Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-02
A S0UTHSIDE GHOST
That Failed TO Walk When its Ap-
pearance Was Awaited.
A SCENE THAT WAS NOT BILLED
Takes Place When the Curtain of Milt
Boyer's Theater Drops
ON THE LAST ACT OF ITS LAST PLAY

the last act of The Co unterielters, Satur-
day night, there wasn't one in the strag.
Cling audience of half a dozen score oil
people who dreamed of the little side show
that was being enacted behind the scenes
while they marched out to the music OF a
paralyzed orchestra consisting Of cracked
piano and squeaking fiddle.
sI demand the immediate payment Of
salary"
"Wait till Monday"
"Can't you pay me now?'
ssNo."
"But I must have the money"
Cant help it.
This is the short but suggestive dialogue,
| fraught with so much meaning, that took
place on the stage. The cast of characters
| in this drama of real life. that was not put
down on the bills, consisted of Manager l..
M. Boyer and the several actors and &C
tresses comprising his company.
1t was thrilling situation. A storm OF
wrath and Indignation was brewing in the
still air of the theater. The painted trees
on the stacked-up scenery seemed to fairly
rustic in the fierce breath of the coming
outburst.
A DEMAND FOR THE CASH.
"For the love of heaven and all that you
hold dear, fork over some cash"
"Have to refuse, my dear friend; but give
me your permanent address and I'll be sure
to send you every cent that's due. Remem-
Der, always pay 100 cents on the dollar, 4"
and with grandiloquent flourish, intended
to convey dramatic effect Mr.. Bower
glided up the stage and made his exit-R.
q. E.
The company fixed its cold, cleaning eye
on the vanishing gentleman, bat none no.
ticed the dark, triumphant face that gloated
at the disappointed troupe from a shadowy
background.
"Revenged at last!" hissed the mysterious
figure, which was none other than w. B.
Porter, character actor. II meant to beat
you, nv blooming ducks, and now I've fixed
your
Before the plot of this thrilling narrative
thickens there are few facts in connection
with the case that should be unfolded L.
M. Boyer was formerly proprietor and man
ager of three dramatic companies travelling
on the road in "Her Greed For Gold" He
is now agent for the Preferred Mutual
Accident Association, and is connected with
theatrical enterprises. Last month he
opened mp the Southside theater. The Odd
Fellows Hall was fitted up on an attractive
plan, aud the doors thrown open to dis
tinctly popular prices, 10, 20 and 80 cents.
The new amusement resort started out
with grand flourish of trumpets. After a
few weeks had rolled by, and no crowded
houses to gladden. the eyes of Ye speculative
manager, it dawned upon the vision of Mr..
B. that something was wrong.
MYST1FIED THE MANAGER.
Whether the trouble lay in the actors, the
show, or some outside agency, he did not
know. He was mystifed, and could not
account for the strange turn of affairs but
one thing was plain and that was that
he was losing money.
All sorts of expedients were tried to boom
business Last week Manager Boyer sold
tickets to school children at the reduced
rate of five cents, but still the auditorium
was not half filed. Wednesday, driven to
desperation, he offered all the policemen
and fremen free tickets, but only little
crowd Of boys occupied the seats
Matters were assuming a decidedly inter-
esting shape. The luckless manager was
almos. ready to give up in despair, when
suddenly the mystery was solved. He had
in his troupe characte: actor named W. B.
Porter. Mr.. Porter and the rest of the COM
pAny were not on speaking terms, and an
Arctic chillIness froze up hard feelings be-
tween them. Finally the majority rebelled,
demanded the expulsion of Porter and the
manager bowed to the wishes of his COM
pany.
Now comes the dramatic side of the story.
Porter swore reveng and going before the
Z. of P. and the Association of Amalga-
mated Glass Workers. is alleged to have
enlisted their sympathy by circulating
damaging reports as to the character OF
Bowers show and the treatment accorded
him. Thus the workingmen were induced
to stay away from the Southside theater.
Consequently great many dollars did not
flow into the Golfers of the management that
otherwise would have filled their purses
had they not brooked Porter's wrath of
vengeance.
The result of this theatrical boycott was
to plunge Boyer hopelessly into debt, and
last Wednesday night the company demand.
ed their back pay, but in dramatic parIance,
the s'ghost did not walk" The manager
stood the actors off till Saturday night, and
ming of this article.
SOME OF THE CLAIMS.
Lester Franklin and wi e, Of BROOKLYN,
N. Y, have an account of $40 against Bower;
Walter c. Bailey and wife, of Pttsburg,
$40; Viva Brentwood, also of this city, S18
81, 6. st. Clair, New York, S26 70; William
St. James and AL Clayton have secured
most of What is due them, and have only
small amounts coming to them.
With this balance of trade against him,
Manager Boyer yesterday morning shook
the dust of Pittsburg from his feet. and, in
company with his wi e, took the first train
for Steubenville, Q. Word of his departure
reached the company, and Immediately last
evening the whole troupe, minus two, con-
vened at 1928 Sydney street, Southside, to
consider what action they should take to
recover their money. A dispatch was re-
ceived from Boyer stating that they should
come on to Steubenville and he would fix
things all right.
'sWe're on his trail now," said the heavy
villain of the stranded troupe, land will
track him to doomp
The meeting was secret, but it is under
stood that the members of the company
have decided on a scheme to recover their
overdue salaries, and will spring it on the
unsuspecting manager at once. They intend
to leave the city this morning at $780, and
will 90 straight through to Steubenville.
the troupe, and is confident that settle
ment with the manager will be secured.
ON THE ANXIOUS BENCH.
These are not the only claims held against
tie Southside theater proprietor. The Odd
Fellows Association reports balance of
S62 Tor rent. His boarding house keeper
Charles Rhulandt, on South Eighteenth
street says there are Sc coming to him; John
Freund, corner Seventeenth and Carson
streets, sold him carpet which has not vet
been paid for; Mrs. Budel, corner of
Eighteenth and Carson, 81 board bill. and