The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-06-16
THE CIRCUS OF rue pAsr.
Some Experiences of Tented shows
in the Backssoods Towns.


in the BackwOods Towns.
9 The good old days of circus fights have
gone, but There is an occasional row between
canyasmen and tough citizens that brings
back most vivid reeollections of the lively
long ago"
The speaker was Charlie Bell, the lectur-
or at the dime museum. Mr.. Bell has been
identified with tent shows ever since he was
three years old, being descended from q
circus family.
Why, it was no longer ago than last
SUMNER" continued Mr.. Bell, that / WIS
fracas as ! ever witnessed. There was no
one killed outright, but there were .zsne
fearful hard knocks given. Il was in q
town called Wall Lake, out in Nebraska.
The day before the riot we showed in an
other town. forgot the name now-about
twenty miles from Wall Lake. After the
afternoon performance there was n party of
us sitting on the hotel stoop when we heard
cries for help. 1t seems that four toughs
had set on the Sheriff, and it was his shouts
We heard. Well, we went to the officers
assistance, and without aid he managed TO
give the thugs terrible humping. The
news travelled ahead of us to Wall Lake,
and by the time it reached there it was
magnifed into statement taat the circus
men had cleaned out town just below.
This put the Wall Lake thumpers on their
mettle, and they decided to make mischief.
Before the show opened in the afternoon !
noticed rough looking, red whiskered fell
low, who had come into town especially to
make trouble. Sure enough, during the
afternoon show the fellow with the red
whiskers was on hand, primed for row.
He stood up in front of the reserved seats,
SO as to obstruct the view of some Of the
people. / was playing clown and courte.
ously asked him to sit down, but he refused.
:" See here, said I, you sit down or
you'll be knocked down"
60 Is that SO p said he. Mebbe you've
cleaned out one town, but you can't clean
out Wall Lake
:" He no sooner had the words out of his
mouth than bif went canvasman's fist
in his face, and the crimson-bearded despe-
RADIO was kicked out of breath beneath the
canvas" and the speaker laughed as he re-
called the scene.
while the evening show was going on,
continued Mr.. Bell, 1--WE had the canvas
men oil ready for fracas. The manager
gave out instructions to fight if necessary,
but not to kill anybody. Well, we were
little surprised that they did not interrupt
the show, but when we were packing up, the
tough citizens clustered around and watch
ed US, but made no attack. / noticed the
redheaded chap saying something to the
crowd, when they all hurried off. We had
left our band wagon down town in front of
a livery stable and the minute | saw that
gang wheel off l surmised that they were
going to break up the wagon. Now, it WAS
q very elaborate affair and we did not pro-
pose to allow it to be sacrificed, SO we hur-
ried after them and sure enough, they had
almost torn one side off the wagon
when we reached there. We sailed into the
gang The administered leader, as soon
as he saw real fight ahead made break
for his horse to get out Of town, but he
didn't get far. One of the boys fired at the
horse and killed it, and then jumped on Mr..
Red Whiskers and just caresscd him with
a stake until his mother wouldn't have
known him. Well, we got the best of il.
and we had twenty-five of our assailants
stretched out on the hotel stoop, all unable
to walk after tho licking we had given
them. And the beauty of it was that tie
sheriff arrested the whole twenty-five, and
they all went up for couple of months for
disturbing the peace
9 Yes, cIrcusmen generally get the best
of such fights, because they are better or
ganized, and then they fight for principle.
They are just like men defending their
homes, and that makes them hit hard. Still
have heard of circusmen getting the worse
of the fracas.