The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-03-24
Select 5torp.
SCENE In TIE ARENA.

y
took in great measure of the character
istics of the backwoodsmen, the agent of
travelling circus made his advent into
the town of North Thomaston, and caused
no little futtcr among the inhabitants of
that place by posting bills, gorgeous in
colorcd inks and sensation cuts, on the
walls of the tavern bar-room and around
the public square. The bills announced
that Sands 4 Company's mammoth troupe
of equestrians and gymnasts would ex-
hibit in that burgh on a certain day
The principal feature of the bill was the
American Sampson-no less a parsonage
than the renowned Dick Sands, who has
won fame enough to satisfy the greatest
cormorant for professional notoriety, but
who, at that time, was just starting on
his own hook in the pursuit of that
"pile," with which, within a short time,
he has retired to enjoy his hardly won
and honestly earned otium cum dignitate.
The bills promised that the American
Sampson would perform all sorts of Won
dcrs that he would pull! against six
strong draught horses would lift fab
ulous number of " tifty-sixes," besides
throwing them about with his teeth 90
through the manual exercises with an
enormous cannon, concluding with plac-
ing an enormous anvil on his heart and
allowing several stout and able bodied
men to strike upon it with heavy slcdge-
hammers.
Not far from North Thomaston there
was an opposition town, known as South
Thomaston, and, as is always the case,
a bitter war between the rival inhabi-
tants. The North Thomastoners were
terribly jealous Of the South Thomaston-
ers, and if the circus had not advertised
to exhibit in South Thomaston on the
very next day, the magnificent pavil-
ion" would, most unquestionably, have
been torn into ribbons by the neglected
dcnizeus of the sighted town. Circus
mon know thing Or two, and the agent
Of Sands company knew enough to be
aware that the least favoritlsm would
bring hornets nest about the show, and
SO he wisely billed both towns on the
same day.
Previous to the appointed time for the
show to come off, the citizens of both
towns were in a high state of excitement,
and nothing was talked of in the stores,
the blacksmith shop, and the tavern, but
the coming circus and its great feature
the American Sampson while the North
Thomastoncrs congratulated themselves
on being the first who were to enjoy the
forthcoming treat.
The evcntful day at length arrived
The large tent was crowded, and among
the audience were several from South
Thomaston, who could not wait until the
next evening to enjoy the longed-for
sight.
The promises of the bills were perform
ed to the very letter. One-horse acts,
two-horse acts, the j." Courier of Lyons"
in which Dick rode four horses at full
speed, and looked glorious in his steeplc-
crowned hat and buff breeches ground
and lofty tumbling, all passed off to the
entire satisfaction of the crowd, and at
last the grand climax of the evening-the
feats of the American Sampson-was
reached, and the audience was on the tip
toe of expectation.
Dick made his appearance amid wild
tempest of applause, and, after making
his bow, commenced throwing the City
SKIES about, and doing hundred things
which would have put his ancient proto-
type on his metal. The applause was
enthusiastic, and when he came to the
last of his fcats, and bent down and al.
lowed his assistants to place q heavy
anvil on his breast, the canvass fairl y
shook with shouts. Bang bang -
hammer and tongs! fell the sledge-ham-
mers on the anvil; but Dick bore it man
full y, and, becoming excited at the en-
thusasm produced, called, soto uocc, tc
the men to strike harder. Bang bang
the hammers rung on the anvil but just
at the close, one of the men, whose pota-
tions bad been frequent, missed his aim.
and instead of striking the anvil, the
heavy sledge came down with crushing
force upon the almost naked chest of poor
Dick. The force of the blow bore him
to the earth, and amid the frantic hur-
rahs of the audience, who looked upon
this terrible accident as part of the
show not set down in the bills, the insen-
sible Sampson was borne out of the ring.
the blood rushing in streams from his
mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.
After being restored to consciousness,
poor Dick was placed in one of the wa
CONS and carried to South Thomaston,
and put to bed at the tavern. A physi-
clan was sent for, who, after examination
pronounced his condition critical in the
extreme, and forbade, under peril of his
life, the slightest exertion Care was
taken to keep the accident from the
knowledge of the public, and in the
evening of next day tie pavilion was
crowded with South Thomastoners, whose
curiosity had been raised to an extraor-
binary pitch by the reports brought back
by their fellow townsmen who had wit
messed the performances the night pre-
vious.
The show went on. The company Wed
with each other in their efforts to please
and, good as the performances in North
'Ihomaston might have been, the South
Thomastoners were firmly impressed with
the belief that the creme de la creme had
been reserved for them.
The time for the appearance of the
American Samnson orr;yod ~ loo. TIL