesburg; by unloading it, it was got out all right.
    Arrived in St. Louis Sunday morning, raised our pavilions in a plentiful supply of rain and mud. Gave no afternoon performance Monday. Great business all the week; turned away people every night. Miss Carrie Atherton, who left the show sick in Chicago, died at her residence in Newark, N. J., on Monday the 25th. Her loss was deeply regretted by the company. Traveled all day Sunday.

September Notes

    After a very long ride, we arrived at Indianapolis Sunday night, too late to unload anything but cook and horse tent wagons. On Monday afternoon it commenced raining, and never ceased until we reached Peru on Thursday, being the longest rain we have had this season.
    Great business at Muncie. Presentation at night in the arena, of gold and silver badges to the Herbert brothers, by the citizens here, as an appreciation of their being the champions of the world.
    Arrived in Cincinnati on Sunday. Light sprinkling of rain in the morning; fine weather the preceding four days. On Wednesday our Elephants joined in the Exposition parade. Rained during the afternoon show in Dayton; cleared up at night.
    On the run to Columbus, two cars ran off the track, causing us to get late in town and lose procession.
    Alleghany City, Madame Dockrill came on, fully recovered from her sprained ankle. Tremendous business here, crowded houses afternoon and evening.
    Fine weather and good steady business in Washington and Baltimore.
    On arriving in Philadelphia our Giraffe died. Gave our opening performance here Monday night to a crowded house; after that the business was such as the Barnum Show always receives when it visits Philadelphia. After leaving Philadelphia, the show will make six more stands, and then run into winter quarters, where everything is to be repainted and decorated, and come out again in the Spring with colors flying and tails over the dash.

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