Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-02-08
CIRCUS HUSTLERS.


some Of the shows; but some of them, on
the other hand, have gone to pieces" said a
we'll known advance agent, in the Union
Square the other day. "YOu see" he con-
tinued, "the big fish have swallowed up the
little fish, and there has been good deal
Of squirming."
"But can you tell me what hustler is,
and what he has to do with the services of
a circus ?" queried the star reporter.
"What do you know about hustler
young man."
"Only this" said the reporter, displaying
the following advertisement from sportlve
paper.
WANTFD.-Forty more first-class bill-posters
for United Shows. We have already secured
seventy good men, but, as we anticipate sixty
days opposition this spring right OH the start,
we want forty more reliable bill-postcrs. They
must be good war workers, true TO their en-
ployers, hustlers, and ready, day or night ior
any emergency. Not afraid to fight for their
side if it should be necessary to protect their
rights. Only those who are well known bill
posters need apply: We want no lithographers
or Programmes. 10 the rlSht klnd OF lileh lonS
engagements and liberal wages will be paid
Want none but sober, liberal men. Consider
two weeks silence respectful negative. Apply
Immediately to -.
"Well that is pretty bold advertise
ment,n said theman of SaWduSt, "but 'hust-
lers' must be had, and | don't know of any
better way of getting them. People who
90 to circus shows in the city have no idea
of the trials we have to encounter in out-of-
the-way country places. Not only is there
the competition of rival companies, but the
countrymen, although they will come any
distance to see the show, seem to look upon
the show people as their natural enemies
outside of the canvas. 1t is necessary,
therefore, for every company to carry with
it number of strong fellows, who, as this
advertisement says, are mot afraid to fight
for their side if it should become necessary
to protect their rights "
"You mean to say, then, that the circus
companies carry fighters with them?"
"Of course. Why, when circus man
goes off to some out Of the way places IN the
Southwest he takes his. life in his hands.
Tody Hamilton used to tell a story OF his
adventures in town somewhere in Texas.
The show had large crowd at both the day
and evening performances, but many ne
groes of the vicinity had tried to force their
way in without paying. On being elected,
they vowed vengeance. 1t was evident
when the time came for striking the tents
that there would be trouble. The night
was pitchy dark and torches were lighted
outside the line Of the tents. Then it was
seen that little knots of negroes had gather
ed and were watching the proceedings with
sullen expression. The circus men knew
what was coming and prepared for action.
A tent was never struck much quicker than
that. 1t was folded, packed and placed in
the wagons when there was movement
among the negroes. The circus men knew
that the moment for action had come. Al
most in the twinkling of an eye the torches
were extinguished, and in the stiffness OF
the night came the sound of the tent men as
they descended upon the negroes heads.
Each of the tent men had selected the negro
he was to attack, and silently and swiftly
the work was done, and the circus moved
out of town before daybreak. Tody used to
say that six negroes were left dead on the
field, and that the show people were not
prosecuted, because it would have been lnl-
possibe to have identified the killers. 1t
was certainly a case of the lives of the circus
people against those Of the negroes, and the
circus people did not propose to take amy
chances. This was one Of the most serious
fights that has occurred in some time, but
every season there is a greater or less num-
Der of these encounters which never get
into the papers; and the show folks have
learned to 90 prepared. So you see, young
man, a hustler is a very useful element IN
the interior economy of circus. ."-NeW
York ,Tor.