The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1902-06-12
Al the Circus.


that Mr.. Sparks could
have offered unaided. Scarcely |
had the. immense crowd been quiz
eted down into the seats provided,
and the improvised seats on the
hay, and the spangled tumblers
and funny clowns began to turn
somersaults, when kind nature vol
unteered turn that to be appre-
ciated needed to be seen. Nobody
saw the clouds as the tent was en-
tered. Every body was too busy
trying to tramp on every body elses
toes.
First the top of the canvas began
to be moved in huge pillows. This
swung the incandescent gasoline
lamps against the ropes and broke
the mantles, so that all artificial
lights were out. Then began an
eruption from the seat and tent.
"Look out for the stakes9" yelled
thoughtful canvassman.
ooh, my, the snakes are loose"
screamed misunderstanding wo-
men, grabbing her skirts and shak-
Ing her feet to get rid of the rep
tiles. "Oh, George, let's get out"
cried vision in white, clasping
the writer in her arms. go, Char
ley, come away from there"
screamed another unknown wrest-
ler, fixing a double lock around
our neck. just then flash of
lightning revealed her error and
she let loose. The same flash dis
closed a woman weighing about
180 pounds throwing herself upon
small boy we had seen promoted
into the High School the day be-
fore, and crying, ooh, you dear
boy, save mel" "Git out of the
road and save YOURSELF" he an
swered, lodging and giving her a
shove. "Bolly" Stedem was the
first man out and butted into the
elephant 80 hard that the huge
beast staggered, while Lawrence
Yerges took a header over a guy
rope.
We decided to remain where the
clasping in arms was going on. We
were rewarded for any thoughtful
ness by being hugged by eleven
different women and being called
eleven different kinds of dear. We
were in turn dear John and dear
Joe and dear Jim and dear Tom
and dear Dick and dear Harry.
AS we assisted them to where it
was much wetter and so much
lighter it prevented further inter
esting exercises. Flashes of light
ming revealed similar sparkling 60
ing Oh all over the seats and ring.
1t was pleasant and exciting.
Finally the tent was empty and
they let it down little to ease the
ropes. Then few of the faithful
who were left made a rush for
shelter. Somebody held Ed Prices
door open and we shot over the
heads of men, women and children
and struggled down to the floor of
the bar-room. The Depot House,
the freight house, the Snider- Mil
ler office and store buildings, and
several houses down the Avenue,
were packed, but it was at Prices
that more lives were saved. 1t is
said that no one who got in there
suffered from a cold as a result of
the exposure.
The telephones burned out and
anxious papas and mamas left at
home could not be advised of their
children's safety, so hacks soon
came over and carried the more
frightened ones home. About
thousand remained until the rain
slackened and then wended their
way toward home. One of the
women departing said to us, "They
ought to give our money back"
"They don't owe anybody cent, "
we answered. However, there were
about 300 who got far more than
their moneys worth, for they went
back to the tent when the band
began to play and witnessed one
of the brightest, cleansst, artistic
performances that we have had for
n long time ftar tho aypar;aooa