July 13, 1871, Lakes Hippo-Olympiad and Mammoth Circus played a stand in Abilene, Kansas, where the owner/manager of the circus, Agnes Mersman Thatcher Lake met the town marshal James Butler Wild Bill Hickok for the first time when she went to his office to request a permit to set up her chapiteau. When Wild Bill learned the town council was going to charge Agnes fifty dollars for the permit, he made a speech in favor of allowing the circus to perform because it was a reputable affair operated by a woman and he refused to charge her for the license. Later Agnes gave him a tour of the circus lot and introduced him to her 16-year-old daughter, the famed equestrienne, Emma Lake. After the tour Wild Bill said to Agnes, Well now... do you know the greatest curiosity about this canvas is yourself (?) I never saw a woman before that could run anything, except a broom handle, and to find one managing one like this is bigger than California Joe when he was tackled by a panther down in the Wachitas. Here is a photo of Agnes Thatcher Lake during the 1860s when her husband Bill Lake was a famous clown and managed the circus before his death in 1869. Next is a photo of Emma Lake, famous equestrienne and sidesaddle rider who impressed Queen Victoria when she performed for the Queens Jubilee during the engagement of Buffalo Bills Wild West at Earls Court in 1887. Next is a photo of Bill Lake, Agnes late husband in his clown costume. Finally a photo of James Butler Wild Bill Hickok, at the time the town marshal of Abilene and longtime friend of Buffalo Bill Cody.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 17:38:43 +0000
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