Not A Cent To Buy Rice, 1870-1897

"Stickney and Donovan's Great American Circus – balloon ascent and parachute descent

Lord Executor's observation is of great interest in that versions of a song about Stickney and Donovan's Great American Circus can be traced to Martinique and Trinidad. The lyrics concern the activities of 'Professor' Colby, whose stunt was to ascend in an hot air balloon and, on reaching a great height, make a parachute jump from the balloon basket.

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.

In the French island (presumably at St Pierre, on the Savannah, by the Fort), a wind squall disrupted his first attempt. On the second occasion Colby achieved his aim, dropping by parachute, landing in the sea, and being picked up by boat. An appropriate Carnival satirical song, entitled Colby, was composed.

The chorus was:
Jusqu' Colby que lé badiné nous!
Jusqu' Colby que lé badiné nous!
Colby monté, Colby descende,
        Colby tombé dans d' l'eau!
Colby monté, Colby descende,
        Colby tombé dans lan me!

Even Colby is teasing us
Even Colby is teasing us
Colby goes up, Colby goes down,
        Colby falls into the water
Colby goes up, Colby goes down,
        Colby fall into the sea

Versions were recorded commercially by black migrants from Martinique in France during the 1930s and the song remains well known in the islands.

Donovan's circus arrived in Trinidad on 4 November 1889. They set up on the patch of ground known as Shrine's Pasture (now Victoria Square) in Port of Spain. Colby carried out his first aeronautical operation the following Thursday. As in Martinique, this was aborted, but on 11 November, the balloon reached a height of 500 feet, and there was a successful parachute jump. The exploit and song associated with it was recalled by Patrick Jones, in recorded reminiscences of part Carnival songs, made in 1956. His performance is directly related to the Martinique song about Colby's bravura."

[Cowley, John, Carnival, Canboulay and Calypso, (New York, Cambridge Press, 1998) pp.119-120]