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Lola - Big Number.

see p. 45.

Frank Lola took the name "Big Number" from a vaudeville show he took part in. They claimed to be "the Monasco Troupe from the Waluapti Tribe west of the Rocky Mountains", who had been with Barnum's Museum and were "working to educate their tribe"

They were "under the direction of the famous Indian prophet Big Number {Frank Lola}, and the others were Oketewalla {a dancer, who was Peter Lola} and Awasseo, the Great Hunter {who was Tom Lola} Pete & Tom were brothers but I think, cousins to Frank.

Peter Lola had lived at Quoddy and had hurt his lungs pulling for porpoise so that he spat blood. He got his death by falling across a branch [?] in building a camp which threw him into quick consumption, he lived only a few weeks. He was 6 ft tall, weighed 190 lbs. very athletic. He could hold his body straight out horizontally by his arms, swing by his heels from tree limb, rise & standing with folded arms, turn three sumersaults, grasp a tree & throw his feet above his head, etc. He was a warm & valued friend of my father's. He died about 1869 (? in 1867 (see elsewhere for date.

Tom Lola served in Civil War

The handbill of their performances gives 11 things on the program. - 1. Indian Warrior telling of his Dead Chief, 2 Indian Clown, - only one ever before it in [?] public, 3 Grand demonstration of fishing [struck through] hunting in canoe - 4. Green corn dance 5. Indian Courting. 6. Indian Ceremony of Marriage, 7. Indian Worship, Sacrifices, 8. Snake [struck through] Snake Dance. 9. War Dance & Scalping Scenes 10. Quickstep by Oketewalla, 11. Medicine Man casting out Devils from Sick Man. Admission 15 cts.

After the performance in Brewer, Nov 16 (year?) they were set upon by young men on Union St & had a fight. One picked up a piece of ragged stone & hit James Estbrook [?] in the face making a bad scar -