Matilda Rushenberger runs away with the circus, 1852-1859
When a circus came to Somerset, Pennsylvania, in late June 1852, Matilda Rushenberger left with it, performing and living as a man for at least the next seven years. The circus was Dan Rice’s Circus and Great Hippodrome and may have provided Rushenberger a way to escape a life as a housewife in southwestern Pennsylvania; it certainly allowed for a life of travel and adventure.
The authorities in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, didn’t see it that way, especially after Rushenberger and friend got a little too rowdy for the local populace on 16 July 1859. “Sis” was determined to be a “poor girl” whose “friends” needed to be informed of her whereabouts, “so that she may be taken to her home and if possible reclaimed to a virtuous state of life.” Did it happen? There’s nothing more about Rushenberger (or Ruschenberger or Rauschenberger or Rosenberger) in newspapers; available local German-language newspapers writing about Mathilde Ruschenberger simply summarized the piece below.
Dan Rice was advertised as the “great American Humorist” and headed a circus of zoological delights. Ginning up interest in the circus’s imminent appearance, the Poughkeepsie Journal described it: “A huge rhinocerous has actually been trained to perform in the ring, and the ponderous beast goes around the circle to the crack of the ring-master’s whip as if it was the most natural proceeding imaginable. Then there is an elephant that walks the tight-rope, horses that dance, and the ‘educated mules’ that nobody can ride, together with the performances of the circus troupe, while the whole will be enlivened with the drolleries of the inimitable Dan himself.” ([Poughkeepsie, New York] 23 July 1859; p. 2)
[A few notes: By this time, Rushenberger had left the circus, which was in July 1859 traveling through Massachusetts and New York on Dan Rice’s “farewell tour.” Rice’s schedule in 1852 appears in an advertisement in the Pittsburgh Daily Post [Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania] 16 June 1852; p. 2. “Nixon’s” appears to be the drug store operated by Jacob Sharpe Nixon; he ran the store from 1849 until his death in 1891. (1860 U.S. census, population schedule; Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; p. 156; line 40. “An Honored Citizen Gone.” People’s Register [Chambersburg, Pennsylvania] 16 January 1891; p. 4).]
“A Bit of Romance: A Woman in Men’s Clothing.” Times [Chambersburg, Pennsylvania] 22 July 1859; p. 2.
On Friday last, two persons, strangers, arrived in town. We first got a glimpse of them in the barber saloon of the Franklin Hotel. The one called himself Jack —, the other Charlie —. It is with Charlie that we have to deal more particularly in this notice. Charlie was dressed in a check coat, vest and pants, and wore a Highland cap. His entire rig appeared to be new. Charlie’s appearance, voice and manner seemed to indicate that he could not justly claim to be one of the sterner sex, and this belief was entertained by all who seen [sic] him. Charlie, and his companion, Jack, to whom he seemed most devotedly attached, drank freely, swore freely, and threatened freely. They loitered about the barber saloon and bar-room for some time, Charlie being the cynosure of all eyes. Finally Jack became uproarious, and incurring the displeasure of the bar-keeper, fled the bar-room, chased very rapidly by a hickory club. Charlie immediately followed, having been advised by a certain very witty individual, that “Sis” had better leave too, and as he retreated, declared that he was no “Sis.” The conduct of the party, and the very interesting appearance of Charlie, enlisted the attention of a large number of persons, and vigilant eyes were kept on their movements. They proceeded up Main st. dropping in several stores as they went along, until they finally stopped in Nixon’s. Here Jack became extremely violent, and Charlie could not control him. High Constable Gross was soon on hand, and promptly arrested Jack upon the charge of swearing. Charlie became indignant at this proceeding, and made declarations that a “knock-down” would be the consequence, and that he would not abandon Jack under any circumstances. Thereupon, both Jack and Charlie were taken before ’Squire Hammon. The constable laid the complaint, and the Squire proceeded to commit them to prison. Charlie here became boisterous, and threatened the use of slung shot, brass knuckles and all sorts of deadly weapons. With these threats made in his presence, the ’Squire ordered the High Constable to make an examination of Charlie. That worthy official discovered nothing upon his person of a dangerous character, or with which he could execute his threats. The parties were then conveyed to prison for the time specified.
Men’s attire failed to satisfy Sheriff Brown, of Charlie’s sex, and as was his duty he proceeded to remove all doubts in the matter. Charlie without hesitation, permitted the investigation, and the fact was disclosed that he was a woman.
It would appear that the subject of this singular infatuation, was born and raised in the town of Somerset, in this State. Her name is Matilda Rushenberger, and she is now about 24 years of age. She relates, that about seven years ago, Dan Rice’s Circus was in Somerset. Her fater who is a blacksmith, did considerable horse-shoing for the Circus, and from the visits of Rice to the shop, she became acquainted with him. Rice endeavored to get her brother to travel with him, but he refused. He then, she alleges, persuaded her to accompany him, and up to a short period, she has been in his employ. She donned male attire from the time she started, and has been wearing it ever since. Her occupation in the Circus, was Equestrianism and Vaulting, and no doubt she figured among Rice’s “Stars” as “the celebrated Equestrian Signor Somebody, from Franconi’s in Paris, and Astley’s in London.” She says that she is not the only female in male attire, travelling with Circuses in this Country. Of course she is rough in speech, and from her degrading and brutal associations seems to have lost all respect for the proprieties of her sex. Justice Hammon has written to certain persons, for the purpose of finding the poor girl’s friends, so that she may be taken to her home and if possible reclaimed to a virtuous state of life. Should no satisfactory information be obtained, she will be kept in Jail until Court, and be dealt with as it may order.
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