Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-04-28
A MOB ATTACKS A CIRCUS.

men were shot. Charles henderson,
Snowman, was shot through the head and
cannot recover. Seven other men at
tached to the circus are suffering from
gun-shot wounds, and half dozen men,
bers of the mob have bullets in their
bodies. The circus reached Dover before
daylight Saturday morning. Entertain-
ments were given in the afternoon and
evening. The matinee performance pass
ed off quietly and the tent was crowded.
During the entertainment in the evening
half dozen young roughs, led By
drunken man named L. r. Halsey, at
tempted to force themselves into the eX-
hibition tent.
The doorkeepers at once yelled the
circus mans rallying cry, "Hey, Rube. :"
A score of canvasmen, armed with tent
pegs, axes and clubs, responded to the
slogan. The brief but vigorous skirmish
that ensued ended in the expulsion OF the
intruders, who were roughly handled.
The crowd Of several hundred people who
idled around the outside of the tent wero
greatly excited by the preliminary skin
mish, and the majority sided with the eX-
PEELED roughs. From that time until they
left the town the circus men had no
peace. Wagons were damaged, canvas
and ropes were cut, and every Snowman
that appeared was received with volley
of stones. After the audience dispersed
a bowling mob remained about the tent
ing ground, stoning canvasmen and jecr-
ing at those who endeavored TO quiet
them. Many people who wore dissatisfied
with the entertainment joined the mob.
John O'Brien, the owner of the show,
was hooted when he attempted to make
the rioters listen TO him. Towards mid
night the crowd thinned out some, but
the most vicious hoodlums remained. The
show was packed up before II O'Clock and
the last train of wagons was moving
towards the depot when driver named
Richert was struck on the head with
boulder. He fell senseless to the ground
and the train stopped.
While Rchert was being lifted into a
wagon shower Of stones fell about the
showmen, and several of the men recelv-
ed painful injuries. The horses became
FESTIVE, and the half hundred canvasmen,
who were loading cars, knocked oil work
and marched back to escort the wagon
train to the depot. Although OBrien
cautioned his employees to keep cool and
avoid battle, they did not obey him, and
at half a dozen points they made sorties
and strewed the ground with the bodies
Of their tormentors. When the wagon
train reached Delaware street man
stepped from behind a tree-boX and TAX
ing deliberate aim at Henderson, who was
on horseback, fired five revolver shots at
him. The first bullet went through Hen
derson's hat and into his left eye; the
second struck one OF the fingers Of his
bride hand and the third entered his
forehead. Henderson drew 4 revolver,
fred one shot and fell Off his horse.
The echoes of the revolver reports had
not died away before double-barrelsd
shotgun was discharged into the posse of
show men. This was the signal for gen
eral firing. The wagons were stopped and
used as barricade by the showmen, WHO
returned the fire of the town people. Not
more than dozen Of the circus people,
however, had revolvers and the unarmed
ones took shelter in and under the wagons.
At least fifty revelvers, shotguns and
muskets were blazing at the encircled
showmcn. BY this time the town was
wild with excitement and the streets in
the neighbOrhood of the battle-ground
were thrOnged with people. After the
fight had continued half an hour COM
mttee of citizens waited upon the Sheriff
and asked him to ring the alarm bells
call out the militia 70 suppress the mob.
Instead ofcalling on the militia the Sheriff
summoned posse OF fifty men and
marched TO the besieged circus peoples
relief. Then the rioters fell back. On
the ground were fourteen wounded men,
and it is said that several rioters who were
shot went to their homes before the Sheriff
arrived on the battle-ground. The police
took no part in the battle aid did nothing
to stop it. More than three hundred shots
were fired and the doors and windows Of
a dozen houses in the neighborhood were
riddled with bullets. Five of the circus
horses were shot and two of them died
before morning. While the show was
being put upon the cars few shots were
exchanged. At three o'clock in the morn
ing the show started for Cambridge,
Maryland, where it will exhibit to-mor-
row.
O'Bricn took the affair very coolly and
says he will bring suit against the town
fol damagea. Some years ago Wilmington
roughs pitched a number Of his wagons
into tho river. He stood calmly by while
the work of destruction went on and did
nothing to check it. He even invited the
rioters to kill all the animals. On the fol-
lowing day he brought suit against the
city and recovered $500 damages. John
O'Brien is one Of the oldest and most
widely-known circus men in America. A
number of the rioters have since been ar
rested.
J. u. Clarke, of the firm Of Clarke &
Franks, of Stewartsville, Ky, was shot