John Patterson

?-1902 Forepaugh-Sells (Baggage Stock Supt.)
1903-07 Forepaugh-Sells (Elephant Supt.)
1908-18 Barnum & Bailey (Menagerie Supt.)
1919-25 (Ringling-Barnum Menagerie Supt.)
1907-1919: John Patterson was Menagerie Superintendent on Barnum & Bailey Circus.
1919-1925: John Patterson was Menagerie Superintendent on Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

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1904: This is a better look at "Mike" and "Topsy" in a corral menagerie. You can see the martingale on his Tusks and the network of hobbles and cross hobbles.The leather straps are unique. He was probably Bulling at this time and no doubt a real hand full.

John Patterson was in charge of the elephants by then and when this show was taken off the road after the 1907 season the Ringlings appointed him Menagerie Supt. with Barnum & Bailey and he held that post with RBBB thru 1925.

His last job with these two elephants was to deliver them to the B&B quarters in Bridgeport where the Ringlings planned to feature him in 1908 but unfortunately shortly after arrival a flash fire in the bull car took his life however the other elephants escaped injury.
It is reported that just prior to this Tammen and Bonfils (Sells-Floto Circus) had offered $10,000 for him.

William "Buckles" Woodcock Buckles Blog