New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-04
Circus Performers Escape
by Ruse from Angry
Mob in Progres0.
NATIVE CLOWN, QUICK
TO SPEAK, SAVES ALL
Tells Crowd There Are No
"Gringoes" -Trapeze Performer
and Wife Flee in Tights.

The British freighter Durieychfns
brought to port yesterday from Prosroso
twelve circus performers who had been
driven out OF Mexico by mob persecution
and threats OF death. They were warned
by tho Mexican authorities that II thsy
did not leave Progreso within twenty
four hours they would he Imprisoned OF
shot.
The Durleychine was lying In tho har-
Dor. laden with sugar FOR this port Word
was sent 20 Captain Anstey. her master.
that party OF forty circus performers
some OF them Americans. some Germans
and some English-were threatened With
death by the mob. who thought they
were all Americans. The captain went
ashore to investigate.
The performers told the skipper that
/ they were penniless and could not pay
FOR their transportation. so he invited
them 10 come 20 New York as his guests
/ He had accommodations for only twelve,
/ but said he would take more. The mas
ter OF another British freightsr. how
ever, agreed 10 take twenty-eight to Mo-
bile. so Captain Anstey sent out 70 his
vessel tho three women, two girls and
seven men who arrived here yesterday
The circus, which had been taken 70
Mexico by Max weltln. German. was
augmented from time TO time by vauds-
VILE performers who were unable to get
theatres.
According 10 Wilhelm vanderprien. ths
strong man Of the show, the trovpe
had been subjected to all sorts OF in
dignities on the assumption that all were
Americans. report got into Merida
that an American battleship had sunk
Mexican gunboat and the anti-American
feeling ran high.
ION the evening OF April o." he said.
"our tent was filed 60 capacity by
Mexican audience. The show was going
well when a woman In one OF the back
seats shouted IN a strong. shrll voice
'Mueren los Americanos This cry or
death was caught up by the entire audi
ence, which rushed into the arena and
dragged from their mounts FIVE Jockeys.
II thought We would all be stabbed or
shot, but one OF our clowns, a Mexican
himself. climbed one OF the tent poles and
shouted in Spanish 20 the mob: These
people are not Americans. They are Eng
Nsh and German. Because 'they speak
no Spanish don't think they are Ameri-
cans This quieted the mob and gave US
chance TO get to our dressing rooms.
The show ended there.
we were told 10 get out at once, and
as quickly as we could we moved TO Pro
3 ereso. There tho vendors in the streets
3 spat upon us and swore at US. The mobs
there were made up mostly OF Indians"
Frank Cromwell and his wife. trapeze
performers. Jared the worst OF all After
the attack IN the arena at Merida some
OF the rioters got into Cromwelrs dress
ing room. and he and his wife had 70 run
through the streets I'm their pink tights.
They sought shelter at the railroad sta
ton. but when the mob was informed
that the Cromwells were not Americans
they were permitted 10 90 back 70 the
tent and get their clothing and parapher-
MALTA
While the show was in Mexico city
General Huerta attended performance
but when he was informed that the ma
forty OF the performers were Americans
he left his seat and went 10 tho Cafe
Colon. Many OF those present left when
he did.
After the twelve performers were safe
~ aboard the Durleychlne Captain An
stey informed Mrs. Cromwell. Mrs Wall
lace Havelock. Mrs. Edward Wilson ana
Mrs. Wilson's two daughters that they
could have his room and the rooms or
his officers. The male members OF tho
party. who slept in No. ? hold. were lrv-
/ ing Sacks. william Hayelock. Vincent
/ Coughlin. Edward Wilson, Max Victim
and William Vanderpien.