A Little Civil War Break
Loose on the (northern) Mississippi
I’m assuming this story takes place around LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The Richmond Daily Dispatch published it 150 years ago yesterday.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 7, 1861:
A rhinoceros at large.
–He Attacks a Man. On the 19th of August the shipsteamer Key City, bound down the Mississippi, collided with the shipsteamer Luzerne, having on board Dan Rice’s circus troupe, trained animals, &c. The cage containing the trained rhinoceros, weighing over four thousand pounds, which was on the barge alongside, was knocked into the river. The door of the cage was open, the animal-being tied to the front end of it by a chain which was fastened to a ring in the monster’s nose. When morning came no signs of him could be seen. The La Crosse Democrat, however, of the 27th, says:
LaCrosse, WI on the (rhino inhabited?) Mississippi (1867 image - LOC)
Sunday afternoon, Charles Wrightston, F. W. Brown and Robt. Eggleston, while reasting [roasting?] green corn, on the bank of the slough, five miles below here, were half scared to death by hearing a heavy tramp, and in a few moments the rhinoceros, as he appeared here on the occasion of his first visit, in July, minus the blanket and chain in his nose, rushed upon them with a terrible bellow, catching Eggleston on his shout [snout?], and throwing him as he says at least fifty feet over and back of him, breaking one arm and two ribs in the fail [fall?]. The monster plunged into the river, and the other two persons, badly scared, but not hurt, procured a buggy, took the seat out, lifted the box with grass and a blanket, and brought Eggleston to his home in this city, where he is now in the care of Dr. Cameron. The ribs were evidently broken by the shout [snout?] of the animal, as the flesh was badly torn.
Dan Rice (photo circa 1840s)
The “slough” in which the animal doubtless is at present, is about five miles below here, very deep, with muddy bottom, and, though it is just such a place as he was captured from in the East, there is no telling how long he may remain quiet without taking a notion to prowl around the country in search of better fare. This forenoon several of our sportsmen went down to the spot to make arrangements for his capture, when, if successful, they can start a show of their own.
The Wikipedia article on Dan Rice references a 2001 biography by David Carlyon with the title, Dan Rice: The Most Famous Man You’ve Never Heard Of. I had never heard of him, but he had a huge influence on popular American culture beginning in the 1840s. As an example, the expression, “jumping on the bandwagon” began when Rice let Zachary Taylor and local politicians ride on his circus bandwagon during Taylor’s 1848 presidential campaign.
Dan Rice as clown (LOC - LC-USZ62-54650)
The Clown Ministry mentions a rhinoceros:
Dan Rice was an accomplished animal trainer. He specialized in pigs and mules, which he trained and sold to other clowns. He also presented an act with a trained rhinoceros and is the only person in circus history to present a tightrope walking elephant.
Rice was an early Pat Paulsen because he ran for several political offices, including U.S. president in 1868 (he always dropped out).
Well, that was a nice Civil War break. According to that Clown Ministry link:
By 1862 he was earning $1,000.00 a week, twice as much as President Lincoln. He and President Lincoln were good friends, as were Dan and Jefferson Davis. He was called the President’s court jester. He was well-known for his Shakespearean quips, as well as for a biting tongue. A philanthropist he gave generously to many charities and erected the first monument to soldiers killed during the Civil War.
You can read an interesting piece about Marcus “Brick” Pomeroy, who owned the La Crosse Democrat during the war at Wisconsin Stories. Pomeroy began to oppose the war as it dragged on. He thought the western states had more in common with the South than with the union and thought slavery should be allowed in the territories. In August 1864 Pomeroy published a cartoon referring to Lincoln as “The Widow Maker of the 19th Century”. Apparently Pomeroy suggested someone should knife Lincoln to prevent his reelection. After Lincoln was assassinated a crowd formed to burn the paper’s offices and lynch Pomeroy. The publisher armed his place of business; the crowd eventually departed.
LOC - LC-DIG-ppmsca-23081
