Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-03-22

kAf-MA AAMNA4NI4I
YES. It has been q booming season
for some Of the shows; but some Of
them, on the other hand. have gone to
pieces" said q well-known advance
agenk in Union Square, the other day.
"Iou see." he continued. .sthe big fish
have swallowed up the little fish, and
ing"
"But can you tell me what hustler
IS, and what he has TO do with the SER
vices of circus?" queried the Star.re-
porter.
what do you know about hustler
young manPi
Only this said the reporter, display
ing the following advertisement from a
sportive paper:
Mantsd-Forty more first-class biIl-pdsters
Tor United Shows. We have already secured
seventy good men, but. as we anticipate sixty
osys opposition this spring right on the start
We want forty more reliable billposters.
They must be good war workers true 10 their
employers, hustlers, and ready, day or night
Ior any emergency. Not afraid TO fight for
their side IL Il should become necessary TO
protect their rights. Only those who are we'll
known billposters need apply. We want no
hitndSs5spners hind y % p or programmers To the right
wages wiz be paid. Want none but sober. re-
liable men. Consider two weeks silence a re-
spectful negative. Apply Immediately to-
''Well, that is pretty bold advertise
ment" said the man of sawdust, "but
'hustlers' must be had, and l don't
know of any better way of getting
them. People who go to circus shows
inthe 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 viii come
any distance to see the show. seem. to
look upon the show people as their nat
.ural enemies outside of the canvas. It
Is necessary, therefore, for every com.
pany to carry with it number of strong
fellows. who, as this advertisement saws.
are not afraid to fight for their side ii it
should become necessary to protect
their rights"
"1ou mean to say, then, that the cir
cuscompanies carry fighters with themp'
''Of course. Why, when circus man
goes off to some of the out of the way
places in the Southwest he takes his life
in his hands. Tody Hamilton used to
tell story of his adventures in town
somewhere in Texas. The show had a
large crowd at both the day and even
ing performances, but many negroes 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 gathered and were watch
ing the proceedings with sullen express
sion. The circus men knew what was
coming and prepared for action. A tent
was never struck quicker than that. It
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. Almost 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 descend
ed upon the negroes heads. Each tent
man 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
.lecsa Fsaossible .tc have identified the
killcs& II was certainly case Of the
lives OF the circus people against those
Of the negroes, and the circus people
did not propose to take any chances.
This was one Of the most serious circus
lights that has occurred in some time.
but every season there are greater or
less number of these encounters which
never get into the papers; and the show
foiks have learned to GO prepared So
Tou see, young man, q hustler is very
Useful element in the interior economy
,f circus. .'-New York Star.