Early Women Rodeo Performers

Here's a CYKO postcard depicted one the female Horse Back riders who gained fame on the rodeo or circus platforms. Here we see a woman named Bessie Barnelle. dressed as the All-American cowgirl. I found a small snippet of information about a Bessie Smith, but lost the google thread. A female with the same name died accidently under a Circus Wagon, somewhere around the 1930s. Could it be the tragic end of this woman's too short life?

How do we know that is her name? Source?

1906:

Consisting of two rings and an elevated stage, Mackay's European Circus will inaugurate its sixth season, May 26, at Detroit, Michigan. There will be a number of new and novel changes this season, and as usual European headline celebrities will be a feature. The new feature of the parade will be an auto-calliope. The principal artists engaged consist of Mlle. Alanta, Maud and Lillian Burbak, equestriennes; the Barnells, Stillson Brothers, the Martinos, the LaRoys, Tommy Hayes(?), George Kull, the Lewises, Clark and ___, Burt Wiggins, the trained horse Dynamo; Leslie's Troupe of Dogs, Howard's Troupe of trained horses, and others. M. C. DuCrow, equestrian director, may be addressed at 51 Woodward avenue, Detroit; W. B. Fowler, bandmaster, No. 1 Smelzer avenue, Hornellsville, New York, and Andrew Mackay, manger of the Rose Melville Sis Hopkins Co., route in the Billboard or permanent address No. 51 Woodward avenue, Detroit. The side show and all privileges are for sale on rental and percentage. Billboard, March 17, 1906, p. 42.

http://www.classic.circushistory.or...y/BriefM.htm