Departures of note

Charles G. Kilpatrick, born in Danville, Illinois, in 1869, lost his right leg in a rail car accident while working as a miner. He pivoted to a career as a printing press operator and, in 1889, began umpiring professional baseball, working in leagues like the Illinois–Indiana League and the Pacific Northwest League. Nicknamed the 'Kangaroo Umpire' for hopping on his left leg, he claimed his disability was an advantage, as he avoided much of the abuse other umpires received. In 1890, he co-founded the Wisconsin State League and served as its umpire.

Kilpatrick's true fame came from stunt cycling. On April 18, 1893, he rode a bicycle down the west steps of the U.S. Capitol and then the White House, gaining national attention. He toured internationally, performing a signature feat of riding down a custom-built flight of stairs over 100 feet high, including a descent from the roof of Madison Square Garden to the arena floor. His act drew crowds so large in Britain that he caused traffic jams, and in South Africa, President Paul Kruger invited him to tea and presented him with a gold medal. He also performed in Cuba after the Spanish–American War, wearing a Rough Rider's uniform as a homage to the American victory.

Kilpatrick diversified his act with stunts like shooting clay pigeons while riding a unicycle and driving a steam-powered automobile down a 140-foot ramp. He survived a crash in Spokane in 1903 and performed at the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. In 1909, he built a human roulette wheel for the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition. He also swam across the Mississippi River on a dare. His wife Madeline, also a trick cyclist, was taught by Charles and became known as one of the most daring women trick riders in the world. Kilpatrick died in Danville on September 30, 1927, at age 58, after a career that blended sport, spectacle, and showmanship.