Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-07-07
OLD ELLSWORTH
Was On the Circus Black List for
Many Years

The first circus to visit Ellsworth
was in 1912. This aggregation.
"Stone & Murray's American Circus"
was a one-ring affair, consisting of
a few trained animals. These to-
gether with considerable "horseplay"
between the ring master and the
lone clown, made up the perform
ance.
This circus came overland in early
morning from Bucksport, parading
through the village Tin the old days
this was the CUSTOM, and pitched
it's tents in field at the corner of
High and East Maple streets. The
afternoon performance was carried
out without difficulty but in the
evening the village "roughnecks,
in a body and well Git" marched
to the grounds. Just before the
doors opened, they surrounded the
tent, and at a signal from their
leader, cut the ropes, lifted the poles
and let the tent down in a disordered
mass. The circus men were over
powered, but not before they had
given a good account of themselves.
They were then given certain time
to pack up and git" They got!
The next circus to visit Ellsworth
was many years later. 1t came pre-
pared, and managed to give per-
formances and leave without casual
ties.
In the middle sos, the lot where
the Baptist church now stands was
the scene of a circus riot which, for
sheer righteousness and destruct-
iveness, has seldom been equalled
in the history of the circus. This
circus, whose name l am unable to
place, gave the afternoon show with
only the usual amount of disturb
ance,- but during the evening per-
Torrance, the rowdies, more than
200 in number and intoxicated to
a man, began the trouble by threats
and insults to the circus people.
This was quickly resented. While
this was going on, several OF the
rowdies were engaged in the play
full pastime of throwing balls or
cotton soaked in blazing turpentlne
to the top of the tent. The tent was
soon on fire in many places. Several
in the audience were badly burned,
and many were injured in the rush
to escape the burning tent. The few
officers in attendance were power
less.
The mob then started to wreck
the carts. One or two were demol-
ished, and several were run down
Steam Mill hill and into the river:
About this time the sheriff arrived
with a large force of deputies, and
finally quelled the mob, but not be-
fore many skulls were Cracked
For several years circuses Were
Ellsworth shy but Stone &
Murray came again, and was an
annual visitor for many years.
Many others followed, and Hey,
Rube!" was not heard until the
Frank A. Robbins Shows in 81,
This is we'll remembered by many
Ellsworth people I will merely say
that the riot was broken before any
serious damage had been done, ana
the circus was protected until IL
packed up and left town. twenty
one wears later, Frank A. Robbins
showed in Ellsworth, and was warm
1y welcomed.
The old days Of cheap clrcuses,
whose employees and hangers-on
would not only rob patrons on the
grounds. but rifle clotheslines and
henroosts, and the days OF drunken,
bullying "towners" who considered
a circus man their meat, are gone
forever and today CIRCUS IS as
safe in Ellsworth as Sunday school
picnic.
lust a word in closing regarding
the die-hard idea prevailing s1lii
among many of the younger gener,,.
atom about a circus splitting up
and plavtng two different towns the
same day. Before the day or the
large circus combines, Adam For-
naugh. Sells Bros, Scribner & smith,
Van Amburg, Younger Bros,
Pawnee Bills Wild West, ETC., played
Ellsworth. A few went out OF Dusl-
ness. the rest merged with the Dig
combines, and played the larger
cities Ellsworth gets the small
independent circuses.
WALTER P. Pho
In connection with the above !,
Is interesting to note that sam
Scribner, of the old Scripner q
smith show, is now touring MAINE
as the guest of Charles Sparks OF
the Sparks circus. going over t4e
route of his old wagon snow. ne
was not in Ellsworth Yesterday; a.
he was making a side trip into
Aroostook county, but will meet tne
Sparks outfit in Eastport tooas
Mr.. Scribner is now president OIL my
Coiumbia Circuit of theatres AND
travelling shows. He Is raaeu a.
about 100000, but Is still oai'''
to the old showmen: t. tho,
Another interesting TACT Is ina ma,
John c. Kelley, legal adJuster Oh "a,
Sparks circus, who was in Eliswoa ~
Yesterday, was in the Frank "A. ho W
bins outfit for many years, anu &c
calls the riot here in 1889