RIOT DAMAGES WILD WEST SHOW.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1920, Page 4

RIOT DAMAGES WILD WEST SHOW.

AMUSING SCENES ON SYDNEY SHOW GROUNDS. SYDNEY, March 24. There were extraordinary scenes on Sydney’s famous Show Ground on Saturday last, when large crowds, resentful of the poor quality of the performance staged by a Wild West Show which they had gathered to see, took charge of the proceedings. Events, for quite a while, swayed between tragedy and farce This “Wild West” display was widely advertised, and fully 30,000 people gathered. They soon began to murmur, and complain that they had been “stung.” The “fiery mustangs” were anything but fiery, on tlie contrary, they seemed to desire nothing so much as it quiet sleep. The “cowboys” in some instances appeared unable to ride their slow and elderly equines. The growl of the crowd was deepening when a buck-jumping competition "’as announced and a pessimistic little donkey was led forth and competitors invited to present themselves. About fifty boys promptly rushed out. This was too many for those in charge, and they ordered the boys hack. The hoys naturally debated the point, and a Red Indian—the only real Wild West about the show —rode among them and began to use a whip. One boy got it in the face, and began to howl. Then p.jnchv monium broke loose. Hundreds of men ran into the ring, surrounded the Indian, dragged him from his horse, and “dealt with him.” A posse of police came to the rescue and eventually got the wretched red man away. The struggle between the crowd and the police was long and fierce, and looked ugly at times.

With tho Indian out of the way, the temper of the mob changed. Thousands of young men rushed the corral, where the “wild” bulls, horses, and mules wore held. These were to have provided thrills —so four-inch type had it. The corral was torn down and the scared animals rushed out. Women in the grand stands screamed —and then shrieked with laughter. In no time at all these fearsome wild bulls were being ridden by yelling youths. The horses and mules were mounted, without saddle or bridle, and urged to buck—and there was scarcely a buck in them. The paraphernalia of the unhappy Wild West men was scattered about. Some of the merrymakers pranced in chaps, and one made great play with an Indian’s headdress. The “wild bulls, some with as many as three men aboard, pranced about excitedly. The boys called them “Pansy.” One bull did lose control of himself, and slightly gored a youth of 17, but most of them were quite well behaved. When the fun palled ,tho crowd goodnaturedly helped the police to round-up the livestock. There was something almost unreal in the sight of an alleged furious -steer being dragged protesting, by horns and tail, to the tie-rope, and in an “untamed” mule being smacked on the hindquarters for daring to be playful with bis feet. Then the crowd went home not so disappointed after all.