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Of Tragedy and Valor
John (Little Gulliver) Rumbelow
1876 - 1906
Relation Unknown
John Rumbelow (Little Gulliver) was born at White Hills, near Bendigo, Victoria, on January 14, 1876.
At his death he was just on 29 years of age. He was a natural midget, perfectly formed, and his height was 3ft 4in, while his weight was 4st ,31b.
His sister is also a natural midget, who Gulliver used to say "could just stand under his arm." The remaining members of the family are about the average height.
A VICTORIAN LILLIPUTIAN
A VICTORIAN LILLIPUTIAN
There is now located at the Criterion Hotel, corner of Park and Pitt streets, one of the tiniest spccimeus of humanity in the world.
His name is John Rumbelow, or as he is professionally called, "General Mite." He was born at Sandhurst (VIC) in 1871 and consequently is now 16 years of age. He is 62in. in height, considerably smaller than either the famous Torn Thumb or even Commodore Nutt, and weighs a little over 201b.
His parents are persons of ordinary size, his father having for the past 10 years been employed as a workman in Messrs. Humble and Nicholson's foundry, Geelong, and the other children of the family are also of average size, a little brother two years old being rather taller than John.
As a baby he was very tiny and up to 11 years old was a delicate child, but since then, during which time be has not grown at all, he has been healthy and well. He has until quite recently been educated at the State school, Sandhurst, and is apt and remarkably observant.
Mr. Solomon has entered into an engagement with the father to keep the boy for a time at the Criterion Hotel.
Little Gulliver, "our own pocket comedian," is described on the bill as "the funniest man of his inches in the world," and he is certainly the funniest dwarf we have ever seen. His performance is that of a first-class comedian, and irresistibly laughable. The audience cheered the little man, and he had a most enthusiastic recall.
- Auckland Star, 8/6/1897.
One of the funniest items on the list is the appearance of Little Gulliver described as the "Funniest man of his inches in the world." He is only about 26 inches in height, and is 53 years of age. He is a born comedian, sings an excellent comic song, is most original in his business, and is one of the quaintest dancers it is possible to see. -Thames Star, 12/6/1897.
The death occurred in Dunedin Hospital last evening (says a Press Association message), as the result of a complication of pleurisy and pneumonia, of John Rumbelow, better known as “Little Gulliver,” a member of the Sheridan Company. He was a natural midget, twenty-nine years of age. His height was 3ft 4ln, & his weight 4st 31b. "Little Gulliver” was a familiar figure in the streets of Melbourne, where his parents reside.
The other members of the family are of normal stature. “Gulliver” was extremely fond of cycling, and, of course, rode a diminutive machine, which attracted much notice. He appeared in several pantomimes in Australia, and was with Mr Sheridan’s company in the pantomime “Cinderella” during the last visit to Wellington. Gulliver was a clever comedian. - NZ Times, 12/1/1906
JOHN Little Gulliver RUMBELOW
JOHN Little Gulliver RUMBELOW
Died 11/1/06. 29 years.
John Rumbelow, better known as "Little Gulliver," a member of the Sheridan Company, died in the Dunedin Hospital died last evening, of a complication of pleurisy and pneumonia. He was a natural midget, 29 years of age. His height was 3ft 4in., and his weight 4st 31b. His parents reside in Melbourne, and though informed of his illness, they will be told of his death by cable in the morning.
As a comedian he was sprightly, a good spacer, a capital singer, and there was undoubted talent. He became the admiration of the adult play patron and the delight of the children, who will in coming years recollect poor Little Gulliver in the character of Whittington's cat. It was a sad duty for Mr Sheridan to perform in having to cable the news to a friend in Melbourne to convey the sorrowful tidings to the bereaved parents. Mr Sheridan has been the recipient of a number of telegrams of sympathy from friends of I his own and of the deceased in different parts of the colony.
Mr Sheridan wishes us to express his heartfelt thanks to Dr Macdonald and the nursing staff of the Hospital for their kindly and minute attention to their little patient; to Dr Watt for his interest and attention to Little Gulliver before his entry to the Hospital, and to the members of the Citizens' Band who took part in the pantomime of "Dick Whittington" with Little Gulliver.
Little Gulliver was first brought to public notice in Melbourne in 1888. Some time after this he was taken on tour through the Victorian towns, and in 1896 appeared in Melbourne at the Princess Theatre in the second production of "Djin Djin," in which he did his specialty — a parody on "Home, sweet home."
The next year saw "Johnny" as a comedian, when he played the Pigmy King in Messrs Williamson and Royle's "Matsa," which was a huge success. It was then he acquired the name of "Little Gulliver." One day, at rehearsal, the stage manager said, "Here you, Gulliver, Little Gulliver." Johnny turned round at the name and said "Yes?"
The name stuck to him, and very proud he was of it. His diminutive stature specially fitted him for many roles.
In 1897 he played a little Buttons in "Babes in the Wood," '83 a part in "Forty Thieves," '99 a Fat Boy in "Red Riding Hood," '00 a Little Sailor in "Australis," '01 the Cat in "Alice in Wonderland," '02 the Cat in "Dick Whittington."
In 1903 he joined Mr John F. Sheridan in Melbourne, playing the Buttons in "Mrs Dooley's Little Joke," and he has been continuously with Mr Sheridan ever since, touring New Zealand, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, West Australia, and South Africa.
Little Gulliver appeared in the majority of the pantomimes under the Williamson/Musgrove regime, his last appearance in pantomime with that management being in "Alice in Wonderland" in Sydney. He was the star attraction in "Australis," staged by the J. C. Williamson Co. in conjunction with the Pollards in Sydney some five or six years ago.
He first visited New Zealand with the Matsa Vaudeville Co. about 1892, which company included in its ranks Misses Gertie Campion, Alice Leamar, Ernest Fitts, Johnny Coleman, and Leoni Clark the Cat King. Of a quiet, retiring, and gentle disposition, Little Gulliver was a fast favourite with his fellow actors, and a special one of Mr Sheridan's, who naturally feels his death very keenly.
AN IMPOSING FUNERAL.
The funeral, which took place on Sunday afternoon, was a deeply impressive one. The cortege left the Hospital at 3 p.m., and as the casket containing the remains of the little favourite was lifted into the hearse the quiet welling tears of sincere regret were visible in the eyes of many. The popularity of Little Gulliver had been so pronounced and his death so sudden that it was next to impossible for those with whom he had been such a favourite to subdue their emotion. Even the little children stood near by with sorrowful expression written on their faces, and in one instance a "wee mite" was heard to sob aloud.
Leaving the Hospital, the procession, headed by the Citizens' Band, playing the "Dead March" in "Saul," journeyed along Cumberland and Princes streets to the Southern Cemetery, the pall-bearers being Messrs F. W. Winter, Robert Noble, Horace Jardine and T. Curran. Immediately following the hearse came the members of the Sheridan Company, down to the programme boys, the orchestra, together with the members of the Fuller Company; representatives of the musical societies of Dunedin, and sympathisers of the deceased.
The first carriage, containing a large number of floral tributes, was followed by another occupied by Mr J. F. Sheridan. Miss Barlow, and Mr Torrance. The third carriage contained the Misses Massey, Tate, and Leighton, and Mr Stanley Grant. The fourth carriage contained Misses Ray Jones and Merton, and Messrs Collard and Duncan, and other carriages with members of the Sheridan Company. In this order, and accompanied by other vehicles, the funeral was witnessed in the streets of the city and at the cemetery by nearly 10,000 people. At the grave an impressive burial service was performed by Mr Torrance, and at the conclusion of the obsequies an orchestra, under Mr A. I. Robertshaw, accompanied the members of the Sheridan Company in the singing of the beautiful hymn. "Abide with me."
It was noticeable that the singers were deeply affected at the graveside during its rendition. It was originally intended to engage in a full choral service, but the immense crowd edging in on the open grave prevented the members of the orchestra from being able to perform, and this part of the service had to be abandoned. The last rites performed, the vast crowd moved rapidly away, whilst the members of the Sheridan Company took a long and farewell look at the casket containing the mortal remains of their late little associate, Little Gulliver.
If further testimony to the esteem in which Little Gulliver was held were necessary, it was furnished in the large number of beautiful wreaths sent expressive of sympathy, of which the following is only a portion: Messrs Allan Hamilton, John F. Sheridan, S. Grant, F. Duncan, J. W. Weierter, Avalon Collard, T. Curran, Misses Heba Barlow, Ray Jones, Florence Faning, H. C. Campbell, Fuller Vaudeville Company, the Brescians, chorus ladies, John P. Sheridan Company, ladies' ballet, gentleman of chorus, boys and girls of Sheridan Company, stage hands, Robertshaw's Orchestra, Criterion Dancers, Mr and Mrs McKewen (Grand Hotel), admirers (Grand Hotel), Citizens' Band, Mr C. Little, passengers s.s. Maheno. The casket, which was covered with white figured cloth and mounted with nickel-plate, bore the inscription:
Mr John F. Sheridan writes: — "I would like to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who so kindly assisted in the impressive funeral of Little Gulliver. It devolves upon me to acquaint his bereaved relatives of the great tribute which was paid him, and it should suppress somewhat the great sorrow which has fallen on them to know that here in Dunedin, so many miles away from his home, there were found kind hearts who paid this last token of respect to our dear little friend — beloved by his brother and sister artists, and by all who knew him." - Otago Witness, 17/1/1906.
LITTLE GULLIVER DEAD
LITTLE GULLIVER DEAD
At 7 o'clock last evening Little Gulliver, the diminutive comedian of Mr John F. Sheridan's Musical Comedy Company, died at the hospital from double pneu-monia The poor little man appeared in "The Earl and the Girl" at the Princess Theatre on Satuiday evening. He was then suffering from a slight cold. On Sunday he was worse, and on Tuesday he was admitted to the Dunedin Hospital, which he was fated never to leave.
His illness caused a great deal of anxiety among his fellow artists and to Mr. Sheridan himself, with whom he was a warm favourite. None of them were prepared for such a startlingly sudden end, and the news, which became known to all before the rise of the curtain last evening, was but a poor heartening for the evening's performance.
Had it been possible, this would have been postponed, but it is one of the pathetic sides of the profession that it allows no pause or wait to its followers, under no matter what tragic circumstances. There were many sore hearts among the company last evening; for it seems that the dead man was a charming little fellow, sunny -tempered, willing to do anything for them all and a universal favourite.
Little Gulliver was bom at Whitehills, Bendigo, in January, 1876. He was named after his father John Rumbelow. His parents were of average height, and so were the rest of the family, excepting one of his sisters.
Gulliver himself was not a freak, but a perfectly-formed little man. His height at the time of his death was 3ft 4in , his weight was 4.3, and his chest measurement 31in. He would have been 29 years of age on Sunday next.
He entered the ranks of the profession ten years ago, appearing in specialities in the second edition of "Djm-Djin, " under Williamson and Musgrove's management at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne.
He joined Mr Sheridan in July, 1903, and played the Buttons in "Mrs Dooley's Joke" at the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne; so that he was with the Sheridan Company for two and a-half years, touring Australasia and South Africa.
Within the limits set by his physique, in specialty work, and especially in pantomime, he was a smart little comedian. He danced splendidly, and had a good voice.
His last appearance, like his first, was made at a Princess Theatre. Throughout Australia and New Zealand his name was well known in connection with pantomimes.
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