The Burlesque/Travesty Wild Man

Consternation reigned among the side-show-men on the Sydney show ground on Good Friday. Good silver money jingled in the pockets of all round them, and they could not get it. The crowds brought their offerings, and the melancholy public entertainers sent them away. The strong arm of the law forbade them opening up.
     "Absolutely the best day in the year," they say, yet one and all were notified that if they gratified the longing of a single patron to gaze on the greatest wonder ever seen in Australia, just imported from the jungles of India, or the swamps of the great Amazon River, they would have their licenses cancelled, and either be condemned to durance vile or be mulct in the sum of £20 of their hard-earned increment.
     Under the Theatres and Public Halls Act, performances are prohibited in theatres, halls, and enclosed areas on Good Friday, Christmas Day, and Sundays, but by applying to the Chief Secretary, permission may be given for a sacred concert to be held on those days, provided no charge is made for admission. Unless an application is made no show can be held. If it is, a penalty of [???] up to £20 be imposed at the discretion of the magistrate.
     [???] the law. For years the [???] at the Easter Carnival [???] big business on Good Friday. All the thundering from the pulpits of the churches has passed over the heads of the showmen, and served only as advertisement. But for the last three years the law has been enforced. Last year the show-men, with one or two exceptions, took a risk and opened. Every one was fined, but, even so, the day's takings were large enough to return a profit. Now, however, the show officials have decreed that it must stop. The ukase went out, and shortly after the gates were thrown open the police went along to see what the side-shows were doing.
     Everything was quiet except round the enclosure in which was incarcerated the great wild man of the bush, who lives on raw beef and thigh bones of bullocks. A fierce creature he must be, for the picture in front shows a great hairy beast struggling in the noose of a rope hold by four respectable citizens wearing neat walking dresses, and one a top hat. Two enormous bones, picked nearly clean, hung above, showing the scope of the wild man's appetite. And on a little flight of steps the proprietor of this wonderful human extolled his merits. In vivid tone he told of his capture, mentioned the number of hunters he had almost massacred, spoke of his Titanic strength and untamable ferocity. Yet he assured the public that they would be quite safe, there was nothing to fear, the wild man could not reach them.
     Then Sub-Inspector Branston outlined to him the law. But still the showman wanted to give the public the biggest treat of their lives. Argument ensued. The secretary of the show arrived, and Mr. Somer made it quite clear that there would be positively no appearance of the wild man that day. Still the showman did not wish to deprive the community of a glimpse at the world's eighth wonder. What the upshot would have been no one can tell, but suddenly the police pulled the showman off his stand, and the sub-inspector threatened to throw the wild man into the street. That was enough. Visions rushed through the showman's mind of the terrible consequences to the world at large if the fierce creature were thus let loose. The whole city might be laid waste, life and limb would become cheap, as among the savage denizens of the forest ; the risk would be too great ; the showman climbed down.
     A torrent of fervid oratory broke from the lips of the other showmen assembled. The snake king and the owner of the living head exchanged epithets of indignation with the proprietors of "Casey, the almost man," and the bull with seven legs. The smallest horse in the world was led back to his stall, and no one was hypnotised that day. One man sought out a reporter.
     "Put a hot letter in the paper," he hissed ; "say that this is the only day at the show when we can make money, because all have their wages to-day, and they break it up on the races to-morrow. Say that if the churches are allowed to show to-day, so should we. Tell them that next year there will be no showmen here at all. They have put us away from our old positions up on the hill, where no one can find us. Here, I've been charged 10s a foot for my stand, with 20ft. frontage, and I've got to stay here and see people who want to spend their money take it away again. Say that the sideshows are the best thing on the ground ; that hundreds of people come here just to see them, and don't care a rap for the cows and pigs, and all that sort of thing ——"
     He was interrupted by the snake charmer, who said he had travelled 1700 miles—all the way from the Gulf of Carpentaria—to get to the show. "But I'll never come here again," he declared, and others said the same.
     So while the side-shows languished, the men with the merry-go-rounds, the switchbacks, and the ocean waves, who do not come under the Act—not to mention rogues who surreptitiously plied illegal callings—gathered in the current cash, and smiled.

A district man who was at the Sydney Show relates the following tale:—"At one side show on the ground was a 'wild, hairy' man. We paid our money to go in and see him. Such a sight I never saw before! He was a big, hairy, wild looking object, with horns—I can't exactly describe what he was like. He was in an iron cage, and pieces of raw beef and mutton were hanging up in the cage, and old bones were scattered about. 'That's what he eats—the raw beef,' spoke the showman who was spruiking a treat. 'We captured him in the wilds of Africa,' he said, 'don't get too close, gentlemen, he's very wild and ferocious, and he might put his paw through the cage and chaw off your arm.' Of course we heeded the advice, and did not get too close to the cage, but gazed in wonderment at the uncanny looking object. I confess I thought he was genuine. But the policemen put the show away. They were like the Scotchman they had their 'doots' that everything was fair and above board; so they investigated. Well, I'm blessed, would you believe it was no wild man at all—just an ordinary, quiet cove like Tom Gardner or Jeff Dodd ! He was got up splendidly, with shaggy mane and horns and other things. The visit of the police broke the show up. No, we didn't get our money back. The 'John Dunns' laughed at our incredulity. They knew we were from the bush to get taken in so easily. I smile as I think how I was 'caught.' And whisper it softly, Mr ——, your cute townsman, was 'caught' also."

Among the many side-shows at the Maitland Show was one in front of which a large and gaudy canvas sign was displayed bearing the words, 'The travesty wild man! See him eat raw meat and bones.' There was also a drawing, showing him very fierce-looking and hairy, pulling away from four men and on the side was another picture of the "wild man," round which was the statement, 'Oh, he is a whopper!' Good business was being done at this place, but about 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon the police interfered, with the result that at the West Maitland Police Court this morning, before Mr. C. H. Gale, P.M., Percy William Stevenson, who is well known as a jiu-jitsu exponent, was charged with obtaining the sum of sixpence from Detective O'Reilly by means of false pretences. Henry Joseph Lane was charged with aiding and abetting him.
     Various articles were produced in court in connection with the case, and included the following:— The sign above referred to a pair of moleskin trousers with a fringe down each leg, a canvas jacket on which were several buckles, a wig, a quantity of horse-hair, a bullock's head, and several bones.
     Detective O'Reilly deposed that accused Stevenson had a stand on the Maitland show ground yesterday. Witness heard him calling out, "Come and see the wild man, adults 6d, children half-price. He was caught in Africa, but is kept deep down in the dungeon." Inside the stall was a platform raised several feet from the ground, and in the centre was a hole wired round. He also announced, "The wild man got loose last night, and killed a bullock on the show ground." Stevenson pointed to a bullock's head, and said, "He is now feeding on the bones and flesh." Witness went to Stevenson and paid 6d for admission. He looked down into the wired portion, and saw Lane lying down in some straw. He was dressed in the trousers prouced, had a quantity of horsehair round his neck, and some of it was showing out at the bottom of his trousers. Lane also had a set of upper teeth, made of celluloid, and which were protruding beyond his lip. He was tied round the body with a rope. Witness went round the back, opened the enclosure, and took him out. Senior-constable Robertson and Detective Surridge then brought both accused to the police station. Witness knew Stevenson well, and did not think he would come at that.
     Detective Surridge gave similar evidence. Referring to the bullock the "wild man" was stated to have killed, witness said Stevenson was calling out that he ate everything except the head and few bones produced. Stevenson also said "Ladies and gentlemen! He chews the bones till he comes to the marrow. There is £500 for the lady who will marry him next Saturday. You won't want to cook for him; he eats raw meat." At the police station he found £6 15s 6d in silver in a leather bag Stevenson had on him, but altogether they found £30 in his possession.
     Stevenson: Did you really think it was a wild man?
     Witness: After hearing your announcement I thought it was. (Laughter.)
     Stevenson: Did you read the banner?
     The Police Magistrate: But the banner is not charged with false pretences.
     The witness then stated what he saw on the sign.
     Both accused pleaded guilty.
     Stevenson said when he went on to the ground he had no intention of—and did not think he was—committing the fraud with which he was then charged. He had been at the Sydney and other shows, and had carried on. At various places he had inquired of the police if he was within his rights, and he was informed that so long as he traded on the word "travesty" he was all right.
     The Police Magistrate pointed out his error, and accused said he could now see he had done wrong.
     The Magistrate said at a time like this—show time—people liked to be made fools of, and he would not deal as harshly with them as he would had it been another occasion.
     Both promised not to continue with the show, and each was fined £1 or 11 days' imprisonment.

A mild sensation was caused on the Maitland Showground on Thursday afternoon, when it became known that "the wild man" who was on exhibition, and the showman had been arrested. The sequel to the incident was disclosed at the West Maitland Police Court, yesterday, morning, when Percy William Stevenson was charged with obtaining the sum of sixpence from Detective O'Reilly by means of false pretences. Henry Joseph Lane was charged with aiding and abetting him.
     The proceedings took a very comical turn from the nature of the evidence, which highly amused everyone in court. Various articles of the business were displayed in Court, including the "wild man's" clothes, a quantity of horse hair, a set of teeth, a gruesome specimen of a bullock's head with part of the skin missing, several bones, and a placard on which were the words, "The Travesty Wild Man. See him eat raw meat and bones. Oh, he is a Whopper !" The fact that Stevenson had announced that "the wild man had killed and eaten a bullock" did not have the effect of intimidating anyone.
     Detective O'Reilly, of Sydney, said he attended the Maitland Show on Thursday, where he saw the defendant Stevenson announcing the merits of the wild man from a stall, in front of which was displayed a placard which he produced. Stevenson was saying, "Come in and see the wild man from Africa. He will not hurt you. He is deep down in the dungeon." The platform was four feet from the ground, and in the centre of the enclosure was a hole wired round. Defendant also announced that the wild man had broken loose last evening. and killed a prize bullock on the Sihowground. Defendant pointed to the head and bones exhibited, saying. "There are the bones. He is now feeling on the flesh." At this stage there was another outburst of laughing, in which defendants joined in a quiet way. Continuing witness said he tendered Stevenson sixpence, and then entered the enclosure, when he saw a man lying in some straw in the clothes which he produced. He had horsehair round his neck, land it could be seen coming out of the bottom of his trousers. In his mouth he had a set of celluloid false teeth. Witness went round the back and got the wild man out.
     Detective Surridre with Senior-constable Robertson and Constable Roberts, arrested defendants and took them to the police station. Witness knew accused Stevenson, and when he heard his statement about the wild man he paid the sixpence, thinking he had something out of the way. He knew Stevenson well, and did not think he would do such a thing.
     Detective Surridge, of Newcastle, said he heard Stevenson say, "Ladies and gentlemen, sixpence will admit you to see the wild man. He is quite harmless. There is no fear of him getting loose, as he is roped up. He got loose and killed a prize bullock here last night, and he ate him with the exception of the head and bones hanging up outside (Laughter.) This man chews the bones until he reaches the marrow. There is £500 for the lady who is willing to marry him next Saturday. (Laughter.) You won't want to cook for him. He eats raw meat." Witness took them to the West Maitland Police Station, charged them with the present charge, to which they made no reply. He searched Stevenson and found £6 15s 6d in a leather bag and £30 in money besides. To Stevenson: He really thought it was a wild man by his description. To the Police Magistrate: He went by what Stevenson said.
     Stevenson pleaded guilty, as did Lane, and both elected to be summarily dealt with.
     Stevenson made a statement to the effect that he was not doing the business with intent to defraud. He had shown on various showgrounds, including Sydney, and had never been interfered with. He had made inquiries as to his position in showing the wild man, and had been told that he was within his rights. He had the word "travesty" on the banner, which he thought was it protection. He was always prepared to tell the people that the wild man was burlesque.
     The police magistrate said it was a very transparent fraud, but it was unfortunate for them that they had two such gullible policemen amongst the spectators. At show time people expected to be fooled a little bit. The fact that they traded on the word "travesty" did not defend them. Under the circumstances, he did not intend to deal as severely with them as he would under other conditions.
     Both defendants promised not to show again, and each was fined £1, in default 14 days' hard labour.
     The police magistrate expressed the hope that defendants would take their property away, as some of it was likely to become offensive in a very short time.
     Lane, who impersonated the "wild man," said it was worth all one could earn at the game. Sticks and pieces of rubbish were thrown at him.

The side-shows were a great adjunct to the Show. Without them, the exhibition would have been shorn of one of the principal sources of enjoyment to both old and young alike.

"EARTH TREMBLES WHEN HE WALKS !"

     What are known as the 'spruikers' were an entertainment in themselves. The man who stood outside the tent of "Donald M'Gregor, the Kiltie Giant," and extolled the virtues of the man within, was the most amusing to listen to. "He's an awful size !" he shouted throughout the exhibition. "He's a terrific size ! Look at him, and he will paralyse you ! You have to look at him like looking up at the sky ! He's tremendous big ! When he stands on the top of a mountain, he touches the stars ! When he walks, the Earth trembles ! He wears boots 23 inches in length ! He's a wopper ! I am going to cook his supper tonight, and it will take me from 6 o'clock till 10 o'clock ! I just bought 1cwt. of beef over there, and he will get away with the lot ! Why, he eats half-a-sheep for breakfast ! Yes, he's an awful size ! Walk inside and see him !"

GIANTS AT VARIANCE.

     There were two giants on the ground—Patrick O'Connor and Donald M'Gregor. Each claims to be bigger than the other, and the rivalry between the pair has reached such a pitch that the relationship at present existing between them is certainly not of a kind which one would expect to find between two lovers. At an early hour yesterday morning, they had a wordy warfare, but no blows were struck. An eye-witness of the affair suggested that a bout between the pair in a large marquee would prove very profitable. So long as the present relations exist, however, there is scarcely any likelihood of this suggestion being adopted.

"HE WON'T HARM YOU !"

The "spruiker" of a so-called wild man ran a good second to "Donald M'Gregor's" manager as a mirth-provoker. "Come and see the burlesque wild man !" he shouted. "HE is down in the dungeon below, chained, barred, bolted, and locked ! HE won't harm you ! HE will be put in a cattle truck and sent to Melbourne. (Pointing to a couple of bullock shin-bones dangling in front of the enclosure) : THESE are the remains of his breakfast ! HE is just finishing two more ! HE eats meat without salt ! HE is the greatest impostor of the age ! HE is the greatest false-pretencer you ever saw in your life, and you will say so when you see him ! He comes all the way you see him ! HE comes all the way that the "spruiker" said was borne out by an inspection. The man in "the dungeon" was a burlesque wild man, he was chained and manacled, and as he sat on the floor of the enclosure in his weird make-up he certainly looked "the greatest imposter of the age" and "the greatest false pretencer you ever saw in your life." Many people patronised the "show." They paid to see a "burlesque," and they saw it. Most of them now probably have a better definition of the word "burlesque" than they ever had before. If they haven't, they ought to have.

THE ALMOST HUMAN CASEY.

     Perhaps the most amusing show on the ground was that in which the almost human Casey and two younger male chimpanzees held sway. Casey, who is nine years old, is 11 stone in weight, and is the first male chimpanzee that ever came to Australia. Some ideas of his value may be gauged from the fact that his lucky owner (Mr. Fox), to whom he is a veritable gold mine, was recently offered £1100 for him by the authorities of the Sydney Zoological Gardens. Casey acts so muck like a human being that several who saw him during the show there constrained to remark : "Well, I believe we are descended from monkeys after all." He smokes, rides a bicycle, drives a motor car, plays a piano, drinks, uses carpenter's tools, and plays a mouth organ, clapping his hands a la a Salvation Army soldier the while. He is very fond of his master, and caresses and kisses him whenever opportunity offers. He does not like being scolded, however, and when his master indulges in talk which displeases him he places his hand across his mouth to present him from speaking.
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Thus a correspondent:—Word comes from Spicer's Creek that a wild-looking hairy man was seen crossing a cultivation paddock, the other day, by a local resident. Our informant states that while riding along the main road he observed a strange looking individual going at the rate of about 40 miles an hour. He was bare and almost naked with a pair of Gamboroon trousers, very baggy, and a pair of what seemed to be his grandmother's elastic side boots on. He ran along stooping up right. The spectator concluded that judging by the way the visitant slipped along that his pants must have been lined with cod liver oil. He was taking a north-easterly course at the time this man caught sight of him; but when this chap of the Esau tribe noticed that he was observed he wheeled round to the right, and, without raising his eyes from gazing on the ground, darted for a scrub close at hand. The observer meant to give him a chase for it, and consequently kept watch along the main road expecting to see the wild man of the woods emerge at any moment. Taking up a commanding position on a hill he watched for about half an hour. To his surprise he sighted his hairy friend darting out on to the road about three quarters of a mile ahead—still going at a 2.20 gait. The spectator quickly mounted his horse, and gave chase, but the horse he was riding was a young one of the draught horse type, and he could see it was a hopeless chance to overtake this semi-nude creature. The last he saw of him was topping the Devil's Elbow. He thinks very probably that the strange being must have joined forces with Old Nick and made off in the direction of Dunedoo. Anyhow, several orders for firearms have been despatched to the Small Arms Factory at Lithgow. Every available fowling piece, such as shot guns, pea rifles, 44. Winchesters and even, bows and arrows have been requisitioned in order to cope with any hostility that the hairy man may commence. Should he cunningly double back, which is not at all unlikely, all harbours, such as hollow logs will be burned, and all rabbit burrows are to be thoroughly fumigated. It is surmised by some that it is the hairy man from Maitland, who, during the Maitland Agricultural Show, was supposed to have eaten a full-grown bullock, bones and all. On this surmise two or three local cattle owners are mustering all their poddy calves and other stock, and despatching them off to Bedford and Taylor's stock sales. Our correspondent concludes that judging from the impression left on the road by this wild man's boots that he is of German nationality as the footprints measured fourteen inches from toe to heel, and fully five inches across. Any one catching sight of a person answering the above description will do well to at once advise the Mudgee "Guardian" of the fact, and by so doing will relieve much anxiety at Spicer's Creek.

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There were also examples of a kind of enterprise which showed to what devices some will adopt to make money. One man enticed into his tent a goodly crowd to see what he described as a "champion swimming match." The feelings of those who parted with their money can best be imagined when to their astonished gaze was exhibited a bottle of water in which floated a lucifer. Having been caught, most of them hurried away, to their friends, and, like the fox who had the misfortune to lose his tail in a trap and wanted all other foxes to make themselves like him, spoke in glowing terms of the entertainment and, induced them to see it also. But the wonderful "wild man" took the proverbial bun. He was located in a small tent, and a man at the door asked all and sundry in a voice with the expression of a heavy tragic actor to see the "great burlesque wild man. He will not bite you," continued the speakers, "he is fastened down in a dungeon with six strong bullock chains. Come along. We're going to put him in the cage directly." "Where did you catch him?" someone innocently asked, and quick as lightning came the reply, "In West Africa." Whether the people expected to see a really wild man or not it is difficult to say, but they simply streamed in. As they emerged their faces were studies. Lying in a shallow hole inside was a dirt-begrimed barefooted man, with a beard that simply shrieked that it was false, and fastened on his hands and legs were heavy chains that might have been used to moor a fair-sized steamer. Next to their size the funniest thing about the chains was that they were fastened to pegs that a boy of 10 could have pulled up with ease. But the public took all these things in good part, and all who saw the "wild man" had many a hearty laugh over it.
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A "burlesque wild man" was another of the numerous attractions at the Beach. The "wild man" was chained to a post and the crowd were advised by the attendant not to touch him as he would spring at them. The warning acted alright for some time until a young man with a more enquiring turn of mind than the rest started poking the individual with a stick. A hook on the latter became entangled in the "wild man's hair," which was of a considerable length, and in attempting to pull the stick away a wig came off. The "wild man" showed no concern, whereupon the crowd became suspicious. Someone exclaimed, "It's a fake," and the cry was immediately taken up by the rest. They demanded their money back, and when that was refused; threatened to tear down the building, but even that was of no avail upon the attendant. A number of young men commenced to pull down the canvas screenings whilst others secured hold of the "wild man," who was in an inebriated condition, and carried him down to the beach and threw him into the water. The attendants, however, escaped from the anger of the crowd with the proceeds of the fake by disappearing amongst the tea-tree. The leg of uncooked mutton which the "wild man" was supposed to eat, was left behind as a memento.