Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1902 — carnival echoes. [ARTICLE]

carnival echoes.

BY A K. OF P.

Few of the huckster stands paid expenses, it is said. Most people will now agree in The Democrat’s contention that the shows should have been located on the side streets. It is reported that a prize fight was to be pulled off last night at Delphi, in which “Kid Landis” the blacksmith, and a “cullud” gentleman were to do the knocking. It took quite a force a couple of days to clean up, and the holes made by driving stakes in the Macadam streets will give considerable trouble for months to come. Marshall’s testimonial of the morality of the “Hootchie-Cootch-ie” dance ought to be preserved in the freak museum. It is certainly the only one of its kind in existence. One chuck-a-luck man told a friend at supper Wednesday evening that he was $2,000 “to the good” at that time. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday forenoon he did a land-office business, therefore he must have cleared up several times as much more. Saturday’s attendance was a disappointment, being no better, if as good, as Friday. The “masked carnival” Saturday night did not materialize, and except for a few of Rensselaer’s “400” shaking hands too often with John Barleycorn, the evening was without excitement of any kind. Not one" word was said in this column last week that could by any stretch of imagination be construed as reflecting in any way on the chastity of any of the women connected with the carnival shows, notwithstanding the frantic efforts of a certain “K. of P.” of most unsavory reputation to make it appear otherwise. Financially, so far as the Knights were concerned, the carnival was a “grand success.” As the necessary expenses were all contributed, leaving all the funds received from privileges, etc., together with the 15 per cent, from the shows, it could hardly have been otherwise. No doubt $2,500 to $3,000 was cleared by them. Among the numerous victims of the gamblers, we have thus far learned of, was one Jordan tp., farmer who is alleged to have lost S4O; another farmer south of town $100; two citizens of near Morocco, one S6O, the other sl6 (all he had); a McCoysburg man sl2; one poor man in town S2O, aijd various others for smaller sums.

The gambling outfits were packed up early Saturday evening and the “fraternity” left town, to avoid, it is presumed, any late calls that might be made to contribute to the school fund. There were a great many people who thought the whole outfit ought have been arrested, while others thought only the fellows who brought them here and sold them the privilege of fleecing the people should have been pulled. No one wanted to take the initiative, it seemed, and nothing has been or probably will be done. The amount they took away with them is variously estimated at from $5,000 to $20,000. The carnival shows pulled up stakes late Saturday night and by Sunday morning all were loaded up and gone. They are at Huntington this week, and next week are billed for New Albany. The “Lunette” show left the carnival company here and went to Delphi, where they are showing at the street fair this week. The writer wants to say a good word for the people connected with the various shows, both men and women: So far as we were able to learn, they all conducted themselves properly, and we did not hear of any of them drinking or carousing, which is something remarkable considering the number of people connected with the various shows. The prize fight on Friday night is alleged to have been pulled off at the Irwin tile factory grounds, west of town. “Kid Landis, the Blacksmith,” is said to have kno< kod out "Bill Lillard, the Indianapolis Favorite,” (colored) in 1 minute and 5 seconds. The tickets of admissisn are said to have been $1 each, and there were

about 200 sports in attendance. It is very difficult to get any information regarding the “mill” but one man talked to admitted he was present but seemed reluctant to give any information in the matter. Asked if the K. of P’s. got a rake off, he replied that he “heard it said they got a per cent, of the gate receipts.” Marshall, the Apologist editor, says: “The carnival management had no part whatever in this unlawful sparring business, it being entirely a private speculation.” Be this as it may, many people will fail to see anything more dishonorable in taking a per cent from an “unlawful sparring contest” than in letting in a lot of “unlawful” gamblers to rob the farmers and country boys of their money and to skin the brother Knights who were invited here. And selling the gamblers the privilege of “unlawfully” robbing their guests, too! WANTED TOO MUCH. All arrangements had been made by the manager of the Brook ball team for a game with the Wolcott team to be played at Rensselaer today, but when the manager began to look behind the scenes ho called off the game and secured the Momence team for a game at this place to-day instead. Rensselaer wanted ten dollars for the use of the ball park, Brook team pay their own expenses and guarantee Wolcott’s, and then, to cap the climax, stated that fifteen per cent of the gate receipts would have to be paid over to the carnival management. Our team was not so overly anxious for a game that they would donate money for the benefit of a few grafters in Rensselaer, and of course the game was called off. Rensselaer certainly canfurnish as cheerful a set of hogs as any place we ever heard of, but that kind of graft won’t work even with a liberal people.—Brook Reporter. THINKS THEY DON’T PAY. I am told that the people interested in the street fair project have given up the idea. I think that is a wise move. 1 never could figure out how the expense of a SI,OOO for baloonatics and wire walkers, who will take all this money away with them and the contribution of a couple of thousands of dollars to those who play cards for a living would beof benefit to the men engaged in business in Fowler. Every penny of the money spent in trade in this community has its origin in the fields of grain. A street fair in the town of Fowler will not add a single kernel to the crop. If a farmer loses his crop from the floods, the merchants expect to sell him only the necessaries and that his trade will be less. A street fair will take away three thousand bushels of corn and oats from Fowler and Benton county and how can it be a money maker for the men in business in Fowler?— Fowler Leader. 22 lbs. of H. <fc E. Granulated Sugar for SI.OO for a few days only. Chicago Bargain Store.