All I knew about the metal ring bearing the name George Auger was that it was given to my grandmother, Mildred Roy Sutton (1915-2012) by a giant at the circus. I used to play with the ring as a child when I could fit three fingers inside.
Online research revealed that
George Auger had been born William Henry Auger on 27 December 1881 in Cardiff,
Wales. His (by all accounts) average size parents, were policeman Henry Auger
and Elizabeth Connop.
William Henry no doubt an “awkward
teenager” had a few minor brushes with the law before becoming a policeman in
Paddington. It is alleged that William Henry later became a London Bobbie and
his menacing frame made him an ideal candidate to be on the private security
detail for Queen Victoria’s public events. Despite his low rank, Queen Victoria
dubbed him “Captain”. However, in a short time he grew bored with policework
and most likely dreamed of fame and fortune.
About 1900 and now billed as
George Auger, he performed in a local theater production of Puss and Boots.
George was destined for much more when like Lana Turner in Schwab’s, he was
discovered by the upper brass of Barnum & Bailey Circus while attending a
performance with his 5’4” wife, Elizabeth.
George and Elizabeth sailed to America and George became part of the
“Greatest Show on Earth” billed as George Auger, The Cardiff Giant.
Mildred presumably obtained the
ring in 1922, when she had just turned seven years old. Barnum & Bailey
came to Los Angeles in September of that year.
George’s true shot at stardom was
about to be realized when he was asked by movie-star Harold Lloyd to appear in
his iconic film “Why Worry?”. Sadly, before his trip to California, George
succumbed to a stomach ailment after celebrating Thanksgiving dinner in the
home of friends. He died on 30 November 1922 at 40 years old. His funeral
created quite a scene on the streets of New York, thousands watched as his
casket was lowered out of a window as it was too large to fit through the door.
Obituaries described George as good natured and kind.
The ring, probably made of pewter
is not only a souvenir of the circus but of a moment in time. The moment the gentle
giant met the little girl. She kept the ring the rest of her life.
References:
“Circus Giant Ring”, (http://worthpoint.com/wotrhopedia/circus-giant-ring-george-auger-1787747860),
accessed: 11 May 2021
“George Auger, the Cardiff Giant,
tallest man on Earth and the Jimi Hendrix Connection”, Roath Local History
Society, (http://roathlocalhistorysociety.org/2020/08/10/captain-george-auger-the-cardiff-giant-tallest-man-on-earth-and-the-jimi-hendrix-connection/),
accessed: 11 May 2012
Shuttleworth, Peter, “The Greatest
Showman: The Story of Cardiff’s Giant”, BBC Wales News, (http://bbc.com/news/uk-wales-53580172),
accessed: 11 May 2021
“Today is Circus Day in L.A.”, 11
Sep 1922, Los Angeles Evening Express, (Los Angeles, CA), Newspapers.com,
digital images, accessed 12 May 2021
“Block and Tackle Lower Coffin at
Giant’s Funeral” 4 Dec 1922, Daily News, (New York, New York), Newspapers.com,
accessed 12 May 2021
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