Page 43 - Capt. David A. MacLeod: My Early Years

ISSUE : Issue 33

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1983/6/1

Will went out to the head of the stairs and spoke right up to Father. "You tell John Cloak that he will find his boat on the bottom of the river at Steele's Land? ing. He will know where to find the boat by the bush sticking out of the water." Then he cleared downstairs after me and outside. In August 1870, there were men placcarding all the fences and buildings advertising the circus to be held at the Strait of Can- so, now known as Port Hawkesbury. There were all kinds of animals. Camels and mon? keys and snakes and lions. We were bound to go to the circus. It was held on August the 22nd. In the middle of hay-making. Will said to Father on the evening of the 21st, "I am going to the Strait to the cir? cus tomorrow." Father said, "You are, are you?" "Yes, to see those drunken Yankee rascals." "Well, if you do, you will walk, for the horses are too busy." Poor Mother got us a dollar a piece from Father. We were there before the sun was up. Soon the circus men commenced to get ready to fly a balloon and we were helping them to get it ready. They also had a nice large steam boat and we crawled all over her. By nine o'clock the whole countryside was there. The circus was open at ten o'clock. They were selling tickets in a canvas door and delivering them to a man at the other door opposite. James Steele, a neighbour of ours, was just ahead of me. He asked for a ticket and gave a ten dollar bill and the man handed him back fifty cents change. The tickets were fifty cents a piece. He told the man that he gave him a ten dollar bill and asked for his right change back. He was ordered to move along. He said he would not go until he got his correct change. A man rushed to him with an iron bar about three feet long. He knocked Jim Steele down and drew off to strike him when down. Then Captain John Gillis (Judick Gillis) caught the bar and said, "Do you mean to kill the man?" He was struck at but hit back. His brother An? gus Gillis was standing near. He knocked three of the circus men down, one after an? other. The man who sold the tickets drew his revolver and fired point blank at Cap? tain Gillis. He dodged, but the bullet hit his brother Angus in the head and glanced off. The Judique's fighting blood was up and the row became general. There was one man killed and several shot. One was shot and fell close to me, knocking me down, and I hadn't sense enough to be afraid. The most of the crowd started to run down the street where Bain's Corner now is. There were several negroes in the circus armed with pikes. One of them threw a two- inch chisel in the crowd. I saw it fall just in front of a fellow from West Bay Road, who threw it back in the crowd of circus men, hitting one who died on his way to Sydney. There were four brothers and owners of their own vessel--John, Anthony, Dave, and George--all able young men. George sung out, "Bare hand here, boys." They all grabbed the bottom of the canvas tent with a yell, and a swing altogether they tore out the whole side of the canvas tent--and out comes monkeys, clowns, horse-back rid- ers--and pandemonium reigned. Some of the monkeys rushed for Bain's house, near where the circus was, and put his hind foot on the door knob, caught the top of the door with his front foot, and then the eve of the building, and was upon the sad? dle board in an instant. Others followed and laughed, chattering up on their perch. Captain John Gillis got on top of a turned up punchin and sung out, "You dirty coward? ly sons of B's, you shot my brother Angus without a cause. If there is a man among • you, come out, on the street, man to man without your guns or weapons." None lis? tened to him, but when they heard yelling, "VJe will race them into the harbour"--they put for their steamer. Their wagons were o- verturned, containing lions and tigers and snakes. Elephants and camels walked upon the streets. I wonder what the circus peo? ple thought about the wild Cape Bretoners, but it was all their own fault for not act? ing fair. My brother. Captain Charlie, went to Aus? tralia from New York in the ship Admiral in 1858. He made a fortune in the gold • Cards Gifts Cheticamp Craft Hooked Rugs ~ & Souvenir Shop Film • Handcrafts We made our name in hardware. Your Friendly Pittsburgh Paint Dealer Prefinish Paneling * Margaree & Lockwood Windows Shingles * Cement Blocks * Brick Wood Stoves Lumber * Plywood * Mouldings LEVI LEBLANC LTD. MARGAREE, NOVA SCOTIA OFFICE: 235-2022 CHICKEN CHALET fried Soutlets to serve you- C.B. Shopping Plaza, Sydney River Sydney Shopping Mall, Prince St. Blowers St., North Sydney Sterling IMall, Glace Bay Piummer Aye., New Waterford (43)

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