The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1904-06-11
ANGRY MOB BURNS
AN PH|THEATER
Advertised Bull-Fight Failed to
Take Place.
SEVERAL PERSONS INJURED
Several Thousand Men and boys At
tack House In which Richard
Norris, Hull Fisht Promote
er, II BarrIcaded.

which was advertised to take place
near the Worlds fair grounds Sunday
afternoon was prevented by officers Of
ST. Louis county. who placed the man
ager. II. A. Tullidge, under arrest.
When the disappointed patrons found
that the fight would not be permitted
they stormed the Office of the COM
pany, breaking all he windows and
then set fire 10 the large amphitheater,
burning ii 10 the ground. A majority
of the several thousand people who
had paid the admission price of 81
formed the angry mob which did tho
work of destruction
Richard Norris. the promoter of the
bull fight, and his employees, are said
to have left The Office in disguise. taxi
iEg the gate setelrts with them. after
the infuriated mob began to demolish
the windows and loudly demand the
return of the admission fee. An at
tempt to arrest one of the men who was
seen throwing a rock throug a window
precipltate1 a riot, In which there were
dozens of reoylyers drawn. Several
officers stood together, however. and
after Climbing some Of the men with
their revolvers and threatening to
shoot the elsturbers down the crowd
dispersed
Buildings Set on Fire.
A riot call was turned In to the St.
Louis police department, and message
was sent to Sheriff Hencken at Clayton.
In the meantime the building had been
fired. ard the fire was beyond control,
and the fry of the people seemed TO
have been appeased. This was about
seven o'clock, and the people stood
about watching the flames shoot up
| from the pine structure. The few fire.
men sent out from the Worlds fair
grounds busted themselves saving fur
niture and several small stands and
houses adjacent to the arena. The cost
of the arena, including the amphithe-
ater IL is said, was nearly sio,eoo.
At two o'clock, the time announced
for the opening of the show, the seats
were nearly all taken. Deputy Sheriff
John r. Ossenfort, of Clayton. with
Deputies j. VIII Andrae and Henry
! Hyde. from the sheriff's office, and Ro-
zier G. Meigs, OF the Humane society
with six ST. Louis detectives, occupied
seats near the entrance TO the ring
Mrs Mary w Calkins. Mrs, Emma
| Bartley. Mrs Belle Nation and Mrs
! s. J. Marks, all Humane society work.
ers, occupied box next to the officers
For a cuTtain-ralser the management
introduced an aggregation of wild west
performers The show began about
| three O'Clock, and for two hours the
people were entertained with cred
liable display of riding, shooting and
roping. But the crowd was impatient
and from every corner came calls foi
the bull. So loud and persistent were
| these that the management explained
the bull fight would take place imme.
diately after the preliminary perform
ance. This announcement was greeted
with wild yells and vigorous hand
elapping.
wanted TO See the Fight.
Just before the managers were read.
to introduce the bull and the toreador
the people loudly renewed their call
for the bull fight, and when the an
nouncer attempted to state that tn
fight was the next number on the pro
gramme he was compelled by the jeer
and yells to retire TO the background
From different parts OF the audienc
came requests for the treasurer Of tn
company.
After abandoing efforts to addrei
the people, the management gave ii
word which caused the gates to ope
and two horses, with riders costume
in flaming red jackets, followed by $
Spanish toreadors, entered. They we
TO the center of the arena, where Il
manager stood. Then the order
bring in the bull was given, but De
uty Sheriff Ossenfort stepped out wi
three other officers and read the wa
rant to Mr.. Tullidge. The members
the humane society cheered, the au
ience hissed, and the manager becon
frantic. Mr.. Norris stepped up. hoy
ever, and, after saying few words
his manager, the latter accompani'
the officers out of the ring
In the meantime some OF the me
!, had stolen dozen bales Of hay from
! nearby camp and set the pile on fl
under the northwest corner of Il
structure. The officers made every a
tempt TO extinguish the flames, b
/ were prevented. A woman stenogr
pher in the Office of Mr.. Norris rushs
in and made an attempt to put out Il
flames, but she was pushed away
the crowd with rough hands.
NJ. - - ata f..a