Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-04-30
o,nR1FN,s c1.rcrs..

| A Circus Performance Conducts
| Amid Confusion and Turbulence
Commendnble FOrbearance of th
Managers.
The canvas of the circus Of O'Brien
Handenberger d Ashley was litorall
| packed with spectators Mt the Afternoon
and evening performances Monday
More people were admitted thnn could b,
sehted, md the crowd could be controlled
only with great difficulty. The per
formnnces are such MS are usually givel
by small travelling shows. Some Of the
acts were good and others very common
place, and the performance as n whole
can be called fair when the cheap rate OF
admission is considered. -
Crowds of confeotion hawkeFs tramp
about over the seats and spectators during
the performance importuning the people
to purchase their worthless wares They
would offer packages of candy ut five
cents and when taking the money would
demand II quarter of a dollar. This ruse
WINS attempted on every purchaser and
successfully upon many young men from
the rural districts, who, accompanied by
Indies, were placed in an awkward posi-
ton of returning the parcels after making
the purchase or given the alternative OF
paying the rascally hawkers five times
their usual price. This swindling went
on very openly throughout the perform
ances, the vendors even growing insulting
when their schemes failed.
The last performance in this city was
Tuesday night and by 10 o'clock all the
property had been packed and was ready
for shipment to Chester: repetition of
its trouble in this city number of years
ago, and more recently at Dover, was
fortunately avoided through the forbear-
ance of its employees, whose lamb-like
submissiveness to the rougher element was
polite, if not commendable, and ut times
laughable. .s=
That trouble was anticipated was
evident and Wilmington reporters as well
as staff correspondents from Philadelphia
were on the alert. Monday nights per-
Torrance was very largely attended and
after it had begun number of roughs,
who had been standing on the grounds,
raised the bottom of the canvas and
crawled in. The circus men made no
objections, and when more followed the
only thing said was Don't hold the can
vas up so long. If you want TO go in
hurry up" It is also stated that at this
performance the canvas was badly cut.
Tuesday afternoon everything passed
off quietly. By night the heavy rains had
made the much-tramped grounds aperfect
mass of mud, and when the performance
opened the tent was packed with men and
boys, the majority of whom were there
to have a row if the circus men felt SO
disposed. But the employees did not feel
at all disposed, though it is reported they
were all armed.
Shortly after the performance began
several of the attendants stationed on the
outside of the tent courteously acceded
to the demands of the rabble aud let them
in by scores for nothing through the can
vas. Asking for tickets was side issue.
With the appearance of the clown m the
ring the jeering commenced. The clown
averred that the bareback rider couldn't
do certain feat and several hundred
voices told him to "shut up" The clown
recognized that the crowd would take no
"slack" and did ''shut up" until the
trapeze girl, gaudily arrayed in blue
tights appeared. Then he asked the ring
master what she reminded him of. The
crowd told him he would either have to
''shui up or go out" Several suggested
.eedlns nm. "a, peanuts. The clown
looked sid and crestfallen. He
went ont. A man with a plug hat and
linen buster jumped into the ring and
WAITED to ride. The crowd didn't drop
to the time.honored joke, and yelled
. Put him out" The ring-master was
and the funny man desperate.
He jumped on the flying horse, hrirriedly
took off Ills shirt and pantaloons,
revealing the giddy tights, and
then enthusiasm knew no bounds.
A number of boys congregated in front of
the ring, and 'down in front" came from
all parts of the tent. The boys were
and the crowd determined. The
circus men demonstrated to no avail and
the man who rides four horses leaped
INTO the ring. simultaneously what
sounded like two pistol shots came from
5he west end of the tent, and with yells
ike demons men and boys leaped over
zach other from the seats and made
'ush for the ring. 1t was Immediately
by n surging mass,
Who sneered at and derided
Several more prudent
persons took occasion to secure reserved
tents, but their triumph was short.
Hardly had the bareback man leaped
ipon his steed than the attendants, who
'oresaw danger, let down the canvas
It all sides and the performance
vas declared over. II was then
'hortly after o'clock and many people |
eft the grounds at once but the majority |
food around in groups aud passed in
iulting remarks ut the inoffensive
employees. One gang had clubs |
md was Just itching for n
light, while row of some kind seemed |
lot only probable but imminent. A
leavy shower of rain came up at IN
moment and scattered the
,ang in all directions, thus preventing
what promised to be one of the liveliest |
'ows ever seen in this city.