Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-11-10
FAIR BUT TRICKY.
A Shocking Story About Ag-
mes lierndon.
HER COMPANY LEFT IN THE LUROH

While the Popular Fsvorite Levants
with the Bex Receipts and Another
Fellow = yicissitude- OF Life the
Stage Very Graphically Iiiustrated-A
Dramatic Combination LEFT without .
Dollar to Pay Their Board.
COLUMBUS D. Nov l0-MIss Agnes
Herndon, the weil-known actress, left her
company uncereSnoniously in this city
yesterday morning aud in the compan-
ionship of Emmett c. King. her leading
man, took train for New York city. She
left n crowd of exasperated actors and
actresses without single dollar where
with TO pay for the food they have eaten
since arriving in this city. Their rage
and helplessness last night was not of the
kind which Is simulated on the stage.
The story of the company's vicissitudes
since starting out from Syracuse at the
beginning of the season is the usual one of
alternate ups AMI downs. prosperity and
poverty which so often attends theatri-
cal life; the story OF Miss Herndon's per-
sonal life for the same period also Is the
usual one. and the ending of the company's
life and the disclosure of herdream Of bliss
which came yesterday morning. leaves a
dozen actors penniless, blights fair
name. and bows a husbands head in
deepest anguish and shame.
A Money Making send-On
The company had financial backing
from SpitZ & Cohen, of Boston, aud was
organized in New York by Myers & Co.
They opened the season at Syracuse to
crowded houses. They then played at
Rochester. Chicago aud Milwaukee. at
each place doing a big business, and
swelling the profits to fat figure. From
Milwaukee they started to Omaha, max
ing one night stands along the route. But
the tickle goddess of luck had changed
her smiles TO frowns, and instead of max
ing money they played to losing business
every night. They got back to Milwau-
kee on their way east, and In that city
Cohen interfered and wished Miss Hern-
don to cancel future engagements and
dishand at once. Agnes. however, quiet
ed his apprehensions by promising to put
up the necessary money out OF her own
funds, aud the company came on to Col
umbus.
A Strike Behind the Scenes.
Mr.. Cohen. who WAS only acting a.
manager until a suitable man conld be Sc
cured, watched with growing alarm the
losses of the company. which himself and
partner were compelled to stand. and
Thursday OF last week again remon-
strated with the fair actress BY this
time, too, the members of the company,
who had not seen salary day for two
weeks and a half, became clamorous. So
matters stood until Saturday night, when
there was an open rebellion. and one act
or positively refused to go on the stage
Upon Miss Herndon again renewing her
promise to act as financial hacker, how
ever, the cast was filled and the play
put on.
Tried to Deiude Her Husband.
Meantime Mss Herndon had tele
graphed To her husband. Mr.. Jessel, who
is travelling man for New York under
wear house, aud who when the message
was sent, was stopping at the Palmer
house in Chicago. She asked him 20 come
TO Columbus and manage the com any,
and assured him that there would he
plenty of money in the venture. This lat
ter statement seems TO have been correct,
al least so far as the fair Agnes herself
was concerned, for when the proposition
to disband was made at Milwaukee she
hal already drawn from the treasury
SiloO Mr.. Jessel replied. however, that
be was already under contract with has
house and could not leave.
skipped with the Box Receipts.
Immediately after the curtain dropped
on the last act Saturday night Miss Hern-
don, who had previously procured an or
der on the box office from Manager Miller,
went ont and drew some 500, all that was
due the company of the evenings receipts.
Then she ordered the trunks belou cling to
herself and the leading man, Emmett c.
King, TO be taken to their hotel and coolly
informed the company that she was about
to leave them. Then there was very
merry war which lasted late into the
night, or rather morning. and which
ended by Agnes again promising to square
matters up from her own purse