The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-01-22


mic & McClusky, restaurateurs' nave
extensively advertised that on the 18TH OF
January gents gold watch would be rail-
fled off at an entertainment at the opera
House. and on the Goth ladies watch
would be given away. Each and every
person purchasing twenty-five cents
worth from the firm were to receive
ticke. emitting them to chance
IN the watch, and Of course there
was for time grand rush
made for their restaurant by
the public, much to the detriment OF
other houses IN the city whose business
suffered materially from they additional
offered by the embronic show
men. So great, indeed, was their sue
cess in the new role that their Golfers
filled rapidly with ducats, and the
Messrs. Theopolis Laramie and John
McCiusky began negotiating for the
atrical company to appear in THIS city
ON the dates named above. Application
was made to Manager Hamilton for the
Opera House, and arrangements being
satisfactorily completed. the house was
booked to McClusky Il Laramie for the
time mentioned. A few days later, letter
WAS received by Manager Hamilton
from Ernest Stanly, agent OF John
Thompson's comedy company, asking
dates for the 18th and 18th, but the
Manager having rented the house for
the 18th and 20tb, turned over the
letter TO Messrs. McClusky & Laramie,
them Al the same time, that
if they had net yet secured
any attraction, they perhaps might
probably arrange with the Thompson
party for the time they had engaged the
opera House, there being difference OF
but one day between the time they had
possession OF the house and the dates
asked by the company. A telegram was
forthwith dispatched to Stanley at Mt.
Vernon, Ohio, asking terms, which
Stanley answered by stating that
they would give three entertain
meuts, two night performances
and one matinee, for $500. This tele
gram was replied to by the Wheeling
parties stating that they would give s21o,
but this offer the agent refused, and the
Wheeling parties again telegraphed him
to come on at his own rates.
THE CONTRACT.
In few days, Stanley arrived in the
city il advance of the company, ard
called on Messrs. McClusky u Laramie
to complete the arrangements, in order
that the town might be properly billed,
and the following contract was accord
ingly entered into:
WHEELING, January 10, 1877.
We hereby engage the John Thomp-
son Company 10 give entertain ments at
the Opera House in this city on Friday
and Saturday and Saturday matinee,
January 10Th and goth, on the following
terms: We to detray expenses, viz;
Rent Of Opera House, license, all attaches,
orchestra, excepting leader, newspaper
advertising, and one-half sheet pro-
grammes, and to pay the said John
Thompson on the evening OF Saturday,
January 20, 1877, the sum of $500 for
said services, said Thompson to furnish
his company and the usual complement
OF pictorial printing.
Signed MCCLUsKY il LARAMIE.
The agent then put up the necessary
paper throughout the city, engaged hotel
room for the company, and lett the city
to bill other cities on his route. In the
meantime McClusky u Laramie We're
busily engaged in advertising that gold
watch the company, and their res
at one and the same time. On
Friday the company arrived in the city,
and commenced preparations tor
the performance for that night, which
came of as advertised, Il very fair audi
ence greeting them, something ever
$500 being the receipts at the box office.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE TROUBLE.
The play over, and the watch drawn,
Mr.. Stanley, the agent, and Mr.. Watkins
the manager and treasurer OF the COM
pany, IN company with Messrs. Nc
Clusky & Laramie repaired to the prl-
vate office of Manager Hamilton to "sct-
tie up" the receipts for the night. The
tickets and money having been counted,
and found to be correct, the treasurer,
MIR. Watkins, asked that he be paid, in
behalf of Mr.. Thompson, 500, the
amount of one nights performance. This
was refused, and considerable talk was
INDUCED IN, McClusky u Laramie claim
ing that no money was due Thompson
according to the contract until alter the
on Saturday evening, when
he could have the full amount, $500,
aud they refused to pay the company
cent until such time. Of course, hard
feeling resulted between the parties, and
The agent and treasurer at once suspected
hat all was not right, but yielded to the
Wheeling men, who gave it as their reason
Tor not paying the 500, that they were
afraid the company would not play on
night.
ON THE ALERT.