The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-21
DRAGGED HER ROUND THE RING.

cage triumphant over decrepit king of
beasts, and tinsel pageantry and noise
abounded. The lightning ticket seller be-
gan operations at noon. The sideshows,
/ fakirs, lemonade stands, wheels of fortune
and so on did a rushing trade for a couple
! of hours, and then the circus itself mouopo-
liZed all attention. The audience laughed
at the clown, applauded the tumblers, held
! their breath as the trapeze artists did their
act, and incidentally stuffed the elephant
and monkeys with peanuts. But every
/ body went home impressed by the idea
/ that there existed a large discrepancy be-
tween the show as advertised and the show
! as given. Those who attended the night
( performance included a gang of laborers
/ from the new railroad who were filed with
malt and spurious liquor and al iniamed
resolve not TO be swindled. As the mo-
ments passed they protested, first to them
selves, then audibly and then in trumpet
tones. The peaceably minded took warn
ing and departed, their womenkind scurry
ing on ahead like flock of frightened
quail. The town constable, who had a
lively appreciation of what was good for
his health, went to bed.
Meanwhile, inside the tent, the ring
master had been struck behind the ear with
an overripe tomato, which upset his dignity
and trickled down on his well worn dress
suit. The lady equestrienne," as the pro-
gramme termed her, succumbed TO the
joint remonstrances of an egg and cab
bage, and with her trained Arabian courser
fed to the dressing room
Hey, Ruber'
1t was the owner Of the circus who ut
tered the war cry. He had scented trouble,
and having locked the cash receipts in the
treasure wagon and seen the vehicle start
ed for the next stand in custody of a trust
ed driver stood ready 10 do battle.
Hey, Rube."
In rushed the canvasmen. the athletes
and every male employe of the show. each
armed with a mallet, stake or a club
Git, nowl' was the order 20 the disturbers,
and they quailed and fed before the men
acing and motley array Then six brswny
fellows were told off 10 guard the fright
ened women performers and escort them De
yond the danger line The rest fell TO WORK
at once. The tent came down on the run
The animal cages were closed, all the bag
gage and properties packed, the horses put
70, and the procession started By this
time the protesting lsboreTs had rallied
and ssluad the fleeing enemy with showers
of stones The fracas lasted al hour or so.
Macy on both sides received dangerous
hurts, but when the sun came up in the /
morning the only things Jeff 10 indicate /
that q circus bad stood On Jones lot were /
s tramDled sawdnst ung and several bat 1
tered human beings under care Of the local I
surgeoEs.
This was TIE frequen; story OF circus life (
quarter Z: CENTURY ago Il IA also 70
some extent the story OF circus life today,
for N place OF the small aggregations that 4
were crushed out or purchased BIZ the Ma {
poieoas Of showdown numerous others have
come into existence during the last twelve .
months One OF these, known as WAiiaos's
circus, had tough time Of il not long ago q;
Mahanoy City. Pa y ios % tickeflsss Feo-
pie triel. 10 force their war into the eyeaing
entertainments Tee doorkeepers resisted,
and were overoowered On gaining al
uiss.aS the rioters attacked the performers.