June 16 – On this day in Montana history in 1916 the Wibaux Pioneer was reporting “Happenings on Circus Day.” The circus was a huge event at the turn of the last century. And the paper in back hand fashion was praising its workers – sort of. One of the workers nearly lost his leg when a wagon ran over him, but the paper noted “The circus people gladly paid the Doctor’s bill.” Another incident had “some smart fellow” whom the paper reported “got Gay with one of the female performers who was on crutches.” She hit the man on the “bean” with her crutch and it took many stitches to sew up the wound. “The victim left with an idea that it was an expensive proposition to insult even a circus woman.”