Roughrider’s Story of German “Wild West.”
Herman Kepple, a circus rider, whose home was formerly in Afton, Okla., at one time with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West circus, and for several years a member of a German “Wild West” aggregation, has just returned on account of the circus having been broken up by the war in Europe. Kepple says that he was more than sorry that he had to return, for his monthly salary with the German show was equal to a small fortune. The big circus was composed of close to 2,000 persons, and rifle shooting, riding, and other “dare-devil” stunts, such as made the stolid Germans gasp, was Kepple’s specialty.[{65}]
As soon as war was declared, the Cossacks with the show were placed in prison, the English and Japanese actors were taken into custody, and most of the German members had to join the colors.
Still the management tried to keep the show going, using neutral actors and Germans who did not have to join the army, but the attendance grew less and less. Then, as a last resort, they began the production of a spectacular scene known as “Europe in Flames.” This showed—with the crash of big guns and the clash of steel—the progress of the war, and the supposed ending, all leaning in favor of the Germans.
Kepple was supposed to be a royal hussar for a while, then an English soldier and prisoner of war; at times he played dead, and was carried off the field. The beginning of the spectacle pictured the cause of the war, and ended with a general drawing of swords and presenting of arms, with the kaiser, of course, being the last one to draw his weapon. This last was always received with many cheers.
Another Oklahoma cowboy, A. W. Beasley, and Arma Reuter, from Texas, were with the same outfit. Kepple says that Reuter returned to Texas, but does not know what became of Beasley.
Always the Germans won in this mimic war. Even so, the populace soon tired of it, for the real war was carrying off thousands of the nation’s sons. The owners decided to disband. Kepple and Reuter concluded to join the German army, but when they found that they would have to renounce their own country, they backed out.