The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-05-12
CIRCUS MEN FIRED UPON.
O'Brien's Allied Show Attacked
by Mob in Dover, Del.

PHILADELPHIA, April 22.-A special to
the Times from Dover, Del, says that a
mob attacked John O'Brien's Great Allied
Circus in that place last night, and during
the fight fourteen men were shot. Charles
Henderson, a Snowman, was shot through
the breast, and cannot recover. Seven
other men attached to the circus are suf-
fering from gunshot wounds, and half a
dozen members of the mob have bullets in
their bodies. The circus reached Dover
before daylight on Saturday morning.
Entertainments were given in the after
noon and evening. The matinee perform
ance passed off quietly, and the tent was
crowded. At the entertainment in the
evening half dozen roughs, led by a
drunken man named T. r. Halsey, at
tempted to force themselves into the exhi-
bition tent. The doorkeepers at once
yelled the circus mans rallying cry,
"Hey, Rube! !" and score of fcanvas men,
armed with tent pegs, axes, and clubs,
responded to the call. The brief but Wig
orous skirmish that followed ended in the
expulsion of the intruders, who were
roughly handled. The crowd of several
hundred people who idled around the out
side of the tent were greatly excited by
the preliminary skirmish, and the majority
sided with the expelled roughs. From
that time until the circus left the town the
shoWmen had no peace. Wagons were
damaged, canvas and ropes were cut, and
every Snowman that appeared was re-
ceived with volley of stones. After the
audience had dispersed, a bowling mob
remained about the tenting ground, ston-
ing canvas men and jeering at those who
endeavored to quiet them. John O. Brien,
the owner of the show, was hooted at when
he attempted to make the rioters listen to
him.
Toward midnight the riot increased to
such proportions that the sheriff was re-
quested by a committee of citizens to order
out a posse. He did so, and offered his
services to the showmen, and helped to
escort some of the wagons to the train.
Most of the show was packed up before II
O'Clock, and as the train of wagons was
moving toward the depot driver named
Rchert was struck On the head with
| boulder. He fell senseless to the ground
and the train stopped. While Richert
was being lifted into a wagon shower OF
stones fell about the showmen, and sew
eral of the men received painful injuries.
The horses became restive,s and the half
hundred canvasmen, who were loading
the cars, knocked off work and marched
back to escort the wagon train to the depot.
Although O'Brien cautioned his employ
ees to keep cool and avoid fight, they did
not obey him, and at half dozen points
/ they made sorties against the mob. When
! the wagon train reached Delaware street a
man stepped from behind tree box, and,
taking deliberate aim at Henderson, " ho
was on horseback, fired five revolver shots
at him. The first bullet went through
Henderson's hat, the second struck one OF
the fingers of his bride hand, and the third
/ entered his breast. Henderson drew a
revolver, fired one shot, and fell off his
Iho1se. The echoes OF the revolver shot
had not died away before double-barrelled
shotgun was discharged into the show
/ men. This was the signal for general
firing. The wagons were stopped and
used as barricade by the showmen, who
{ returned the fire OF the mob. Not more
than dozen Of the circus people, how
ever, had revolvers, and the unarmed ones
took shelter in and under the wagons
] When the firing became general the crowo