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AUSTRALIA’S FORGOTTEN SHOWMAN: 16

Farewell Sydney Town

© Chris Woodland

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It is a fact of life that nothing stays the same, and so it was with Martini’s convenient and profitable venue. With the continuing alterations to the area around the new Central Station, Rawson Place (a continuation of Eddy Avenue) was to be opened up.

Martini’s advertisement in the pages of The Australian Star of Wednesday 6 May 1906 read:

BUCKJUMPING.
MONSTER FAREWELL PROGRAMME
LAST NIGHTS
MARTINI’S BUCKJUMPING SHOW.
22 Consecutive Weeks In Sydney. 22
A Record Reign.
Season TO CONCLUDE SATURDAY, 19th.
owing to Government requiring the Grounds
to open up Rawson-place. LAST NIGHTS
(weather permitting). LAST NIGHTS.
Box Plan at M. H. Lazarus, Tobacconist,
Market-street. Prices, 3s, 2s, 1s.

Before Martini’s Buckjumpers left their five-and-a-half-month idyllic venue, they continued providing top quality entertainment for their patrons. The Wednesday night of 12 May saw a military contest of thirteen men compete to be the best rider in their group. All of these aspirants were thrown, but a Gunner Thompson won the contest. A special £5 amateur competition using stock saddles began on the same evening.

Billy Waite

As would be expected, a large crowd attended the Monster Farewell Programme where a Mr Lazarus, on behalf of the staff and patrons, presented Martini with an impressive inscribed diamond medal as a token of esteem. Everyone’s favourite, the gifted Billy Waite, was presented with a gold medal for defeating Lance Skuthorpe for the Australian championship and was backed to the value of £200 against any rider in Australia. The Dempsey brothers were each given a silver mounted riding whip for their spectacular exhibitions of riding. An advertisement in Sydney’s Referee stated that the horses would be rested now for some time and that the show would then travel through New South Wales and Victoria with their popular acts. This advertisement concluded with the statement: Positively no connection with any other show.

This announcement was the first in many to accompany Martini’s advertisements as deceitful competitors were claiming they had the horses and riders with the same names as Martini. Because of Bobs’ fame, Martini would soon be including the horse’s brand in such public notices.

 

On the Road Again

Enjoying a rest for over two months Martini’s show was back in action in early August 1906, performing for two nights at Penrith, then onto Lithgow and Bathurst, the two places he had to abandon when he learnt of the Christ Church site in Sydney. Martini had learnt the advantage of advertising and kept the press, particularly the Referee, informed of his movements by wire well before the event. Now the show was advertising that they had 500ft of new canvas for their enclosure, also:

… champion Bobs and the original Dargin’s Grey, and Salt Bush Bill, the Whip King with Henderson’s Monster Whip, 55ft long, and 40 smaller ones!

The popular Fun in a Stockyard was still advertised, as was the usual:

Bucking Horses, Mules, Ponies, Donkeys, Asses and Jennets.

While not defining the differences between a donkey and an ass.

Advertisements now had J. Martini as sole proprietor and Harry Kennedy as representative. Kennedy would travel ahead of the show spreading the good word, organising venues, and advertising the event. Local riders and horses would also be sought from local sources for the exhibitions.

News items and advertisements for the show appeared along the way: viz. Bathurst’s National Advocate (8 August), the Leader of Orange (28 August), Molong’s Argus (7 September) and the Wellington Times. Bad weather prevented one evening performance at Orange. Milthorpe had a short season at Blackmore’s Hotel and the show appeared for one night at Cumnock.

In mid-September the Molong Argus, in its report of Martini’s Buckjumpers of the previous night (13 September), commenced the article with a doggerel rhyme:

Buck-Jumping Show.

If you want some good fun, I’d advise you to go
This Friday night to the buck-jumping show.
The notorious ‘ Bobs’ at the show you will see
If there’s a horse that can buck, I’ll be bound it is he!
Some ‘live’ ponies and mules Martini has got
If you wish so to do you can mount the whole lot;
They ‘root’ with a will— never stopping to barney,
If you doubt what I say— just ask Johnny Carney!
On Thursday night, too, they lowered the banner
Of Hilary McGroder and young Don Tanner;
‘Tid’ Nelson and Herrick, ‘twixt me and you.
Could ride them all right — if provided with glue.
Martini’s run out of good glue, so they say,
But a thumping supply he’s getting to-day;
So a chance there is still for the lads of the town
To jump up on a mule, and quickly jump down!
Jack Carney rode a winner, and scooped the blooming ‘pool,’
But Martini couldn’t get him astride a frisky mule!;
Of course he could have sat one quite easily I know
But eventually ‘twould hoist him where gentle breezes blow!
Jack Kearns had a ‘mount’ last night at the show,
And it struck me at first that to market ‘twould go;
But it didn’t do that — though had it done so,
This ‘rough rider’s’ cake— well, it might have been dough!
To be candid and straight — not wishing to blow —
‘Tis quite safe to state that Martini’s horse show
Is the most up-to-date to which you can go
lf its bucking you want— and a horseman – you know!

Following the newspaper’s aspiring poet’s effort was a lengthy article giving a detailed account of the evening’s activities, mentioning Billy Waite’s and the Dempsey brothers’ splendid exhibition of horsemanship, numerous lads being thrown by the ponies Midget and Bulls Wool, concluding with:

‘Bobs’ was the last item on the programme and proved a particularly lively one at that. Mr Martini offered a £10 prize to anyone who kept his seat for a whole minute; Mr Sinclair held the coin, Mr Cecil Smith the stop watch, Mr A. D. Millar acted as judge, and a Mr Wilcox (of Oberon) essayed the task of appropriating the prize. ‘ Bobs’ wasn’t long getting to business, with the result that Mr Wilcox and he dissolved partnership within the brief space of six seconds. However, the Oberon horseman was complimented by Mr Martini on the attempt he had made, and the audience clapped him to an echo. Another feature of the show is a first-class exhibition of whip-cracking by Salt Bush Bill. His collection of whips ranges from the ordinary 12ft stock-whip to Henderson’s monster stock-whip (55ft long and weighing I5lbs.) Saltbush Bill cracks this boomer with one hand, and can make the smaller ones crack and cut to perfection. He’s worth seeing is Salt Bush Bill, [he] is a distinct feature of a real good show.

Another item in the newspaper stated that the father of the riders J. and A. Dempsey, had been a resident in the Molong and Orange districts for many years. Of course the famous, but now debilitated Dargan’s Grey, was, as usual, paraded before the audience.

 

Bobs Conquered – Rider Injured

One evening a fortunate Molong audience witnessed the riding of Bobs by Billy Waite who, with no one else wishing to try their luck or ability, sprang from the ground into the saddle and rode without stirrups. It was an experience that would become folklore by those who witnessed the event.

The show continued on exhibiting in Bodangora, Geurie (in the paddock behind the Perseverance Hotel), – a James Nugent broke a wrist while attempting to ride the pony Bulls Wool; a season at Dubbo, then a cancellation at Trangie because of inclement weather.

The Peak Hill Express mentioned that Bobs was insured for £800 and the Molong Argus mentioned that Dargin’s Grey was 23 years old and that the accident to his fetlock at Toowoomba resulted in a lump ‘as big as a pumpkin’. The Sydney-based Referee placed an advertisement on 11October, which stated Bob’s brand in a bid to thwart fraudulent activities involving horses similar to the champion.

MARTINI’S BUCK-JUMPING SHOW,
after a sensational season of 22 weeks in Sydney,
is now touring N.S.W. with 60 Buck-jumpers, 12
Wagons, and 500 square feet of canvas. and will
shortly visit Parkes, Forbes, Cowra, Young, &c.
POSITIVELY NO CONNECTION WITH ANY
OTHER SHOW.
TO THE PUBLIC — ‘BOBS,’ the Champion
Buck-jumper, is a bay gelding, branded ST4 on
the off shoulder. – Beware of Imitations.

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AUSTRALIA’S FORGOTTEN SHOWMAN: 15

Skuthorpe Accepts the Challenge

© Chris Woodland

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Probably the biggest and most well attended performance of Martini’s Buckjumping Show was on 16 March when the so-called Professor Skuthorpe accepted Martini’s £100 challenge to ride the notorious Bobs. Part of the agreement was a challenge between Waite and Skuthorpe. Both were to ride three horses each, Waite’s horses to be supplied by Skuthorpe and Skuthorpe’s to be from Martini’s mob, one of which was to be Bobs.

Unfortunately the proprietor of the show and Skuthorpe had not settled on the details of the event before the historic ride began. Most of the evening was taken up by a lack of agreement on the saddle Skuthorpe could use. Martini would not accept Skuthorpe’s own saddle as he claimed that the kneepads of the saddle were lined with steel and over the limit. While Martini informed the audience with his megaphone of these problems the spectators took sides. Some believed that the challenger was handicapped and others believed that Waite was handicapped because of the light, non-padded saddle he would be using.

The crowd was getting more restless as the argument progressed, eventually subsiding to some degree when Skuthorpe asked if there was a saddler present. A saddler emerged from the audience and he, Skuthorpe and one of Martini’s men caught a hansom cab to a saddlery in George Street, returning with one that had been made by a Bondi saddler.

According to author Jack Pollard, Skuthorpe returned with the approved saddle, sat the cabbie two seats away from the Governor, Sir Henry Rawson, and entered the ring wearing the cabbie’s cap to the delight of the audience. The light heartedness of the crowd was only temporary, as they soon resumed their anger as the time was getting late and most would miss their last transport home. A couple got into the ring with violent intentions but were quickly ejected by Martini’s men.

Eventually Waite entered the ring in his usual flamboyant manner, vaulting over the top sliprail. Of Waite, Sydney’s Evening News commented:

Waite, at 23 and about 13 stone [about 83 kilos], is in the heyday of his life, and as active as a panther, a gift he is never disposed to hide under a bushel as he distains to crawl through the sliprails and jumps from the ground into the saddle on a bucking horse. He is as clever as a fox terrier, a first-class horseman.

Waite rode the three horses that Skuthorpe had selected for the competition. The only trouble with the first horse, a yellow bay, was that it was touchy around the head as Jigger Lavell had trouble bridling the horse. Drawing on all the tactics of his experience Waite could not get the horse to buck and the second prad was little better. The third horse gave Waite troubles and provided the audience with some welcome excitement.

Then it was Skuthorpe’s turn, the famed rider who was renowned for his agility and balance in the pigskin was attempting to add to his already illustrious career. Yet again there was disagreement, this time Martini didn’t approve of Dick Skuthorpe, Lance’s younger brother, saddling the outlaw. This difference was soon settled and Bobs, the outlaw from Bryamine, was led into the ring.

The following complete text from the Referee of Wednesday March 21, (using incorrect spelling for the contestant’s name, as it was often spelt,) describes the event:

MARTINI’S BUCKJUMPING SHOW.
On Saturday evening there was great excitement over a contest in the riding of buckjumpers between Professor Skuthorp, a Queensland champion of the pigskin, and Billy Waite the clever rough-rider attached to Martini’s show, which has been running to good business for some weeks at Christ Church school grounds, opposite the new railway station entrance. It was a special draw, and the public gathered in force to see the contest. All the benches were full, and the crowd expected something lively.

After a lot of preliminary wrangling between the principals, Martini and Skuthorp, over the dimensions of Skuthorp’s saddle, and much waste of time, Martini eventually waived the point. Waite rode in his usual saddle of an ordinary hunting pattern, whilst Skuthorp’s was a light variety of the ordinary buckjumper’s saddle. Waite rode three horses supplied by his opponent. They were each varminty and wicked in their ways.

It took a long time to saddle and bridle them. Then they were found very ordinary actors in the bucking line. Billy Waite put them through in quite a comfortable manner, one after the other, and received an ovation. Then Bobs was produced, and Skuthorp duly got seated. The champion outlaw gave one of his finest performances, with varieties of high, twist and side screwing, but Professor Skuthorp never even lost a rather finished style of seat, and never looked like being shifted at any part of the bout.

When Bobs was tired he dismounted amid uproarious applause. He declined to ride the other two horses, and allowed Waite to claim the wager, depending on the verdict of three judges as to which was the best horseman. He said all he wanted to do was to ride Bobs, whilst Martini again made the claim that no man could ride his champion in a fair hunting saddle. It was an exciting show, marred only by long-winded delay over the terms mentioned.

To-night there is to be a novel contest between Captain Reynolds and Curley Jarvis on bucking mules.

It was almost 11.30 pm when the spectators emptied the crowded arena where the vanquished Bobs finally met his conqueror. One wonders how many had missed the last train, tram or ferry.

Four days after the riding of Bobs, Skuthorpe was quoted in the press as saying:

I rode Martini’s buckjumper Bobs on Saturday night easily in a saddle with 3-inch knee pads.

The two greatest of Australian buckjumpers, Skuthorpe and Waite, obviously shared a deep respect for each other; a mutual admiration that would last. It was apparent that Martini and Skuthorpe did not share the same friendliness, though the future would still see them combine for other events.

A typical advertisement in the Sydney Daily Telegraph during Martini’s protracted stay in Sydney.

By April Martini had been filling seats at the Christ Church venue for five months. Bobs was still attracting would-be riders, despite having been mastered by Professor Skuthorpe, whose fame had increased even further. Waites remained the star of the show.

Before his ATTRACTIVE EASTER PROGRAMME Martini introduced an amateur buckjumping competition, and began exhibiting the now crippled, but legendary, Dargan’s Grey, to reverent audiences, and reported that 17 boys were thrown from one pony one evening.

Martini was advertising widely for the coming Easter (Good Friday was on 13 April), including the news that Dargin’s Grey would be trucked by train down from Toowoomba along with a grey Arab buckjumper from the same area in Queensland. Tom O’Sullivan would be supplying three outlaws from the Kangaroo Valley.

Easter proved to be another huge triumph for Martini and the shows could not provide enough seating. It was stated that it was doubtful if any Easter Saturday held a better record for attendance and success.

Later in April it was advertised that a Miss Farrington, of Adelong, would be riding outlaws at Martin’s Buckjumping Show. Before that event a young lad by the name of Edward Hill, of Pyrmont, received concussion when a pony threw him to the ground. He was taken to the Sydney Hospital for treatment, but seems to have survived the injury as there was no follow up by the press.
Mrs Farrington performed in late April and:

… gave an excellent display of riding on Kruger. Bobs, as usual was supreme among the outlaws and threw all comers.

Astonishingly, Miss Farrington rode in a side-saddle. She featured many nights with Martini’s show, along with such renowned riders as the Dempsey brothers, Waite and Jack Prendergast. All in all, it was, as one correspondent noted:

Martin’s Buckjumping show is bucking along successfully.

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AUSTRALIA’S FORGOTTEN SHOWMAN: 14

Sydney

© Chris Woodland

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Martinis longest running show – Dargan’s Grey re-joins
the show – Skurthorpe accepts the challenge

Meanwhile Sydney newspapers were building up the excitement of the coming event with releases of items of interest which explained to the readers that there would be electric light illuminating the tent and that seating was to be provided by George Hudson and Son.

On 22 December, the day after the opening night, an advertisement appeared saying that the event was a genuine Australian exhibition, that it had been packed to the doors and that there would be fresh horses and horsemen for tonight’s show. If a rider could sit on Bobs for five minutes they would receive £100, or £2 for two minutes. Good seating was supplied for three shillings, two shillings and 1 shilling.

While Martini was enjoying packed houses night after night in Sydney his rival Skuthorpe was entertaining Brisbane. The Brisbane Courier published the following advertisement on Saturday 6 January 1906:

Tonight and Every Night
Professor Skuthorpe’s
BOYS FROM THE BUSH
Tonight and every night. So come early.
Best Buckjumping Show That Has Ever Visited Brisbane.

On 9 January 1906 Martini’s advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald gave many names of the unfortunate riders who had been thrown from Bobs in New South Wales and: 6 of Queensland’s Best Horsemen.

Later in the month the almost forgotten Dargan received a mention in the press. Martini has obviously decided that the grey would never be able to perform as the great buckjumper he once was, but that he could display him and cash in on his reputation.

The Parramatta newspaper, the Cumberland Argus of Saturday 20 January, quotes Billy Waite speaking of why Bobs is such a difficult horse to ride:

He isn’t like any other horse I ever rode. It isn’t the come-back or the rolling buck, or the way he jerks one way with his hindquarters, but everything together. And he has such a lift he rises like a jumper; it’s like riding a springboard. And he comes down with his legs like solid bars ……. Waite adds: It’s heart a rider wants and head as well. If I ride it’s because I’m not frightened of a horse. I’ll hop on anything, and if it throws me I don’t care. Because I’ve been riding all my life.

And, in the unenlightened lexicon of the day, the reporter said:

Billy is a half-blood, a jolly tall chap, with a 14-inch chest, splendid thighs and calf muscles. He then spoke of his fine jaw and chin.

The Sydney press continued to acclaim Martini’s performances and performers. Miss Vera Rae was mentioned for abilities on the bicycle and wire-walking and Ernie Vantell is a champion on the triple bars. Waite continues to receive multitudes of flattering tributes:

no finer or more graceful horseman ever sat in the pigskin’ as does Bobs.

Bobs was also described as:

an equine earthquake and a snorting Bucephalus.

Martini was still performing well:

Martini himself contributes a remarkable clean-limbed and able performance on the horizontal bars.

 

BUCKJUMPING
Pitt street, opp entrance to New Railway Station
TO NIGHT AND EVERY EVENING
MARTINIS BUCKJUMPING SHOW.
10th Week in Sydney
HUNDREDS TURNED AWAY ON SATURDAY NIGHT
SEVERAL EXCITING CONTESTS TO NIGHT,
WEDNESDAY NIGHT, FEB 14
Jack Pendergast, the NSW Champion, v Bobs
FRIDAY NIGHT, Feb. 16.
Full Benefit to Sydney Hospital Martini will pay
all expenses
DON’T MISS THE FUN TO NIGHT
Electric Light. Good Seating. Prices 3s 2s 1s

This advertisement from the Sydney Morning Herald on 13 February, and similar ones in other papers, brought comments because of the bottom line, which advised there is good seating at Martini’s shows. Light-hearted remarks claimed that those unsuccessful riders – the band aids – would certainly not have good seating!

A man by the name of Jigger Lavell travelled from Melbourne to ride the outlaw Bobs. He rode Bobs for about 3 seconds and then gave:

… a neat, though voluntary exhibition of tumbling on the sawdust thoughtfully provided by the management.

Two nights later Lavell’s second attempt was thwarted because of Bobs having a slight accident. A few nights later, following Bobs recuperation, the ever-hopeful Lavell was ejected from the saddle in seven seconds.

A few days later Skuthorpe announced that he was now in Sydney and would stage his buckjumping exhibition at the Haymarket Hippodrome on 24 March. Among the events there was to be a riding contest for £100 and a prize of £20 for the best buckjumper.

Meanwhile Martini’s Buckjumping Show continued to attract lots of flattering comments such as the statement saying that the show had been in Sydney for twelve weeks and was as strong as ever and always crowded:
Bobs maintains his prestige. No one has been able to sit him yet.

On 3 March there was a riding contest between Pendergast and Lavell, and O’Donnell from the Abercrombie River would attempt to ride Bobs. For the first time a performer called Saltbush Bill, the Whip King, from Victoria’s Gippsland, joined the show and was to give exhibitions in the cracking of a variety of whips, including stockwhips and at least one bullock whip of 55 feet (16.8 m) in length. Later there would be a court case between Martini and Saltbush Bill regarding the ownership of this extraordinary whip.

 

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AUSTRALIA’S FORGOTTEN SHOWMAN: 13

On to Parramatta

© Chris Woodland

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When next we hear of Martini and his travelling show they were to perform at Parramatta on Saturday 2 December, that an eight-hands high pony known as the Midget, was the smallest buckjumper in Australia, and that Mr Menadue, the Queensland champion cornet player, will be playing solos during the evening and that he would also play the gum leaf. The Cumberland Argus said:

Local horsemen will have another opportunity to pick up £10 tonight at Martini’s buckjumping exhibition, at George Street, Parramatta. It is only a matter of sitting on “Bobs” for a few seconds.

The Lithgow Mercury named the usual varieties of performing animals, how long the show has been on the road, then interestingly informed the readers that the performing enclosure was of canvas, which is 14 feet (4.3 m) high and 240 square feet (22.3 square metres). The show was to be in Lithgow on 2 December the 4 December. They have concluded five nights at Penrith and would soon arrive at Katoomba, then Mt Victoria for performances before arriving in Lithgow.

After all that coverage it appears that the show never reached Lithgow and stayed or returned to Parramatta, where they commenced one of several nights on 2 December, the day they were to open at Lithgow.

It appears that Martini had formed a better idea than heading over the Blue Mountains. He made a decision that would make him even better known, would enhance his earnings and would offer the show a welcome reprieve from always moving along the road. Martini’s Buckjumpers would become a household name, which would pack the venues with eager spectators and those attempting to earn a name in the faculty of roughriding.

One performance at this Sydney venue would be the most advertised and best attended of Martini’s career. This was to be the match between Australia’s most famed roughrider, Lance Skuthorpe, and the notorious outlaw from Bryamine station in North Queensland with the brand ST4, the seemingly unrideable Bobs.

 

Martini’s Buckjumping Show was to spend over 22 weeks in the centre of the city of Sydney, from Thursday 21 December until closing night, with the Monster Farewell Programme on 19 May 1906. The area was adjacent to the Christ Church School grounds in Pitt Street, opposite the entrance of the new railway station, which was to be known as Central Station. The old Sydney heritage-listed Anglican church of Christ Church St Lawrence, with its dominant spire, was consecrated in 1845 and still stands today between Pitt and George streets.

On Wednesday the 13th December the Referee published:

The Byrimine [sic] Station (Q.) Buckjumper, with Martini’s Buckjumping Show. Martini will back Bobs for £100 to throw any rider in Australia in less than five minutes and has deposited £25 at “Referee’ Office” to bind a match. Martini is prepared also to back one of his Queensland horsemen to ride any other horse under same conditions. Full particulars at Exhibitions, given nightly, at Christchurch [sic] School Grounds Pitt Street, opposite the entrance to New Railway Station, commencing THURSDAY NIGHT, 21st DECEMBER.

The following telegram was received at the Referee Wednesday 7 December:

I will back Prof. L. A. Skuthorpe to ride Martini’s buckjumper Bobs for any part of £100; Skuthorpe to ride in his own small stock saddle. —
Sam Evans, owner Durendo Station, Q.

Martini replied that he would accept the wager under the condition that the knee pads would not exceed three inches, to which Evans wired back that the pads of Skuthorpe’s saddle measure three and a half inches on the inside of the pads and four and a half on the outside. When the night of the challenged finally eventuated in March the choice of saddle developed into a major disagreement.