That was a cop bar, and at least one of the onlookers was a cop! Had another patron tried interfear what do you think the cop onlooker would have done?
Many years ago I was in a bar talking to a woman next to me. She was on my right, and a drunk big construction type on my left. He leaned across me asking her for a dance. She politely refused. He didnt quit but asked her several more times slobbering on me as he bugged her. Finaly I said, I dont know if you are bothering her, but ya are me! With that he uncorked one on me. By reaction, I decked him. At the same time the bartender who was a friend of mine vaulted the bar that I would have needed a step ladder to get on, got behind me and put his arms around me. The guy was getting to his feet and would have a perfect shot at me with my arms pinned! Fortunatly, he got up, appologised and bought drinks!
My old chief was also a friend and a retired chicago cop. Used to tell me some storys. One was once he got a call where old well known wrestler "Yukon Eric" was in a bar throwing people around as the crowd had jumped him when he openly tried a sex act with a unwilling woman. A bunch of cops finaly were getting thrown around my boss amoung them! It finaly ended when my chief got ahold of Erick`s cajone`s and squeezed briskley, with enthusasim!