The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-07-26
Eyers & Madigan's Circus Tent.
ENTIRELY DESTROYED BY q MOB


Myers s Madigan's Circus Tent, was
destroyed, together with some of the
wagons, By mob, at Toronto, in Cana
pa. We take the following account from
the Toronto Colonist of last week:
zone of the most disgraceful riots that
ever occurred in this city, took place oh
Friday night last, the circumstances of
which we have taken trouble to ascertain
accurately, and they are as follows =
Howe's Menagerie and Myers q Madi-
gan's Equestrian Troppe jointly exhibit
ed and performed in this city, on the va
cant space near the Jail, on the evenings
of Thursday and Friday. On Thursday
night row occurred in a house of i'll
fame, in which two or three of the circus
people were concerned. Two young men
named Fawcct and Fraser, who it is said
belong to the Hook and Ladder Company
in this city, we're seriously injured, one of
them getting his jaw broken in two pieces;
from the blow Of e 1ocanter. The parties
Ahe inflicted these injuries were those
connected with the circus; and conse-
quently the friends of the sufferers vowed
vengeance on the whole establishment
From the inquiries we have made, we
have ascertained that the friends of FaW
Get and Frazer were busy during the
whole of Friday preparing for an attack
on the circus establishmentin the evening.
Every endeavor was made to collect such
a force as would, if possible, oyer-awe both
the circus people and the police, and al
low the mob to do just as it pleased. In
deed we have heard from several that
they were aware Of riot being contem-
plated several hours previous to that at
which the performance commenced IN the
evening. 1t also appears, as was stated
/ by Constable McCafrey in his evidence
at the Police Court, that a certain system
of action was decided upon. Symptoms
Of the riot were quite perceptible during
the hours of performance, but no regular
attack was made upon the premises until
the audience had departed. 1t was then
/ that some one commenced to cut the can
vas with a knife, and a most violent de-
monstration was made by yells and shouts
! The employees Of the circus armed them
selves with such weapons as they could
/ lay hands upon, sailed out in body and
made clearance, and again returned un-
der the canvas. The police here, it seems.
made feeble attempt to arrest soEe per-
sons, but we're prevented by the mob
About this time we believe it was, that
Joseph Bird, a member Of the Hook and
Ladder Company, received blow of an
iron bar from one of the circus men, and
had to be taken home. 4 pistol-shot, we
understand, was also fred by one of the
party assailed. The next step of the mob
was ia make an attack on one Of the wag-
ons, which they pulled away and tumbled
over the embarkmeDt into the river
They then attacked the ticket wagon,
which was smashed into pieces with their
axes and SCI on fire. His Worship the
Mayor had previously been sent for by
Dir. Yale, one of the managers Of the
company, and be soon arrived on the
spot; and endeavored to Quell the distur-
bance. He advised the circus men to lay
down their weapons and consider them
selves as prisoners, and he would do ev-
erything In his power to protect them; to
which request they Immediately yielded,
sitting down together under the tent
His Worship them expostulated with the
mob outside, and entreated of them to
desist; but his efforts, although successful
in one quarter, were defeated in another
He managed however to rescue two men
belonging to the company, who were set
upon by the crowd, some of whom shout
ed out kill them knock them down,
&c, and whom he sent off in cab to the
| Police station. The work of destruction
still went on. When the ticket-wagon
was set on fire, some of the mob proceed
ed to the st. Lawrence Hall, (about l /
o'clock) and caused the fire alarm to be
rung, which proceeding, most likely pre-
concerted, had the effect of bringing the
Hook and Ladder wagon and several OF
the engines to the ground. Amid de-
mOniac yells and the darkness of the
night, relieved only by the dim light of
the burning vehicle, the hooks were ap-
sled to the chains and ropes Of the pa
viIion, and to the cry of this way, rack
ers,' from the ringleaders, the work OF
pulling down the canvas commenced.--
While this part of the proceedings was
going on, several attempts were made to
fire the tent, but the operation was not
successful until it was pulled down, when
the wardrobe, which was new, and every
thing that could be laid hold of was thro wn
into the fire and destroyed The Police,
of whom there we're thirteenon the ground
were, with the exception of Chief Consta-
bic Sherwood and Constable McCaffrey,
either unwilling or incapable Of rendering
the Mayor any effectual assistance. Mr..
Councilman COnkey, who reached the
ground late, was extremely active. and
with his aid and that of three or four 9TH
ers, the Mayor was fortunately success
fui in preVentig serious personal collision.
although he was frequently obliged to
throw himself between the assailants and
the parties attacked. After the tent was
destroyed, the mob rushed toward the ca
raVans of wild beasts. one of which ltbat