THE BALLOON MAN

HLOM Feature: The clairvoyant Rosalie Du Pre

Genesee County History Department
Circus in town
Elephants form a line down Main Street in a vintage photograph from the collection of the Genesee County History Department. The city has a close historical connection with the big top, in the person of Rosalie Du Pre, a famed circus performer who lived in the city for nearly a half-century.In 1841, Rosalie Du Pre was born in a little settlement near Montreal called Riviere de Laine, Quebec. In 1843, her parents took her to Montreal to see one of the big tent shows, listed as the World’s Eighth Wonder or as the Greatest Show on Earth, a circus. After the show Rosalie was separated from her parents.
She was luckily taken under the protecting arm of the circus owner. She was taken to New York City, the winter headquarters for the Barnum Circus, and became a member of their household. At 6 years old Rosalie made her debut as a circus performer. She was seated in a little white carriage as she drove six white ponies in the grand parade around the Big Top. She was the opening act of every performance and her appearance was always met with applause from the audience.
The circus was her textbook for her early schooling. She constantly studied the stunts of the performers. She begged the owners of the circus to let her ride bareback in the sawdust ring. Previously, only the men in the circus were allowed to do this act but she earned their consent. She was given a big white horse called “Patriarch” that she fondly named “Pat.”
At 19, she had her debut in New York City as the female bareback rider. She continued to tour the country. In Galveston, Texas, the disease black tongue was spreading through the performers of the circus. As she was riding into the circle she noticed that the ringmaster had fallen to the ground. His face was purple. She also fell from her horse and was picked up unconscious. Months afterward she regained her health in New York City, where she had been taken to the Barnums to recuperate from the dreaded disease.read more at:http://thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_8ce972f2-8b7a-11e0-bad9-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story