Nonviolent Confrontation

When Mark and I first arrived at the Inn, we were instructed as to what we should do if there were a fight. Staff members were to surround the two parties and separate them from each other. If the fight took place in the yard, one of the parties involved should be moved to the street; the other party taken through the Inn and out a different door to a different street. If there were weapons, the police were to be called immediately.
There have been a number of altercations since we arrived, but in most cases the guests have been separated and no physical blows have taken place. The staff on duty are always watchful, and the guests themselves alert us to any impending problems. They want to keep the St. Francis Inn as a peaceful place in their sometimes violent world.
Friday I was on duty giving out tickets, and Mark was doing lineup at the door. Dorothy and Richard came to the meal as they do most days. Richard is a middle aged man, about 220 pounds, built like a refrigerator. I have a very good relationship with them; in fact, I helped them with their taxes. While I was giving out tickets, Richard kept coming over to me, telling me about another guest that was present. Richard claimed this other man (whom I didn't know) had at one time broken into Richard's house. There seemed to be some disagreement dealing with money. Meanwhile, this other man was making comments to Richard. I told Richard to ignore the other guy.
About 30 minutes later, Dorothy is yelling that Richard is going to be killed and to help him. I see Richard charging the other guest. I get in front of him and in a calm voice tell him to stop, to leave the other guy alone and to leave the yard through the Inn. Alfredo, a deaf-mute, is moving along side of me, trying to back Richard away. Someone else ( possibly a guest, I never saw who it was) has grabbed the other man and moved him out of the yard into the sidewalk. Mark has called into the Inn for help, and Barb comes flying out and shuts the gate behind the other man. Despite the fact the man has left, Richard is still angry and is trying to chase after him. I call on Big Bill, another guest, for assistance. By this time several other staff have come out. Richard's heart is thumping very hard, which is not good since he has been in the hospitla recently for heart problems. Dorothy is crying hysterically, and I try to calm her down.
I finally move back to my post. This whole event has taken less than 10 minutes. We keep the gate closed for a while, opening it to let guests in and out. The other guy came back two times, but he was warned away. Everything returned to normal. In fact, I doubt that that very many of the guests we served or the volunteers present on Friday knew what had happened.
Later that afternoon, I reflected on what happened and why it happened. I was never in any physical danger, but I believed my action and that of the guests who helped me prevented physical harm from occurring to Richard and the other man. We defused the situtation, at least temporarily. I realize that the animosity that is present between them might manifest itself somewhere else in the neighborhood. I pray it does not. I am thankful I reacted quickly and correctly, but I honestly hope I do not have to use these skills again.