Cowley pt. 2:

"Although New Era (8 November 1899) reported this Circus had arrived direct from New York, it is likely to have proceeded to Trinidad by staging performances island by island. This was a recognized pattern for performers of all sorts throughout the nineteenth century. Thus, Colby would have first presented his display in Martinique.

The year is said to be a typo, or another Donovan circus/season mix-up. (Stuff happens.)

Donovan & Stickney did indeed arrive in Trinidad after a nine day voyage direct from New York just as the Trinidad papers reported. They were still in New York, advertising for talent, as late as 5 October 1889 with Colby not yet on the the roster. It appears he may have been a very last minute addition to the tour. Stating the obvious but November is too late for an 1889 carnival season song or theme.

From Port of Spain, Donovan &co. headed to Bridgetown, Barbados. "Gravesend," so most likely the savannah again. Then it was on to Caracas for a Christmas Eve opening and five week stand there and the harbor at "Laguyra" (such twin-city locations were often played in tandem.)

From Venezuela, Donovan headed down the S.A. coast and was in Para, Brazil by April. Aeronaut Colby however, had already parted ways with the circus and gone solo again for an early return leg to the U.S.

Donovan's circus continued on to the interior of Brazil then finished up with a three week stand at Rio's Polytheama in concert with the Silbon Family (an English troupe of aerialists based in San Francisco at the time and in the process of finishing up a world tour.)

Meanwhile, Aeronaut Colby opened in Kingston, Jamaica (April) and Saint-Pierre, Martinique (May.) So as it happens the only time "Colby tombé dans lan me!" was at his very last stand of the 1890 season. 7 May to be exact. Now Monsieur Colby has missed the both the '89 and the '90 carnival song seasons, unless its Barbados and Cropover maybe.

The freshly renamed/reconstituted "Stickney & Donovan South American Circus" finally arrived at Saint-Pierre, direct from Rio, on 9 August 1890 but found themselves "quarantined against the Brazils" by local French health authorities. They were left with no choice but to remain on board the New York bound vessel and end their season prematurely. The main circus got back to New York the first week in August having played only two island stands (Trinidad and Barbados) the entire season.