1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Ridiculous Crime is a production of I Heart Radio. Hey 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: Dave Elizabeth, it looks like Zaren's still gone. Did you 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: see that telegram? Uh no, all right, well it reads 4 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: and I quote have it about it's mesn't been thatt 5 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: I'll be back next week. I love a good hotbro. So, UM, 6 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: I guess I'll ask you this. You know, it's ridiculous, 7 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: I do. Have you ever heard of anting? Anting? This 8 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 1: is something that crows do. Anting, They do anting they 9 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: want to do. Uh no, So here's what happened. Uh 10 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: last year a photographer captured this behavior, which um naturalists 11 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: positive they thought happened, but nobody had ever captured it. 12 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: This guy, Tony Austin, got an image of a crow 13 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: with its wings covered in dozens of tiny black ants. 14 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: And I'm quoting an article here in the throws of 15 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: what appeared to be a behavior he described as a 16 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: quote very odd and violent dirt bath. Oh my god. 17 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: They basically they're like the people who get pedicures by 18 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: putting their feet in a with a little fish that 19 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: eat the dead skin off their feet. I guess, so 20 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 1: we we don't really know, like you know, the burgers 21 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 1: know the burgers how do they get the how do 22 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: they get the ants on them? Uh? It is a 23 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: question of dispute. So why they do it is maybe 24 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: for some sort of like you know, self self stimulation, 25 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: or they may be getting them you know that uh 26 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: toxins that the ants produced when they're afraid. So it 27 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: maybe it's like a denachrome situation. They're just rolling in syrup. Yeah, 28 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: or but yeah, we don't really know, and we don't 29 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: know how. Like one theory is they just go up 30 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: to an ant hill and they're like, hey, climb on, dudes, um. 31 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: And another theory is they've been seen to pick up 32 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: ants with their beaks and rub themselves with the insects, 33 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: So maybe maybe they're getting to go in that way. 34 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: Maybe they get aunt juice on them and the other 35 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: ants are like hold on, I'll see. Yeah. It's called 36 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: formic acid. The ants shoot formic acid from their abdomens 37 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: or anal glands, uh, which then is absorbed into the 38 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: bird's body, and we think maybe it acts as insecticide 39 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: and keeps other other bugs away. That's interesting. Yeah, apparently 40 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: it's been seen in more than two species of birds worldwide, 41 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: but we just don't know. A ton about it. Wow, 42 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: that's ridiculous, I think. So do you want to know 43 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 1: what else is ridiculous? Firefighter versus clown violence and religious sectarianism. 44 00:02:43,280 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: That's also ridiculous. Yes, bring it on. This is Ridiculous Crime, 45 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: a podcast about absurd and outrageous capers, heists and cons. 46 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: It's always murder free, that, I promise you. And ridiculous. 47 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: Firefighters are heroes, Dave. They run in when everyone else 48 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: runs out. They generally show up before an ambulance if 49 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: there's a medical emergency. They save kittens from trees. That's 50 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: a classic firefighter move. Um. They only save people in 51 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: pets and things. And they're also lauded on the hit 52 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: Fox television show nine one one. Wait, how do you 53 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: know about that? You don't watch that. I don't watch TV, 54 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: but I've heard I've heard that. So the ones that 55 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: I'm going to tell you about today, though, they're not heroes, 56 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: no heroes. This is back in the early days of 57 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: firefighting in North America Toronto to be exact, mid eighteen hundreds. 58 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: So let me give you a little bit of the 59 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: political landscape at the time. The police into Ano, we're 60 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: pretty much controlled by Irish Protestant immigrants, and there are 61 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: members of the Orange Order. Are you familiar with the 62 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: Orange Order? Um, I'm familiar with the Orange Julius Order. 63 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: That's a that's the sub branch. That's sort of like 64 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: the way that the um Shriners are part of the Mason. 65 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 1: So the Orange Order, it all goes back to like 66 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: William of Orange beating King James the Second and the 67 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: Jacobites in the with a sack of oranges, right, with 68 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: a sack of oranges. Yeah, it was a brutal thing. Um, 69 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: the Orange Order here's like the main thing that we 70 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: need to know. They're basically, um, a big part of 71 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: there at the center of sectarian violence in Scotland, Ireland 72 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: and then in this case Canada. So I don't want 73 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: to get into the whole back and forth. I have 74 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: a very strong opinion on this matter, but I also 75 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: don't want angry emails or an Orange parade outside my door, 76 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: fans knocking you down. I'm just gonna I'm just gonna 77 00:04:59,880 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: do of my best and just tell the facts here. So, UM, 78 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: it is safe to say that the police and the 79 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: fire services, they drew heavily from the Orange Order in Toronto. 80 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: In the eighteen hundreds and members of the Orange Order 81 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: called themselves Orangemen. And then there was a government report 82 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: in eighteen forty one that said that the influence of 83 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: the Orange Order on the Toronto Police Department was quote 84 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: a great and growing evil which should be discountenanced, denounced 85 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: and repressed by the exercise of every authority and influence 86 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: at the disposal of the government. So like top down, 87 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: they're just like, this is bad business. You guys, you 88 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: should not be running the police department. It is important 89 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: to note Toronto totally wild frontier town back in those days. 90 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:48,359 Speaker 1: Saloons Bordello's UM. As I was reading through all the 91 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: research on this, I started to get the impression that 92 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: a lot of these like psychos and hooligans in the 93 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: police and fire departments were kind of hiding behind the 94 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: protective name of the Orange Order. So it's like, if 95 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 1: you're just a madman, you're like, yeah, I want to 96 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: be a cople to go bust some heads. And there 97 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: I'm I'm in the Orange Order. Let me in. Because 98 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: if you were a card carrying member, they just gave 99 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,479 Speaker 1: you a job like that was just well known. So 100 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: there's no vetting process. Um bad actors. They'd be well 101 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: served to join the Orange Order in order to do 102 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,559 Speaker 1: whatever they wanted under the protection of the Orange Order. 103 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: So there's growing tensions at play too. Because this is 104 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 1: mid eighteen hundreds, the Great Hunger Irish famine in full swing. 105 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 1: The diaspora has begun, um. And since Irish people are 106 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: being starved out of their homeland, they fled to North America. 107 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 1: We hear a lot in the US about Irish and 108 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: New York or Boston or all these other places along 109 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: the East coast, But a lot of Irish relocated to 110 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: Toronto as well. And these are Irish Catholic immigrants. And 111 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 1: they're coming to a town run by Orangeman. Yeah, not 112 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: ideal sectarian violence, hatred, real, not ideal. Um, that's that 113 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: delicate medical state in Toronto at the time I'm gonna 114 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: tell you about. Um, I've oriented you to time and place, Dave. 115 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you about fire. I love 116 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: fire almost as much as you love trains, and it's close. Um, 117 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: do you know much about the origins of North American 118 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: fire department? Stave? Uh, I'm not going to make something up. 119 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna say now. So they weren't public municipal operations. 120 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: They were private businesses, for profit, private businesses at the time, 121 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: and they had like sliding scales for the cost to 122 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: put out fires, so like the richer the neighborhood, the 123 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: higher the cost. And then there were always rumors that, um, 124 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: they would start fires to be able to get paid 125 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: to put them out. I didn't realize that practice was 126 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: that old. So were they really weren't the brave men 127 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: and women of fire stations we know today. They weren't 128 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: anything like statione een in the hit Fox television series 129 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: nine one one, or so I've heard. So here's an 130 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: interesting thing about firefighters though, that I learned when I 131 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: lived in Glasgow that have you ever heard the derogatory 132 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: term ned to call someone in ned? No, I've heard job, 133 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: but I haven't ye. So ned is like a Scottish 134 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: name for violent hooligans. And I was told that it's 135 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: an acronym for non educated delinquents. But um, I haven't 136 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: been able to find anything to really like directly back 137 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: that up. It's been in use for a really long time. 138 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: And I did see that that was classified as a 139 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 1: backronym invented after the fact. Is that the same as uh, 140 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: the derogatory term for Italian immigrants in America people say 141 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: was without papers. I think so that it's not really Yeah, 142 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: it's a it's a backronym, which was a word that 143 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 1: I learned. So Ned's right. They terrorized and randomly attack people. 144 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: They drink buckfast fortified wine. That's about as much as 145 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,680 Speaker 1: I could tell. They also apparently don't like firefighters, so 146 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: when firefighters respond to call outs, neds attack them by 147 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: throwing things like rocks, bricks, molotov cocktails or like an 148 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: atomic dustbin. An atomic dustbin and neds have them. So 149 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: it's like it's worst on Bonfire Night, but this goes 150 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:18,559 Speaker 1: on throughout the year. So when I lived there, there 151 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: was an article in The Guardian that said, quote, you 152 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: set fire to cars in dead end streets and then 153 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,679 Speaker 1: lay in wait for firefighters, whom they attacked with knives 154 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: or stones. Holy cow, this sounds like sounds like purch 155 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: n It's well. What's weird too, is that like here 156 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: in the States, firefighters are totally lionized and like you 157 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: can't imagine someone lighting a fire to them, like and 158 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,559 Speaker 1: not just one person, like a whole group of people 159 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: like you know what, let's get us some firefighters tonight 160 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: and just you know, light them up. So that's what's happening. 161 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,720 Speaker 1: So there are neighborhoods in Glasgow or fire trucks they 162 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 1: can't go without police escorts. UM. I don't get the 163 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: reasoning behind all that. I don't know why the people 164 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: hate the firefighters. But so in the early days of Bringe, 165 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: I'm bringing this full circle. In the early days of 166 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:09,719 Speaker 1: firefighting in North America, the firefighters were basically neds themselves, like, 167 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: they were not trained, they weren't heroes, and they just 168 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: wanted to like mess stuff up. So when you have 169 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,559 Speaker 1: a for profit endeavor like these fire departments, you also 170 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 1: then have competition. So if a fire broke out, sometimes 171 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 1: two different fire companies would show up, and sometimes the 172 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: engine companies would fight each other for the gig right there, 173 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: just like duking it out. This this scenario reminds me 174 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: of um. I think it's the is it Mother Jugs 175 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 1: and Speed. There's that movie about like the Lazy Ambulance Company, 176 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: and they're always duking it out for ambulance callers. They're like, 177 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: oh familiar, yeah, but that's that's basically the same thing. 178 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: So a company might get sent out ahead, like they'll 179 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: send one guy ahead of everyone else to call DIBs 180 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: on a hydrant and then if even if the other 181 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: truck shows up first, he's like, sorry, we already called 182 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: DIBs in this hydrant. You know they're right behind you. 183 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: They would block each other in from like responding to call. 184 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: They couldn't get their trucks out to respond. And so 185 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: this wasn't just in Toronto. That was all over North America, 186 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: New York, Baltimore, even in San Francisco. Although at the 187 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: time they were seen as like a calmer sort of 188 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: fighting than in East Coast firefighters, they just were like 189 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:23,319 Speaker 1: not not as brutal um, but firefighters at the time 190 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: they were violent guys. And was a particularly crazy year 191 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: in Toronto when it came to rioting firefighters. So the 192 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: first set to happened when two brigades, one of which 193 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: was the Hook and Ladder Firefighting Company, responded to a fire. Uh, 194 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: these two companies they start fighting over who's going to 195 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: put the fire out and essentially like get the contract 196 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: for it. Of course, like the buildings on fire this 197 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:50,559 Speaker 1: whole time, and they're fighting out in front of it. 198 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: And then the cops show up and they had to 199 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: break it up. Someone's got to put out this fire. 200 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: So the firefighters look at each other the kind of 201 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,199 Speaker 1: shrug and then they all turn on the police. You've 202 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: got the cops fighting the firefighters. This this huge brawl, 203 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:07,439 Speaker 1: this melee keeps growing. Meanwhile, no one's fighting fires like 204 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: they're just fighting each other. It's madness. And that was 205 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:14,959 Speaker 1: later called the Fireman's Riot of eighteen fifty five. Standing 206 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:18,839 Speaker 1: there going like fellas, fellas Like, there's like some lady 207 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: holding her cat who's like, oh, pardon me my, oh so, 208 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,200 Speaker 1: and you know you got a solid riot on your 209 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: hands when it gets its own name, straw straw riot, 210 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: this proper stuff. Let's take a break. Um, let's go 211 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: see it. First. Let's check and see if Zaren's back. 212 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 1: You check the tennis courts, and then I'm going to 213 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 1: check the prepper room in the basement. Um, and then 214 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: we'll circle back around here. When we come back, I'll 215 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 1: tell you about an epically ridiculous riot in Toronto in 216 00:12:49,760 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: eight that puts all other firefighter involved riots to shame. Alright, 217 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: we're back. Um, I didn't see any sign of Aaron, 218 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: did you let's talk riots. Um, firemen in Toronto and um, 219 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 1: they're pretty much all members of the Orange Order. They 220 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: across the board love to fight and they're proud of it. 221 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: They're proud of they're fighting ways they've just gotten done 222 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: fighting each other and then the cops. That's summer of 223 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: eighteen fifty five. What else happens in the summer of 224 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 1: eighteen in Toronto? The circus came to town. And let 225 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 1: me tell you something. It wasn't just any circus, Dave. 226 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: It was SB House, Star Troop Menagerie and circus coming 227 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,960 Speaker 1: straight out in New York State. Baby, that sounds like 228 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: something I would really like to see. I would like 229 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: to be part of a Star Troop menagerie. That sounds amazing. 230 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: It was one of the first, like honest to goodness 231 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 1: circuses in North America. It had elephants, lions, tigers, the 232 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: whole thing, um, all the abused animals a person could 233 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: want to see perform against their wills. You can see 234 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 1: them whipped, you could see them insulted servitude. It was fantastic. Um. 235 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: It was also the first circus to hit the road. 236 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: So like there are carnivals and such, but this one 237 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: that had animals and stunts and clowns was mobile. So 238 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: are you afraid of clowns, Dave? You know that's a 239 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: good question, Like I feel like regular clowns. No, not 240 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 1: at all. Like if you are actually there to entertain 241 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: and have a good time and you gotta you know, 242 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: face paint and a quacky outfit, you're making blue animals great. 243 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: I am afraid of horror movie clowns, though, because I 244 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: feel like that's a whole different thing. At this point, 245 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: it's normal to be afraid of like penny Wise or 246 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: any of the zillion clowns in American horror story Like 247 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: so yes, but no, like, yeah, I'm not afraid of 248 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: clowns as a rule, but there's something deeply, deeply creepy 249 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: about clowns, and I'm a little suspect about people who 250 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: want to dress up as clowns. I had a boss 251 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: once who was really truly terrified of clowns. Like you could. 252 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: You would send him like just a very innocent, benign 253 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: clown photo and an email, and he would like just 254 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: sit there and stare at it and be like, I'm 255 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: so mad at you right now, it's amazing. Sorry, clowns 256 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: clowns always kind of smell bad and like sweat and 257 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: moth balls. Who is it? Didn't we read that David 258 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: Arquette is a secret clowner. I think he bought bose 259 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: of the clown Like the rights of the clown is 260 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: like clowning up for charity. Now, I think Arquette, godspeed 261 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: that you know. I'm I don't know. I guess I'm 262 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: happy for people who are like stoked on clowns. But 263 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: I you know, it's not that I'm neutral. I'm not 264 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 1: clown positive, and I'm not necessarily clown neutral. I'm clowns suspicious. Um, 265 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: they're creepy. So the clowns in this circus, though, they 266 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: also had like all the Carney jobs of building the 267 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: tents and breaking them down as they go city to city. 268 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: So the circus rolls into town and the clowns slash 269 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: roused abouts. They set everything up. Do you think the 270 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: clowns had to do that in costume? I like to imagine, yes, 271 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: big shoes flopping around. So the lead clown was a 272 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: guy named Myers, and he, you know, they set up 273 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 1: in Toronto. He's like, you know what, we deserve a 274 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: night out? Friends, Come on my friendly buddies. So he 275 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: took them to a boardello, as you do. Of course 276 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: when you're in Toronto in prostitution was illegal, right, but 277 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 1: the brothel business was booming, especially when events came to town, 278 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:04,680 Speaker 1: like circus place to be jumping. They're like circuses in town. 279 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, it's gonna be a busy night at the bordello. 280 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:13,199 Speaker 1: So what do you think it was circus night at bordello? Like, 281 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: like did some of the sex workers get into Like 282 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,959 Speaker 1: would it pull out the people who were really interested 283 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: in clowns? Like interested in clowns? Well, I don't know 284 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: what if you're what if you're working at the bordello 285 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: and a bunch of clowns rolling and you have a 286 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:31,439 Speaker 1: clown folk, but you gotta bake the rent. I was thinking, like, 287 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: you're you're in the big top. You're a spectator, you're watching. 288 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: You're like, you know what, I really enjoy seeing these 289 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: clouds and I'm really going I better go to the bordello, 290 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: Like and then you retire to the tavern and bartello. Yeah, 291 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: and then they're like, probably look more like a clown. 292 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: I think it's just crazy. I think it's just crazy. 293 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: Everywhere you look so like, don't forget too the local cops, 294 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 1: like all the officials are corrupt. Um, so they're just 295 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: like looking the other way. Everything is just a free 296 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 1: for all. They took the West out of wild West 297 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:08,360 Speaker 1: and left the rest. So um. This saloon slash brothel 298 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:10,439 Speaker 1: that they went to was owned by a woman named 299 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: Maryanne Armstrong. And I'm telling you that because it is 300 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: not important at all, It doesn't matter. So it's a 301 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: popular hangout though for like none other than the Union 302 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: Hook and Ladder, not to be confused with the previously 303 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 1: mentioned Hook and Ladder firefire Company. So they're not only competing, 304 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 1: they all have basically the same name. So the firemen 305 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,640 Speaker 1: are they're they're hanging out and drinking and carousing with 306 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: the sex workers. Remember the fireman in Toronto are pretty 307 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 1: much all Irish Protestants and Orangemen. On top of that, 308 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:49,120 Speaker 1: and the clowns. The clowns are Irish Catholic the clowns, 309 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: the clowns are Irish Catholics. I really enjoy Irish Catholics 310 00:18:56,040 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: had trouble getting solid, upright work then, um, and being 311 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 1: clowns didn't help their plight in the eyes of others. 312 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: I'm guessing, but you know there we are there, we 313 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 1: are circuses in town. It's July twelfth. Eight. Do you 314 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: know what July twelfth is? Uh, it's the day after Uh. 315 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 1: The guy from the previous Teddy Conrad Stole thars, Mmmm. 316 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: That's an interesting little intersection there. July twelfth is Orange 317 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:32,199 Speaker 1: Man's Day a k. The twelve. It marks the Battle 318 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 1: of Boyne, the whole William of Orange thing I told 319 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:39,400 Speaker 1: you about earlier, the Orange Julius victories got it. So 320 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:43,239 Speaker 1: the circus was in town for the twelfth, and not 321 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: just the circus, the Orange Order pretty much. They spend 322 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 1: the day marching in parades to commemorate this. It's a 323 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 1: it's a very drum forward tone to their parades. Lots 324 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,360 Speaker 1: of drumming. You can hear. You can hear these parades 325 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: coming from really far away. There's lots of drinking, like 326 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: a lot, a lot and a lot, a lot, a 327 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: lot of fighting. So it's basically it's like a Clancy 328 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: Brother song come to life. Yes, yes, and for the Orangement. 329 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 1: This is the biggest day of the year for Catholics. 330 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: Not it's a very tense so a lot of Orange 331 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 1: Order lodges, they purposefully hold their marches like through traditionally 332 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: Catholic neighborhoods, which just heightens tensions. The Twelfth March in 333 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: Toronto started in one and it was the longest consecutively 334 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 1: held parade in North America and the largest parade in 335 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 1: Toronto up until the nineteen seventies. So solid, you know, 336 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 1: it's a big deal there. Um, you know, the firefighters 337 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: had been going hard in the paint all day, like 338 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: their sunburned. They're just like you know, perpetually drunk and 339 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 1: and ready to throw down. So Dave, close your eyes, 340 00:20:55,640 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 1: I will not I want you to picture it. Three 341 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: clowns walk into a brothel. Their names are Myers, Lefty, 342 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 1: and inexplicably Rodrigo. Howdy chaps. Now, these guys may have 343 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 1: been clowns in the circus and dressed up and done 344 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 1: all the clowning and the antics and the whatnots, but 345 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: they weren't dressed as clowns at night. These guys are 346 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 1: also the roustabouts right who assembled and broke down the 347 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: entire circus operation heavy physical labor. What I'm trying to 348 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: say is that these clowns were hard boiled, and they 349 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: were ripped and they're also Irish immigrants, so I can 350 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: say this as a descendant of Irish immigrants, Irish Catholic 351 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: immigrants who made their way at this time to San Francisco. 352 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: Um that those folks like to tussle. They threw down 353 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: without hesitation. Was it like the wiriness of Jimmy McNulty 354 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: of like they could just like they're stronger than you 355 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 1: would ever imagine. Because yes, like a secret creepy strength. 356 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:02,440 Speaker 1: In my family line, I have a pair of brothers 357 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 1: who went from nothing to like big time developers in 358 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 1: San Francisco around this time. But they still acted as 359 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 1: muscle for the sheriff when he wanted to rough people 360 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: up off the books. So little little Duker's um the 361 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: So these clowns walk into the bordell and they survey 362 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: the scene. Drunken firefighters are just lazed about, swilling booze, 363 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 1: yelling fondling ladies of the night. The clowns knew it 364 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: was the twelfth, and they knew the firemen were all 365 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:33,160 Speaker 1: orange order. Everyone knew these things. But the clowns wanted 366 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: a party. And when the clowns walked in, the fireman 367 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:41,120 Speaker 1: knew they were Irish. So the clowns were standing there 368 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 1: looking around, and a firefighter named Frasier walks up to them. 369 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: He bumps into Myers accidentally on purpose or accidentally on purpose. 370 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: Myer's hat was knocked off his head and momto the ground. 371 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:58,439 Speaker 1: Pick it up, said Myers. Nope, said Fraser. I I 372 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,719 Speaker 1: like to imagine that it's Fraser. Ane is played by 373 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 1: Kelsey Grammar. So if you're listening along and painting a 374 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 1: mental picture of this at home, let's all imagine Kelsey 375 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: Grammar doing this Myers. I don't know Myers, Colin Farrell, 376 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: Killian Murphy, I don't know, whatever works for you. So 377 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: there's a stand off. Frasier won't pick up the hat. 378 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 1: Myers orders him to again. The place quiets down. Firefighters 379 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 1: slowly get up from their chairs. Myers cracks his knuckles. 380 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 1: A fireman twists his mustache and adjust his suspenders. Lefty 381 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 1: pulls a red foam ball out of his pocket and 382 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 1: that fixes it to the end of his nose. Another 383 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,919 Speaker 1: fireman takes his helmet off and puts it on the bar. Rodrigo, 384 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,920 Speaker 1: who is maybe Irish, who knows who cares, wipes two 385 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:46,199 Speaker 1: streaks of white grease paint. Does his cheeks. My dudes, 386 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:52,080 Speaker 1: it is on Chaos breaks out fis, fly chairs are tossed, 387 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 1: grown men's screen brothel workers sit on the stairs and 388 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: watching fascination. When the dust settled, those three Irish clowns 389 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: had beaten the miracle whip out of the firefighters, all 390 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: of them. Two of the firemen had to be hospitalized, 391 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 1: and then the clowns ran off to the circus. So 392 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:13,880 Speaker 1: the fireman didn't take kindly to being handed their own 393 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:17,479 Speaker 1: rumps in their own town, on their own big day 394 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: by three clowns. These three clowns they're supposed to be. Yeah, 395 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 1: they're totally the beefy boys, and this is like this 396 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: is their time, and then they just get the whooping 397 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,920 Speaker 1: to end all whoopings. Now, when we come back from 398 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: this break, I'm going to let you know how they 399 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: dealt with these clowns. So when we left off, the 400 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: firemen and the clowns were duking it out in a bordello, 401 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 1: and the clowns one the fireman Dave, were displeased to 402 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:10,719 Speaker 1: sign the least. Yeah, So the next day they got 403 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,920 Speaker 1: a group together. You know, these these folks could assemble 404 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 1: a mob. In an instance, these Orange Order guys trucks completely. 405 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: They were just doing that noise with their mouth. So 406 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,880 Speaker 1: they head over to the fairgrounds. They want revenge at 407 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,880 Speaker 1: the circus, panic at the disco, revenge at the circus, 408 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:34,159 Speaker 1: bargains at the t J Max. So. Um, they just 409 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 1: got themselves whooped by some clowns in a cat house. 410 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 1: They want to do over right, at least cheap. He 411 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:45,359 Speaker 1: gets wind of this, and he was used to seeing 412 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:47,399 Speaker 1: this kind of donny Brook. He owned a saloon at 413 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: one point, but he's also an orangeman, and so he 414 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: sends six cops over to the scene. But there was 415 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:58,439 Speaker 1: absolutely no effort to quell the violence. They're basically reinforcements exactly. 416 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:02,480 Speaker 1: So they're like, for this, just this once, US police 417 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 1: and fire will join forces. Um. So the mob of 418 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 1: orangeman they demand that the circus sends Myers out. He 419 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: had already skipped down, so that's just not possible. He 420 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 1: blew town so fast. Yeah. Um, the fireman yelled, give 421 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:20,240 Speaker 1: us Lefty and Rodrigo and any other clowns you got 422 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: back there. No, yelled the circus owner is not gonna happen. Um. 423 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:26,919 Speaker 1: They knew that if they sent the clowns out if 424 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: they released the clowns, they would set off a real riot, 425 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,439 Speaker 1: and they'd also be sending the clowns to like a 426 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 1: super grim face. You know, like these guys now they 427 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: got a night's sleep behind them and they've had a good, 428 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:41,880 Speaker 1: solid breakfast and they're ready to pound clown. So it's 429 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: not gonna happen. Do you think they were like, we're 430 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 1: not going to send out the clowns. We're gonna send 431 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:51,200 Speaker 1: in the clown keep them here you want, I'm a clown, 432 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:57,479 Speaker 1: what about your clown? Yeah? So the mob they started 433 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 1: throwing things at the circus, tent rocks, bottle whatever, kind 434 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:04,479 Speaker 1: of like Ned's would at their firefighting descendants more than 435 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 1: a century in an ocean away um cats in the cradle, Dave. 436 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:14,400 Speaker 1: So it's so beautiful. So the circus folk they're getting pelted, right, 437 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: they start throwing stuff back, bricks of pink popcorn, inflatable aliens, 438 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 1: like all all the good stuff. Actually, one of the 439 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:25,919 Speaker 1: things that they did throw was an iron rod, which like, 440 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: I love this. They're like bottle rock and they're like, 441 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 1: here's an iron rod. It hit a fireman named Bird. 442 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: I don't know why it's important for you to know 443 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,159 Speaker 1: that his name is Bird, but it was this gets 444 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 1: everyone whipped into an absolute frenzy. So the mob they 445 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: start lighting the wagons on fire. Now at this point, 446 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:47,879 Speaker 1: the police chief did the first good thing in his 447 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 1: life and prevented them from lighting the animal carriages on fire, 448 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:54,679 Speaker 1: because I would not be telling this story otherwise. You 449 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: have to know, you know, my guarantee to you is 450 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 1: that if it's of my episodes, you don't have to 451 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: check like does the Dog die dot com? I can 452 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:08,360 Speaker 1: guarantee that every time we were really let down by 453 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: that on a television program that we're watching, I want 454 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 1: to tell you which one. Yeah, I don't always know 455 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 1: to check, and sometimes it comes out of nowhere. But anyway, 456 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: no worries here. Animals are fine for that. I salute 457 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 1: you police chief. Everything else though fair game. They're just 458 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 1: lighting fires like crazy, which is ironic. So um with 459 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 1: the circus burning sirens sounded in the distance, it's the 460 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 1: rest of the Hook and Ladder company. They're not the 461 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,399 Speaker 1: saviors that the circus is looking for. So some of 462 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 1: the circus workers they jumped into Lake Ontario for safety 463 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 1: because they're like, like, nobody's putting this fire out and 464 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: it's an all out melee at this point, and that's 465 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:51,959 Speaker 1: when the mayor, George William Allen, he arrived with a militia. 466 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: Now a fireman was about to chop into a circus 467 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 1: performer with an ax at this point, and the mayor 468 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: steps in, grabs the axe and say was the performer, 469 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:04,640 Speaker 1: and then he orders the militia who had bayonets um 470 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 1: and the madness, which they did. So they like they 471 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:10,600 Speaker 1: put down the whole crowd. They split them up. I 472 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 1: guess someone at some point halfheartedly put out the circus fire. UM. 473 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 1: Hundreds of people were there that day, all participating. Only 474 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 1: seventeen were arrested and no one involved would talk. So 475 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 1: that's not a good ratio. So when they were questioned, UM, 476 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 1: people who were absolutely proven to have been there, Like 477 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 1: one guy's got like an iron rod in his head, 478 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 1: but like it was dark, I couldn't really see what 479 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 1: was going on. I don't know I some of them said, 480 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 1: I got swept up into it and I didn't know 481 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 1: anyone else there. I don't know these people. They're like, 482 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:49,880 Speaker 1: that's your brothers, Like I don't know, I don't know him. 483 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 1: Some cops who were there, like I don't remember that. 484 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 1: I do not recall. They're like it was two days 485 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 1: ago and you have soot still on your face. I just, oh, 486 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:00,880 Speaker 1: I don't know. There was a riot. Clowns, you say, 487 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 1: that sounds crazy. So all seventeen arrested, acquitted, Yeah, the 488 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 1: glove did not fit. Um. Police chief was asked what 489 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: level of authority he had over his officers, and this 490 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 1: is what he said, quote A very small one. Indeed, 491 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 1: I give orders and instructions to the force, but cannot 492 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 1: get them obeyed. As soon as I'm out of sight, 493 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: the men do as they please. Do they call this 494 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:32,160 Speaker 1: like the thin orange line back then totally well like 495 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: then you start wondering, how does the rest of Toronto 496 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 1: feel about this? Right? Not good? But um they're fed up. Right, 497 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:43,280 Speaker 1: So the first firefighter riot was bad enough, then the clowns. 498 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:47,800 Speaker 1: The clowns are abridged too far. So uh. The truth 499 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:52,120 Speaker 1: of the matter is that um Irish Catholics, because of 500 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 1: the influx, are now in the majority in Toronto. And 501 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 1: so while the Orange order persisted, and like they even 502 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:01,160 Speaker 1: tried to intimidate voters in that next big election, the 503 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:04,719 Speaker 1: majority eventually ruled. So in eighteen fifty nine, a Reform 504 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:07,560 Speaker 1: Party mayor who had the support of the Irish Catholics 505 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,080 Speaker 1: was voted in and then he and his group eventually 506 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 1: cleaned house. Um. Over the next three years, every single 507 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:16,760 Speaker 1: cop was fired. Now most of them were hired back, 508 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:20,000 Speaker 1: but they were supposed to have been able to display 509 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:23,959 Speaker 1: impeccable moral fortitude. I don't know if that's actually what happened. 510 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:26,480 Speaker 1: You know some of the accounts that makes it seem 511 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 1: like that'd that'd be a great resolution, that suddenly everyone's 512 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 1: law abiding, But I don't think that's how it works. Um. 513 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 1: But in eighteen seventy four, the Toronto Fire Services were 514 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: formed and that was a strictly regulated public entity. So 515 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 1: gone are the poorly trained brawlers of yester year. Then 516 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: we actually have firefighters, like true firefighters, and that ends 517 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 1: the tail of the Toronto circus riot. I think it's 518 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 1: safe to say that clowns fighting fireman is ridiculous. Clowns 519 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:02,360 Speaker 1: fighting fireman in a brothel more diculous. Check check. Sectarian 520 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: violence and bigotry beyond ridiculous and downright idiotic. Yeah awful. 521 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 1: What is your takeaway from this, Dave? Well, thank you 522 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 1: for asking. Um. You never asked me. I never asked me. 523 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 1: I literally do not ever ask you that, you know. 524 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:22,280 Speaker 1: I think one thing that comes to mind is we've 525 00:32:22,280 --> 00:32:26,320 Speaker 1: all been in a bar where those overtures are taking place, 526 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 1: like either someone's starting some on purpose and it's like, hey, 527 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: I dropped my hat, now you have to pick it up, 528 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 1: or you know, something innocent happens and they take it 529 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:40,440 Speaker 1: too far. And I think we've all learned, like, do 530 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 1: not be in that place. Exactly, remove yourself as soon 531 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,280 Speaker 1: as you see that little spark, Like it's much better 532 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:49,680 Speaker 1: to just be like, you know what, let's let's move 533 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: on to the next. Yeah, exactly. I don't want to 534 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 1: be part of whatever historical riot is about to go down. 535 00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 1: And also, yeah, like I think, uh, now we know 536 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 1: why you should be afraid of clients. Yeah, that makes 537 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 1: sense too. They're tough, they're ripped, they're gonna they're gonna 538 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:12,120 Speaker 1: take you to clowntown. Pat's it for today. You can 539 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 1: find us online at Ridiculous Crime on both Twitter for 540 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:18,160 Speaker 1: the smart stuff and Instagram for the photos. Email us 541 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:20,600 Speaker 1: if you want at ridiculous Crime at gmail dot com. 542 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 1: Otherwise tune in next time. Ridiculous Crime is hosted by 543 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:34,240 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Dutton and Well Dave Kustonuston reduced and edited by 544 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 1: Double Duty Dave Kuston's researches by uh Andrea's song Sharpen Tier. 545 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:43,680 Speaker 1: The theme song is by Renegade Rodeo Clowns Thomas Lee 546 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:47,440 Speaker 1: and Travis Dutton. Executive producers are level Headed Alderman, Ben 547 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:57,480 Speaker 1: Bowland and Mell Brown Say It one More Time, We 548 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:02,320 Speaker 1: des Ridiculous Crime is a production of I Heart Radio. 549 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 1: For more podcasts my heart Radio, visit the i heeart 550 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:07,560 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 551 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:08,320 Speaker 1: favorite shows.