Look Back: Ruses, runaways and a riled-up elephant
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The Circus Came to Town
Merchants, bankers, and businessmen generally will do well to look after their fastenings on their back doors and windows, particularly during the circus parade next Tuesday. We are informed by officers that there is in our city a gang of known thieves, who have been viewing premises evidently with the intention of selecting places for robbery at the first good opportunity, and circus parades afford splendid chances for such work. Everyone ought to be on the watch and a pistol ball or a load of No. 1 shot would be a first-rate dose if anyone is caught stealing.
The Parkersburg Weekly Sentinel
May 11, 1878
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A Good Show
On account of their late arrival here Saturday, the show people found it impossible to give an afternoon performance. The street parade did not take place until nearly 6 o'clock in the evening.
Quite a big crowd attended the night performance, the big tent being well filled. There were a number of good features and the audience was well pleased.
All Saturday afternoon and night, inside and outside the tents an army of fakers were robbing the unwary right and left, and not a constable or deputy sheriff in sight.
We are told that at least fifty people were victimized in amounts from $3 to $50. The police officers were powerless as the business was carried on outside their jurisdiction.
It was known to everybody and the state officers could hardly have been ignorant of the fact that there was a big army of fakers here but they made no effort to protect the people.
The Elephant Got Cranky
The man who attended the elephant with Orton's show was discharged here Saturday, and as a consequence the big pachyderm got cranky yesterday and frightened the new keeper nearly out of his wits. The animal was unruly about the circus grounds all morning, and when they took him from the grounds to the train he had everything and everybody in a turmoil along the route.
On Thirteenth street he attempted to go a different direction from that which the keeper wanted him to go. He was finally induced to start down Lynn Street. He went along quietly a short distance until he espied a water plug. Going up to it he wrapped his trunk around it and attempted to pull it out, and nearly succeeded.
Then he attempted to knock down a telephone pole with his head and made a partial failure. Entering J.F. Jackson's yard he destroyed the flower bed in one full swipe. Then he contested the right of way with a street car and finally wound up lifting an empty beer keg in front of Jennings' bar, hurling it across the street. They had considerable trouble getting him in the rail car and finally succeeded without anyone getting killed.
Where Did They Go?
Half a dozen or more boys are reported to have gone off with the circus last night. The parents of one or two of them have gone out to Pennsboro, where the circus is at, and capture their wayward youngsters if possible.
The Parkersburg Daily Sentinel
May 23, 1892
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They Came to see the Circus
Early this morning two boys aged 12 and 16 were found walking around the streets and were taken to the lockup. When they arrived there the oldest one was completely played out and his legs refused to longer support him and he fell in a heap to the floor. They stated they had started from their home near Limestone Hill at 2 o'clock this morning and had walked the entire distance of 18 miles in order to attend the circus. They were entirely worn out and remained at police court several hours to regain their strength. We hope they attended the circus and enjoyed themselves.
The Parkersburg Daily State Journal
May 14, 1894
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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.