Death of Barnum’s
Cannibal
By James W. Shettel.
Circus Scrap Book, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Oct), 1929, pp. 43-50.
The Barnum Museum,
Menagerie and World's Fair, in its second anuual tour of the
United States arrived May 14, 1872, in York, Pa., where it was
to give performances in the morning, in the afternoon and at
night. Posters on dead walls and handbills distributed around
the town and neighboring country had proclaimed the fact that
the show was "positively the largest and most attractive
combination of exhibitions ever known and without a parallel in
the history of the world." By means of the press and posters
interest was worked up to a high pitch. It was not a little
cause of wonder that the "combination" was to arrive by rail,
for only once before - about 17 years previously - had a circus,
the Spaulding and Rogers, been transported to York in cars. All
others had travelled in wagons.
The shrewd Barnum,
whose agents had been liberal in bestowing free passes among the
ministers, boldly announced that his "was the only exhibition in
America recognized and endorsed by both the religious and
secular press and daily visited by eminent clergymen." This
pronouncement was not without its influence upon a church-going
community, to a part of which circuses had generally heretofore
been taboo, although menageries were an allowable diversion
because they were instructive.
Barnum seems at this
time to have recognized the fact that a certain class in every
community disapproved of the circus and made a distinct effort
to overcome this prejudice. The word, "circus," an investigation
shows, had a small part in the advertising. Attention was
directed principally to the merits of the museum, menagerie and
world's fair, "exhibited in six separate colossal tents."
"Chaste and refined"
were the terms used in referring to the circus performance. Some
times it was announced in these words: "In the department of the
hippodrome and circus, which is strictly moral and high-toned,
are 100 of the best performers in the world - 11 first class
bareback riders, Including the great Melville and Stokes
families. The first and only show in the world that uses a
double circus ring and requires a double troupe of performers,
acrobats, gymnasts, &c." The glories of the circus, however, in
the advertisements at York occupied a second place in the appeal
to the public. Taking precedence were:
The Four Wild Fiji
Cannibals, Captives of War, lately ransomed from King Thakembau,
by Mr. Barnum at a cost of $15,000.
Live Digger Indian
from the Yosemite Valley.
The Only Giraffe in
America.
The Only Group of
Living Monster Sea Lions kept in Massive Water Tanks.
The Famous Riding
Goat, Alexis.
The Wonderful
African Snake Charmer.
Of the Fijis, Barnum
had written in his book, which was sold at the circus: "I have
tried in vain for years to secure specimens of these man eaters.
At last the opportunity came. Three of these cannibals having
fallen into the hands of their Royal enemy, who was about to
execute and perhaps to eat them, the missionaries and my agents
prevailed upon the copper-colored king to accept a large sum in
gold on condition of his majesty granting them a reprieve and
leave of absence to America for three years, my agent also
leaving a large sum with the American consul to be forfeited, if
they were not returned within the time stipulated.
"Accompanying them
is a half-civilized Cannibal woman, converted and educated by
the Methodist missionaries. She reads fluently and very
pleasantly from the Bible printed in the Fijian language and she
already exerts a powerful influence over these savages. They
take a lively interest in hearing her read the history of our
Saviour. They earnestly declare their convictions that eating
human flesh is wrong and faithfully promise never again to
attempt it. They are intelligent and docile. Their
characteristic war dances and rude marches, as well as their
representations of cannibal manners and customs are peculiarly
interesting and instructive. It is perhaps needless to add that
the bonds for their return will be forfeited. They are already
learning to speak and read our language and I hope soon to put
them in the way of being converted to Christianity, even if by
so doing the title of "Missionary" be added to the many already
given me by the public."
The impression the
Barnum show made in York is expressed in this afternoon notice
in one of the local newspapers:
"The day was
pleasantly cool and agreeable and thousands of people from the
rural districts poured into town at an early hour. The huge
canvas, under which the attractive sights were to be seen,
covered a large portion of the (Civil War) hospital grounds and
immediately after the hour of opening, dense masses of human
beings thronged in its direction and soon filled every available
space and avenue leading to and from the different places of
exhibition.
"The presence of
such an immense concourse of people, representing every district
in our large and populous county, was itself worth the price of
admission, but when the wonders which Barnum had collected and
brought together from the remotest and most distant parts of the
world, burst upon the eye, the spectators were more than
satisfied that taking it all in all, they ne'er should look upon
the like again. It was decidedly the greatest and most complete
combination which has ever been seen in York and will certainly
hold preeminence over all exhibitions until Barnum comes again.
"An attempt to give
a detailed description of the great show is impossible and will,
therefore, not be attempted, nor is it necessary, as those who
care to have anything said about it in these columns were no
doubt present and saw it.
"The museum was an
object of interest to many, who lingered long in their
examination of its wonders and curiosities, while there were
others who passed it by without deigning once to pause for a
moment, in their desire to reach other departments, which to
them were more attractive.
"The collection of
living animals, found under canvas No. 2, was very fine and
there were some specimens in it, which had never been seen in
this latitude before. The sea lions were objects of special
interest and attracted far more than usual attention. They kept
up considerable noise during the exhibition and manifested a
great deal of uneasiness, and from their frequent divings into
their tank, it is judged they miss the ice of their native
Alaska, in which alone, it seems, they can thrive and be
comfortable. They are a hardy animal, and it is doubtful if they
will live long in this climate. Whether Barnum will succeed in
piloting them through the hot summer that is before us is
exceedingly questionable.
"The canvas under
which the circus or hippodrome was held was spread over an
immense area and was capable of seating at the lowest
calculation 5,000 persons. It was filled to overflowing. There
was scarcely a seat unoccupied. This branch of the exhibition
has an advantage over all others of the, kind, yet seen here, in
its high moral tone and bearing and in the entire absence of
anything and everything, which could be calculated to displease
the most fastidious. Quite a number of the clergymen of the town
and from the country were present and seemed to enjoy themselves
amazingly. The performances were exceedingly chaste and
interesting.
"The riding goat,
Alexis, did his part remarkably well, although the poor little
fellow did get a tumble from his horse, which alarmed him for
the time being very considerably. The performance throughout, -
riding, tumbling and the doings of the elephant and trick horse
- gave universal satisfaction; and the appearance in the arena
of the armless woman, the bearded child, the man in miniature,
the strange and brainless being, Zip, said to have been captured
somewhere in Central Africa, and whose face and head are
scarcely human, were never witnessed here before. The sixteen
huge camels and dromdaries, richly caparisoned, as they swung
around the circle, excited much interest and attracted a large
amount of attention. They were the finest looking, most
perfectly formed and seemingly healthy animals of the kind ever
seen.
"Much more might be
written about Barnum and his great combination, but as his name
and fame are world-wide and he is known to be a man who never
does things by halves, it can only be added that this
exhibitions is the greatest in the country, as any one will be
convinced by a visit."
The people who
visited the exhibition were disappointed, however, In one
particular. They did not see the Fiji cannibals. The reason for
the non-appearance of "the man eaters" Is explained in the
account - highly colored it must be admitted - which appeared in
the York Daily the following day:
"Barnum's Museum,
Menagerie and Hippodrome met with quite a loss yesterday," said
the Daily, "in the death of the notorious cannibal dwarf, which
occurred at the Pennsylvania hotel. The little Fiji exhibited
symptoms of indisposition several days ago, and the manager, W.
C. Coup, sent 'the General,' as he is called to New York to be
cared for by Mr. Barnum's family physician. But the little
savage, becoming restless in the absence of his associates, he
was returned to the company. Like all of his race, he had a
native horror of shoes and clothing and even in the wet, cold
days that came upon the company in New Jersey, the manager was
unable to force shoes upon 'the General' and make him dress with
sufficient warmth.
"Yesterday, the man
in charge noticed that his fingers were constantly in motion,
while he muttered continuously the only word he pronounced
intelligently, 'Fiji.' He refused anything like food or
nourishment and apparently thought of nothing but his native
island. Dancing or violent gesturing of any kind was always a
source of great merriment to 'the General,' but now the keeper
could not provoke even a smile. The miniature being was dying
and while the keeper was doing his best to cheer him up and make
him take his medicine, he rose up in bed, muttered 'Fiji' in a
whisper and fell back dead. His three native companions, who up
to this time were wholly indifferent, now exhibited all the
symptoms of genuine grief. They howled incessantly and such
fearful physical contortions were probably never before
witnessed in a civilized community.
"The death of this
dwarf savage was not an unexpected event. The scene subsequent,
however, sent a thrill through the very few conversant with the
facts. Shortly after the corpse was placed in the coffin last
evening, S. S. Smith, the keeper, locked the door upon the three
companions in an adjoining room and left the building for the
purpose of consulting the manager at the National Hotel. He
states that he was not absent 30 minutes, but that upon
returning a scene presented itself too horrible to detail. The
two male associates had gained access to the corpse and were
biting and gnawing at the fleshy parts of the body with all the
eagerness of their native cannibalism. The female stood aloof in
one corner and by sign, word and gesture was entreating them to
desist. It is understood the woman is a convert to the teachings
of English missionaries and looks with abhorrence upon all the
unchristian habits of her tribe. Mr. Smith promptly interfered
and the two miserable beings went sullenly to their apartment.
All regret the unnatural affair and none more than the parties
directly interested. The remains were buried in the evening."
Whatever may have
been the purpose of the publication of such a story, it is
doubtful if it was realized, unless it was aimed to start a
controversy. Surely Barnum took no pride in the work, for in
none of his autobiographies has he referred to the incident. The
people of York were indignant. They had not only missed seeing
the "cannibals," but later learned Barnum had perpetrated one of
his humbugs.
"A few days ago the
York Daily had an article in its columns," said the True
Democrat, "stating that the cannibal belonging to the Barnum
show that died here last Tuesday, was partly eaten up by his
companions, during the temporary absence of their keeper. We
have since learned that there is not a word of truth in the
story, that the Daily was liberally paid for the insertion and
the whole thing was furnished to that paper, cut and dry, by the
proprietor, as an advertising dodge.
"Barnum, although
confessedly a great showman, is determined not to be outdone in
the work of humbugging, a reputation for which he has sustained
through a long life of singular changes and fluctuations. It is
now positively averred that the female member of the cannibal
troupe was born in the state of Virginia and was at one time a
domestic in the house of a gentleman at present residing in
Baltimore. This, had it been known in York last Tuesday, we
venture to say, would have raised a loud laugh, if not something
worse, at Barnum's expense and his man-eating party."
The True Democrat's
story, exposing the Fiji humbug, was widely copied by the press
and read by as many persons as had been the press agent's yarn
in the Daily. Among those under whose observation it came was
George Boyne, Sacremento, Cal. Boyne with a family of six
children had resided in the same locality in the Fiji islands,
from which "the cannibals" came. He asserted in a letter to the
Trut Democrat after giving a personal history of the Fijis
accompanying the Barnum show that they had been under Christian
training for a number of years. From a personal acquaintance
with the Fijis, he was able to speak with authority and declared
that town and I am very sure that very few typos would like to
reside within a quarter of a mile so near to such people as
described in the York Daily. If the deceased dwarf had a native
horror of shoes and clothing and in the wet and cold days that
came upon the company in New Jersey, the manager was unable to
force shoes upon 'the General' and make him dress with
sufficient warmth, why is it that in California, which is warmer
than your state, the little fellow went in this city with my
children to purchase articles of clothing and was always forced
to wear them?
"The truth is the
exigencies of the show will not admit of it. When the Fijians
know how they have been placed in this show for years, they will
soon despond and there will be another for the Daily to serve
up. If they even received pay, it would make no difference,
their love for their island home is so strong.
"I cannot conceive
how they can be kept there by their own free will by a
gentleman, who professes Republican principles. I promised the
poor woman to send for her when I got home, but I knew she is in
too safe keeping to escape, especially as she is of a quiet
disposition and lacks confidence among strangers. She could not
get away without assistance. I am prepared to send her the
means. I thank you for your expose of the late humbug."
Potter's field
became the burial ground of the little Fiji. It was adjacent to
the circus grounds and convenient for the show people who
desired to witness the burial. At the time on the islands from
which they were brought cannibalism never came under his
observation.
"There are now 3,000
European residents in Fiji," wrote Boyne, "and the number is
constantly increasing. They are principally engaged in cotton
planting and trading with the natives. The Christian king,
Thakombu, has formed a parliament. Two-thirds of the members are
Europeans. The Methodists have published the following statement
of their mission: 'There are 617 churches, 10 English
missionaries, 40 native missionaries, who are trained at a
native college, 23,233 members; 905 catechists, 10,666 Sabbath
schools, 1,549 day schools and 105,000 attendants on public
worship.'
"The European town
of Sevukee, Island of Bralam, Fiji, has a municipal council,
mayor, I. Morey. A lodge of Free Masons was opened in due form
last December. The lodge was opened by permission of the king.
The town possesses two newspapers, the Fiji Times and the Fiji
Gazette.
"The eldest of
Barnum's cannibals lived very near to this there was much said
about an appropriate grave stone which Barnum was to purchase to
mark the place of burial. This it was expected the great showman
would certainly do. The years have, however, passed and there is
nothing to distinguish the grave of the Fiji from the hundreds
of friendless paupers buried on the plot. Barnum failed to keep
his promise. Some years ago Potter's field was moved to a new
location north of the city, and it was then that the exact spot
where "the General" was buried was identified with great
difficulty.
 
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