George Moore and Fred Howe, 1890s

 In 1897, there were two notable circus performers known as George Moore, also known as "the living skeleton," and Fred Howe, nicknamed "the fat man." Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of information about them during that time period. However, from the limited available sources, here is what I could gather:

Fred Howe's father worked as a carpenter in Pennsylvania, and young Fred initially followed in his footsteps to learn the trade. However, due to his increasing weight, he had to abandon that path. At the age of eighteen, he joined the Forepaugh Circus as a "tat boy" and it was there that he first encountered his future sparring partner.

On the other hand, George Moore was born in Helena, Montana. His father owned a small dry goods shop, but George had a strong desire to explore the world beyond his hometown. When a major circus arrived in Helena, the manager offered him an opportunity to showcase himself as the "living skeleton." Eager to pursue his dreams, George immediately accepted the offer.

As fate would have it, Howe and Moore developed a friendship and would engage in private sparring matches for amusement. One day, the circus manager witnessed their impromptu bouts and saw potential in their dynamic. He promptly offered them a longer engagement, with a higher salary, to publicly box each other.

According to available information, George Moore stood at an impressive height of 6 feet 3 inches and weighed a mere 97 pounds, while Fred Howe was significantly shorter at 4 feet 2 inches and weighed a staggering 422 pounds.