Part 2: The kidnapping of young boys, Eko and Iko, and the circus

We recently shared information about Eko, Iko, and Clicko who were forced to work without pay for the circus in the article:  "Eko, Iko, & Clicko kidnapped and forced into Barnum Circus."  Clicko was kidnapped from South Africa at a different time than the brothers Eko and Iko.  Eko and Iko were kidnapped in 1899, and we are working our way back in the research to determine what happened to them before they crossed paths with Clicko where they all performed in the same circus act in the 1920's.

The first time that genealogist and peonage researcher, Antoinette Harrell, heard of Iko and Eko was in a local Mardi Gras song about local Indians.  She learned more about them in documents at the National Archives.  "There was time that the circus took people with mental and physical disabilities.  Although they were handicapped, they were beat, drugged, mistreated, and lived a miserable life.  There were no human right's organizations back then to protect them from abuse, " said Antoinette.

Charles Rubenstein, Eko, Clicko, and Iko

Since our purpose here is to share records documenting peonage and reveal the history of African Americans trapped in involuntary servitude that far below the radar of records such as census records, we are sharing the following copy of a letter submitted to the FBI in 1946 by a man who traveled with the Clyde Beatty Circus for three or four summers in Illinois at the same time as Iko and Eko.  Please click on the documents to see them in full screen:

Department of Justice, NA, RG60 
Submitted by genealogist and peonage researcher, Antoinette Harrell. 

Department of Justice, NA, RG60 
Submitted by genealogist and peonage researcher, Antoinette Harrell. 

The name of the individual who submitted this letter has been withheld.  He learned about the kidnapping of Eko and Iko from their own account, and he was eyewitness to the conditions they lived under.  The description of their living quarters with thousands of bed bugs is particularly gruesome.


Also unfortunate is the fact that the first side show operator who kidnapped them died and they were just passed to a new owner.  We know that Clicko was dead by time and that they had performed together in the Barnum Circus.

Clyde Beatty Circus ad submitted byAntoinette Harrell

This happens to be the most disturbing piece of oral history which I have ever read, however, it reveals the fact that  circus records can definitely be included among sources to consider when for documenting ancestors who were trapped in peonage.

Eko and Iko in 1937. Submitted by Antoinette Harrell

"Peonage was worse than slavery.  The inhuman treatment that occurred during slavery was supposed to be abolished. Not until the later part of 1920 was it obvious that there were those who still had to serve without volunteering and without being paid,"  said Antoinette.


Please check back. Antoinette will share her thoughts on the contradictions between Juneteenth celebrations and the knowledge gleaned from historical documents that 20th Century slavery did exist for scores of African Americans.  Some of their descendants remain in poverty and on the plantation today. 

Eko, Iko, & Clicko kidnapped and forced into Barnum Circus

Charles Rubenstein, Eko, Clicko, and Iko performing.  Submitted by Antoinette Harrell.

You may find it hard to fathom, but in 1899, two small lads, 6 year old Eko and 7 year old Iko,were kidnapped from their mother in Roanoke, Virginia after being scouted previously for the circus.  They crossed paths between the 1920's and 1930's with an African also forced into peonage.  They performed across the country for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus with Franz Taaibosch aka Clicko, "The Wild Dancing Bushman," who was kidnapped from Kimberely of Cape in South Africa by Morris "Paddy" Epstein.  Franz was paraded across England, France, Cuba, and the United States. 

This is our first discovery of an enslaved African brought to the United States and forced into peonage.  To learn more about Franz' story, see "Clicko"-  The story of Franz Taaibosch- yesterday's Caster Semenya.  This book is also available at Amazon:  

Clicko:  The Wild Dancing Bushman

What type of society would nurture or find amusing the publicizing and the parading of the unfortunate individuals which where exploited by others for profit in so-called "Freak Shows?"  According to author, Robert Bogdan, freak shows were very popular in the United States between 1840 and 1940 and "freak hundreds of shows crisscrossed the United States exhibiting their  dwarfs, giants, Siamese twins, bearded ladies, savages, snake charmers, fire eaters, and others.  Why was this form of entertainment acceptable for hundreds of years.  The book is available on Amazon.  Freak Show:  Presenting Human Oddities for Amusement.  From Clicko, Eko, and Iko, we understand that these shows were internationally popular.

This form of public entertainment existed earlier in Europe. Unfortunately, this same type of entertainment became popular in the United States and many were engrossed with exhibitions which exploited African Americans as well.  See "P. T. Barnum and the Birth of the Freak Show:"

“P.T. Barnum and the Birth of the Freak Show,” The History Channel website, http://www.history.com/videos/pt-barnum-and-the-birth-of-the-freak-show (accessed Jun 5, 2011).
In the next post, genealogist, Antoinette Harrell, will share a record that she discovered in the National Archives that will reveal more about Eko and Iko.  Check back soon.
More Links:
Clicko:  The Wild Dancing Bushman (University of Chicago Press)
Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Route Book, 1950
Eko and Iko, The Remarkable Life of Willie Muse