When the circus comes to town, a good time is usually enjoyed by all. Unless that circus happens to come to Shamokin. Many coal region towns have a reputation for toughness, and Shamokin is no exception. Of course, as a Mount Carmel grad, I happen to think we're just a little bit tougher than our rivals in Shamokin (I could insert a wisecrack about the Coal Bucket here, but I won't). Nonetheless, the following story is pretty entertaining.
It comes from the June 14, 1913 edition of the Mount Carmel Item and, as you can tell by the reporter's opening sentence, it's plain to see that even back in 1913 there was no love lost between these two battling coal towns.
Shamokin Roughnecks Attack Circus Folks
Shamokin youths showed themselves in their true light again yesterday when they made things generally miserable for the members of the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus, which exhibited in that town yesterday, caused riots and endangered the lives of many people who attended the show.…
It comes from the June 14, 1913 edition of the Mount Carmel Item and, as you can tell by the reporter's opening sentence, it's plain to see that even back in 1913 there was no love lost between these two battling coal towns.
Shamokin Roughnecks Attack Circus Folks
Shamokin youths showed themselves in their true light again yesterday when they made things generally miserable for the members of the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus, which exhibited in that town yesterday, caused riots and endangered the lives of many people who attended the show.…