Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-11-19
he CLEANED OUT 4 CIRCUS,
Indian Fighter Thought the Indian
Act Was Real, and Broke It Up.

Act Was Real, and Broke 1t Up.
Maj. Henry A. Newman broke into an.
other of his characteristic stories the
last time he was in town. This is the
way he told it, and there were present
half dozen to vouch for it's truthful.
ness:
"Away back in SO or 80 there lived an
old fellow by the name of Su1npter, who
was a neighbor of mine.
Gle had been in the Creek war under
Gen. Jackson, and one of his relatives
had been killed in the massacre at Fort
Mimms. He had a great and undying
hatred of Indians, and was very bitter
in his denunciation of them at all times.
He was tall, iron gray, and we'll pre-.
served for his age. He made tubs, half.
bushel measures, ETC., and made mere
living at this occupation. [ gave the
old man the title of General of which
he was very proud.
"Frank Perrine, a 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
Frank and myself took lower seat.
Now, the circus had a detachment Of
about 20 Indians, who came in with wal
paint and feathers and danced the green
corn, the ghost dance and other Indian
performances, and then performed a
scalping scene.
| 1T was very realistic. A white woman
rode into the ring with an Indian hold.
ing a tomahawll and scalping knife in
close pursuit. Round and round the
ring they few. the Indian gaining on
the white maiden, whose black hair
hung in glossy waves down her back.
She acted her part well, and was appar-
emily much frightened.
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
audience. Gen. Sumpter's blood was up.
and before Frank and myself could re-
strain 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
'(ander' was up.
'The Indians commenced falling
asleep under his repeated blows as fast
as they did at the Horse Shoe Frank
and myself rushed into the ring to bring
the General out. The crowd was yell
ing with delight, thinking it Il part Of
the show. Above the wells of the COM
batants could be heard the loud laugh Of
Forked-Eyed Adams. a wel-known
character from the Charlton divide. who
could laugh so loud that it was said it
killed the mosquitoes on the Charlton
river mile off.
''As Frank grabbed the General a big
burly Snowman knocked him down. The
old clown made at me. was an athlete
in those days. l lodged him and gave
him right-hander on the nose and
sent him out of the ring. At that mo-
ment an Indian struck me over the head
with Il stuffed war club and sent me to
the sawdust. The General sent him on
top Of me with club that was not
stuffed. Several of our friends rushed in
to help us. but the darned fool crowd
get believed it Il part of the show. and
were enjoying it hugely. Forked-Eyed
Adams laugh was heard above the wal
cries of the Indians. and the Old Gen
eral' was yelling at the top Of his voice:
'Hurrah for Gen. Jackson and Davy
Crockett.
II finally got hold of the clown. anc
Frank grabbed the General and mat
ters were adjusted without actual muir
der being committed. Frank carried
away a black eye and l had il knot as
big rs hanging birds nest over my
right car. The next year we declined tt
take the General to the circus. st
Louis Republic.