The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-05-03

Thcy Try 90 Break Up Circus and Ne
come Wiser and Better Msn.

L1rlyeltc ~ n sfIt3Eituk itttic Town
Of about 800 Inhabitants. situated
twenty miles from the nearest railroad.
II is important TO the country around
because circus stops here every year.
These circuses are not OF the Barnum
kind. but small affairs. travelling
through the back districts on wagons.
and keeping away from the railroads.
Nevertheless the arrival OF one OF them
is n great event at Lafayette. and
several thousand people always collect
to see the sights. some of them walking
thirty miles.
Bill and Jack johnson have long
been the terrors OF this region. Every
backwoods district in the Southwest
has its bully, and the johnson boys for
years possessed that undisputed dis
finction within region embraced by q
radius OF ten miles. Bill. the elder OF
the brothers. was tall and heavy. Jack
was small and light. but fully as
dangerous as his brother. Neither had
ever killed a man, but they had wound
ed innumerable persons, and aver
aged four or five fights apiece each
week. They frequently stampeded the
small towns, riding through the streets
at full speed firing right and left.
A few weeks ago circus tempted by
the warm weather. came up from the
South. aud made a trip through the
southern part OF this State. and La
fayette was one OF the towns visited.
The novelty OF circus in winter was
all the more acceptable 10 the people,
and the crowd i'm attendance at the per-
formances was unusually large.
During the afternoon the show was
In full blast, when Bill and Jack John
son arrived. They galloped into town,
and there was scattering OF women
and children. and of men. too. Both
were well loaded with whisky. and
after rubbing their pistols across tho
noses of half dozen men they went to
the circus. After looking at the ami
mails and the gymnastic performances
they wandered into the side show. For
while they contented themselves
with gazing at the Circassian girl, the
fat woman, the sword swallower. and
the armless man who fired repeating
ride with his toes. but they soon grew
tired OF such tame sport. Bill and Jack
wanted a fight. None Of the spectators
would fight them. An idea then oc-
Cured TO Jack. They would clean out
the side show.
Lets break up the darncd thing"
he said to Bill, and have some fun.
You take the fellow who swallows
the knife, and I'll sail into the one who
shoots the gun with his toes"
Bill at once agreed to the proposition,
and leaping over the ropes which
separated the spectators from the per-
formers, they rushed upon their victims.
The crowd raised the cry of fight and
made for the door but the circus per.
formers were perfectly composed. The
sword swallower tossed his sword to
one side, picked up one of the heavy
pins TO which the tent ropes are
fastened, and saluted Bill with a blow
which nearly broke his skull. The man
with the repeating rifle, who was sup.
posed TO have no limbs but the lower
ones, pulled two arms from beneath
his vest. reversed his gun and dubbed
Jack over the head
Then the side show people sailed in
The fat woman kicked Bill in the side.
while the sword swallowcr pummelled
him about the head. The Circassiau
girl tore out whole handfuls of Jacks
hair. while the armless man rapidly
beat his countcnance out of shape. In
five minutes all was quiet in the tent.
The people timidly ventured back. The
circus performers were smoothing their
disordered attire. Bill aud Jack were
| lying senseless on the ground. They
were taken out, and il was found thai
Bills leg was broken. So was hi;
nose. Both eyes were closed, and bis
head and body were covered with
gashes. Jack had both arms broken
and his bruises were not less numerous
than Bits.
That night the attendance at both
circuses was the largest ever known.
| The applause was tremendous. NJ
attempt was made to arrest anybody
Recently Jack, whose broken arms
healed rapidly. joined the Baptist
Church. Bin will do likewise as soon
rs his fractured leg is mended. Both
arc Scared for life and announce their
determination TO live rs good citizens
and Christians. Lafayette ny. Letter.