Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-10-29
CLEANED OUT THE CIRCUS.
Old Indian.Ftshter Thought the
Indian Act Was IL al and Broke
1t Up.
St. Louis Republic.

Indian Act Was Il AT and Broke
| 1t Up.
| St Louis Republic.
Major Henry A. Newman, broke
into another of his characteristic
stories the last time he was in town.
This is the way he told it, and the re
were present a half dozen to vouch for
Its truthfulness:
"Away back in '5S or 80 there
lived an old fellow by the name OF
Sumpter, who was a neighbor of mine.
"He had been in the Creek war
under General Jackson, and one of his
relatives had been killed in the
massacre OF Fort Mimms. He had a
great and undying hatred of Indians,
and was very bitter in his dcnuncia-
ton OF them at all times. He was
tall, iron gray, and well preserved for
his age. He made tubs, half-bushel
measures, ETC., and made a mere living
at this occupation. Igave the old man
the title of general of which he was
very proud.
Frank Perrine, neighbor of mine,
who has since died, and myself opened
our hearts and hands and agreed to take
the general to circus at my town,
Huntsville, Mo. We purchased the
tickets and gave him some odd change
to buy lemonade. The general
Frank and myself took a lower seat
Now, the circus had a detachment of
about 20 Indians, who came in with
war paint and feathers and danced the
green corn, the ghost dance, and other
Indian performances, and then per-
formed a scalping scene.
"It was very realistic. A white
woman rode in the ring with an In
dian holding tomahawk and scalp
ing-knife in close pursuit. Round
and round the ring they flew, the In
dian gaining on the white maiden,
whose black hair hung in glossy waves
down her back. She acted her part
well, and was apparently much fright
ened.
"The Indian grabbed the woman
and dragged her from her horse, threw
her down, and scalped her. He held
up the wig, all dripping with blood
Venetian red. A thrill of horror pene-
tratei the audience General Sump-
ter's blood was up, and before Frank
and myself could restrain him, rushed
into the ring and with his hickory
stick felled the Indian to the ground.
The remaining Indians closed
around the general but his dander'
was up.
THE Indians commenced falling
asleep under his repeated blows as fast
as they did at the 'Hcrse Shoe
Frank and myself rushed into the
ring to bring the general out. The
crowd was yelling with delight, think
ing it part of the show. Above the
yells of the combatants could be heard
the loud laugh of Forked-Eyed Adams,
Il well-known character from the
Charlton divide, who could laugh so
loud that it was said it killed mos
quitoes on the Charlton river mile
off.
GAS Frank grabbed the general
big burly Snowman knocked him down.
The old clown made at me. I was an
athlete in those days. lodged him
and gave him a Highlander on the
nose and sent him out of the ring, and
that moment an Indian struck me
over the head with stuffed war club
and sent me to the sawdust. The
general sent him on top of me with
Q club that was not stuffed. Several
of our friends rushed to help us, but
the darned-fool crowd yet believed it
part of the show, and were enjoying
it hugely. Forked-Eyed Adams laugh
was heard above the war cries of the
Indians, and the old general was
yelling at the top of his voice,
Hurrah. for General Jackson and
Davy Crockett
"I finally got hold of the clown,
and Frank grabbed the general and
matters were adjusted without actual
murder being committed. Frank
carried away black eye and I had a
knot as big as hanging birds nest
over my right ear. The next year we
declined to take the general to the
circus"