Eva Clark (also known as Eva Howard, Eva Adair, and Eva Kelley; died October 1, 1906) was a headlining aerialist and circus performer. She was shot in the abdomen by her estranged husband, Lum "Roser" Clark, after a show with Cole Bros. World-Famed Triple Railroad United Shows on September 6, 1906, in Staunton, Virginia, and died on October 1, 1906, from surgical complications."Succumbs to Her Wounds." Staunton Daily Leader, October 2, 1906, p.1 In the years prior to her death, newspapers referred to Eva as the "Queen of the Air"."A Crush at Fairview." The Dayton Herald, August 18, 1903, p. 5
Early life and performance Clark was born to entertainers Lee Howard Kelley and Alice Howard (later Adair). The exact year of her birth is unknown – articles at the time of her death listed her age as both 22"Fair Aerialist is Still in Danger." Staunton Daily Leader, September 28, 1906, p. 1 and 25, so it is likely that she was born between 1881 and 1884. In 1888, her parents were listed on rosters for the Clements & Russell Railroad Show."The Clements & Russell Railroad Show." New York Clipper, May 5, 1888, p. 123 In 1890, her father, Lee Kelley, was listed in Chas. Lee's London Shows."Notes from Chas." New York Clipper, June 7, 1890, p. 198 Clark appeared as "Eva May" with her parents on McFadden's Amusement Enterprise and Pavilion Shows' roster in 1889."Roster of McFadden's Amusement Enterprise and Pavilion Shows." New York Clipper, May 11, 1889, p. 138 Later that year, "Baby Eva" was listed with her parents for the season opening of McClelland's Shows and Wild West."Under the White Tents." New York Clipper, September 7, 1889, p. 427 In 1891, the Howard Family was listed in Sautelie's Show,"Vaudeville, Minstrel and Circus." New York Clipper, January 10, 1891, p. 702 Clemens' European Shows,"Roster of Clemens' European Shows." New York Clipper, May 16, 1891, p. 169 and Chas. Lee's London Circus."Variety, Minstrel and Circus." New York Clipper, December 19, 1891, p. 683 In 1892, Eva and her family were listed with the Wallace Shows. Clark was raised in Texas.
In 1893, Clark and her mother, Alice, joined Price's Floating Opera Co., an Ohio-based showboat."Joe and Hattie Richards." New York Clipper, April 29, 1893, p. 119 They were listed in "Notes from Price's Floating Opera" for all of 1893, including an excerpt in May that suggested Eva was ""very sick with fever, and her mother, Mrs. Alice Howard, was compelled to take her off the boat for a few weeks.""May 5." New York Clipper, 20 May 1893, p. 164 They were also listed as part of Price's Floating Opera Co. in 1894."Notes from Price's Floating Opera." New York Clipper, January 6, 1894, p. 711
Marriage to Lum Clark In 1897, Clark was listed in the Tuscaloosa Gazette as a performer in the W. C. Clark Shows, where Joseph Columbia "Lum Roser" Clark was also listed,"Notes from W. C. Clark's Shows." Classic.circushistory.org. N. p., 2020. Web stating that she "is an exceedingly pretty young lady, a very clever singer and a capital dancer and she created a most favorable impression. She was twice encored and graciously responded with other dances.""Band." The Tuscaloosa Gazette, March 4, 1897, p. 3 Lum was the third eldest son of W. C. Clark, a founding member and manager of the Clark Bros. wagon show, known as "the largest show of its kind".
A marriage certificate from Troup County, Georgia, documents that Lum R. Clark and Miss Eva Kelley were married on December 11, 1897.Certificate of Marriage, Lum R. Clarke to Miss Eva Kelley. December 11, 1897, Troup County, Georgia. County Records Office, Troup County Lum would have been 20 years of age, Eva between 13 and 16, depending on her birth year. In the following year, "Eva Clark" was listed for the first time in the W. C. Clark's United Shows as performing "flying rings and trapezist"."W. C. Clark's United Shows Notes." New York Clipper, April 2, 1898, p.77
Aerial career and continued fame Clark's career as an aerialist brought continued fame in 1899, when The Hocking Sentinel complimented her performance with McCormick Silver Plate Circus as "the best flying exhibition ever seen in this country"."Local News." The Hocking Sentinel, May 25, 1899, p. 4 In 1900, she is listed in John Robinson's 10 Big Shows as "Eva Adair"John Robinson's 10 Big Shows Season of 1900 Route Book. 1900. Robert L. Parkinson Library & Research Center and then as "Eva Howard" later that year in Dr. Fretwell's Floating Palace."Roster of Dr. Fretwell's Floating Palace." New York Clipper, March 31, 1900, p. 104 She continued using "Howard" in 1901 with Robinson's Show."Robinson's Roster." Billboard, March 2, 1901, p. 7 In 1902, Sells & Downs listed Eva and Lum as joining the upcoming season,"Sells & Downs' Notes." New York Clipper, November 1, 1902, p. 787 and in a January 1903 Newberry Herald and News article, Clark's performance is praised, stating "she seems to feel as much at home in the trapeze acts as if she were on the ground"."The Carnival." The Newberry Herald and News, January 2, 1903, p. 3
Divorce petitions On May 30, 1903, divorce petition notices appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune. The Enquirer stated "126.299. Eva Clark vs. Lum Clark. For divorce. C. J. Ryan""New Suits Filed." The Cincinnati Enquirer, May 30, 1903, p. 16 and "Eva Clark says in a petition for divorce filed yesterday that Lum Clark has refused to live with her since their marriage in Georgia in 1897 and has refused to provide for her in any way. Besides, he has beaten her and threatened to kill her, and did shoot at her. Charles Ryan, attorney.""Eva Clark." The Cincinnati Enquirer, May 30, 1903, p. 16 The Commercial Tribune ran a similar notice, stating "Eva Clark applied for a divorce from Lum Clark, to whom she was married in 1897. She charges him with failure to provide, beating her and making threats against her life. Attorney C. J. Ryan represents Mrs. Clark.""New Suits Filed." Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 30, 1903, p. 7
Accident at The Commodore and Queen of the Air A July 1903 New York Clipper article reported that "Eva Howard, late of Robinson's Circus, while doing her act on the flying rings at the Comodore [sic.] Music Hall swung into an electric fan and was badly cut by the blades. She was knocked off the rings and unconscious when picked up.""Ohio: Cincinnati." New York Clipper, July 25, 1903, p. 505 The extent of Eva's injuries were not reported, but less than a month after the accident she performed as "Miss Eva Howard" and received reviews in Dayton Daily News, which said she was "a charming soubrette who will be a popular idol, and who will make good in a number of pleasing songs, including 'Can't Live on Love' and 'Blew, Blew, Blew.' She will also appear in the flying rings and is known as the 'queen of the air.'""Miss Eva." Dayton Daily News, August 15, 1903, p. 11 This is the first recorded instance of Clark being called the "Queen of the Air," an epithet that would follow her for the rest of her career.
In another review for her Fairview Park act, it was noted that "Miss Eva Howard, the petite aerialist known as 'Queen of the Air,' in her great specialty, 'In the Flying Rings,' was a former leading performer with the John Robinson and Sells Bros circus. If you want to see a daring hazardous act, her work will fill all the requirements. She is an exceedingly pretty woman, and has a magnificent wardrobe and other effects." The reviews followed Clark's performance for over a month, and a September Dayton Daily News article stated that she was "the charming performer who will be pleasantly remembered by thousands of our best people, will be seen and heard in a number of entirely new coon songs. She will also do her marvelous and daring mid-air and on the flying rings, the best and strongest act of its class in America.""Great Company." Dayton Daily News, September 26, 1903, p. 9
1904–1906 In January 1904, Clark was listed in Billboard as a member of the Isle of Spice company roster in a Midwest tour."Isle of Spice." Billboard, January 1, 1904, p. 3 In April, Billboard announced that "Eva Howard, who made a decided hit at the Columbia Cincinnati, O., a few weeks [ago], has received a flattering offer to create the soubrette role in a prominent New York production. She will leave for the East shortly, and if the part is suitable, she will not be seen in vaudeville for some time to come.""Eva Howard." Billboard, April 9, 1904, p. 4 The next month, in May 1904, Clark and her mother, Alice, were listed with the American Water Circus, with "Eva Howard" on flying rings and trapeze and "Mrs. Howard" on flying rings and flying ladder."American Water Circus Opens." Billboard, May 14, 1904, p. 9
In June 1904, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that "Eva Hard [sic.], trapeze performer with W. H. Newman's American Water Circus, this afternoon publicly horsewhipped George Backentol, the circus concessionaire. She was assisted by two members of the band, who held Backentol while she applied the lash. She alleges Backentol talked about her in an uncomplimentary manner. Backentol denies the allegation.""With a Horsewhip." The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 10, 1904, p. 9
A January 1905 Billboard excerpt stated that "Miss Eva Howard, for the past four seasons with the John Robinson Shows, is suffering with tonsillitis at her home 814 Main street, Cincinnati.""Miss Eva Howard." Billboard, January 28, 1905, p. 20 This remains the only known street address for Clark.Norris, Aine. "Lore No More: Uncovering Eva Clark's Rightful Legacy" Bandwagon: The Journal of the Circus Historical Society. Vol. 64, No. 3 (2020) In April, Clark was mentioned for "double trapeze" in the roster of Geo. S. Ely's United Shows and Trained Animal Exhibition."Roster of Geo. S. Ely's United Shows and Trained Animal Exhibition." New York Clipper, April 15, 1905, p. 205 In May, Clark was listed as performing with Sells & Downs on the flying rings and trapeze alongside her mother, Alice Adair, on flying ladder and doing barrel jumping."Kansas." New York Clipper, May 13, 1905, p. 308 The Gazette Quebec,"Circus Coming Tomorrow." The Gazette Quebec, June 29, 1905, p. 4 The Pittston Gazette,"Big Crowd Came to See a Big Circus." Pittston Gazette, July 26, 1905, p. 3 the Newark Advocate,"Sells and Downs Circus is Here." Newark Advocate, August 8, 1905, p. 8 and Daily Crescent"Circus Arrives." Daily Crescent, August 10, 1905, p. 7 all reported on Clark's "thrilling double trapeze work."
1906 began with continued headlines and accolades for Clark, who was listed as "Eva Clark" on a Cole Brothers World Famed United Shows herald and in articles about her "great act" on the swinging ladder."Circus More Than Pleases People." Daily News-Democrat, May 22, 1906, p. 1 Surviving ephemera from Cole Brothers Tent City Chatter listed Eva "on the flying rings, swinging trapeze and in peculiar ladder exercises of great originality" and the show's herald listed her as "The Aerial Queen".Tent City Chatter multipage courier of Cole Brothers Circus, spring 1906. Robert L. Parkinson Library & Research Center
Death and press coverage Around 10 pm on the evening of September 6, 1906, Clark was shot after the Cole Brothers show in Staunton, Virginia. The first coverage on September 7 by the Staunton Daily Leader stated that Clark was "shot at the hands of James Richards.""Circus Woman May Succumb." Staunton Daily Leader, September 7, 1906, p. 1 The Staunton Daily Leader reported: