The Four Sisters

Following Tom's secret elopement with Katherine, a chain of tragic events unfolded for her sisters. Emily, one of Katherine's siblings, married a Russian man from Tarnopol. As the Bolsheviks began their ascent to power, their home became the target of a raid in search of Emily's son, who served as a soldier in the White Army. In a pitiful attempt to shield her son, Emily displayed remarkable courage, but her valiant efforts cost her dearly. She tragically lost her life, her head severed in the midst of the chaos. Her husband and son suffered the same ruthless fate, falling victim to the violence.

Another sister, Sara, married a lawyer from Moscow, and her subsequent whereabouts remained shrouded in mystery.

The third sister found companionship with a Russian named Gerlat, the proprietor of a bookstore in Arkhangelsk (Archangel).

Alice, the fourth sister, entered into matrimony with a musician named Dudischre, who performed in Moscow's prestigious Czar's Opera House. However, with the rise of the Bolsheviks, Dudischre was dismissed from his position. Tragically, Alice and her husband met a harrowing end, succumbing to starvation in a hotel room. In the bleak room, their final remnants included a package of Lyon's English tea, perhaps a desperate reserve they had been saving until the very end.

Thankfully, Katherine's fate diverged from her ill-fated sisters when she married an American. They decided to leave Russia far behind for their honeymoon. Meanwhile, Tom's talents as a circus performer took him to various renowned circuses across the globe. Alongside Belling's Circus, he graced the stages of illustrious establishments such as Sanger's and Cooke's in England, Dejean's Cirque Napoleon in Paris, Rancy in Rouen, France, and Sidoli in Romania. The vibrant circus scene in America also beckoned, including shows such as Sand's and Nathan's, George F. Bailey and Company (which eventually merged with Barnum and Bailey before being sold to the Ringling Brothers in 1907), Adam Forepaugh, Spaulding and Rogers (who even performed on a boat), and Seth Howe's. Not to be forgotten is the famous comedian Dan Rice, who occasionally helmed his own show, captivating audiences with his comedic genius.