The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-30
Last Week Of the Juch Opera Com
pany Filled With Clamorous
Creditors.
The Principals. Chorus and Orches-
ira Howl Dlscordantly for
Salaries Overdue.
Outside Creditors Innumerabls Attach the
Reconsideration Under which
the Plays Went On.

dnys that ever fell to tho lot of any troupe.
During tho whole of the evening two con-
stables sat within easy reach of the leader
of the orchestra with their eyes on the
score of Die WalkIre and their hands on
their revolvers, ready to resist with their
lives any attempt to steal the precious
music.
One score had already been stolen. and
consequently the musicians were in a state
of siege, never knowing when a desperate
conflict would occur right among them. The
whole story of the experiences of the week
IS SO ludicrous that, if put on the stage
properly, it would draw better than any of
the performances given by the Juch com
pany. To begin at the beginning, Manager
Locke came here head over cars in debt,
both to his singers and to outsiders. He
refuses to make any statement, but those
who ought to know say that when he ar
rived he owed his company at least $4,000,
and that sum has grown during the week to
at least $4,000.
The box office has been tied up all week.
holman Bros. had charge of the sale Of
vsXsssta, and handled the receipts both of
GEsA ADVANCE sale and of the sale at Music
hall at night. Manage Locke was not al
lowed to touch the money for several reas-
ons. In the fiji place, the exposition di-
rectors refused to rent the hall to him I'M
less the Bollmans would guarantee the rent,
about $1,5C0. Then Attorney Ryan had at
tached the receipts for $4,000. Next the st.
Louis musicians hired for the week refused
to play unless they got a Bollman guaran-
tee. AS the result, Bollman Bros. gave the
DnOr0nfAaS and halG tn tho nro 10 ~
themselves. .....
The singers then grew frightened, think
ing that the whole receipts would be eaten
up by the creditors, and they demanded
their money. As the proceeds were at
Tackled, no payments could be made. Tho
result was that on Monday night several of
the company refused to go OIL, and tho per-
formance did not begin until $50 D. M.
In the meantime Il meeting was held. At
ter an hours talk all the attorneys signed
an agreement, allowing the Bollmans to
pay part of the proceeds, Notwithstanding
the attachments. The singers got some
money and the orchestra began to play at
$3.50 p. m. The same scenes were repeated
every evening. The attorneys met and
signed a Ielease of part of the money be-
fore there was any music in Music nall.
The curtain never went up before $50 D.
m.-often later-and then the DELAY was
explained by trouble with heavy scenery"
etc.
The climax came yesterday afternoon.
carmen" was announced for the matinee.
Neuendo,ff walked in with the score, ana
put it on his desk. As he did so a man
sitting in the front row of the parquette
grabbed the whole score and disappeared.
dc was an attorney named Jones, from
Porkopolis. representing Il theater manager
owed him 5000. Confusion Immediately
broke out. Neuendorff rushed back of
the scenes to Locke and told him what had
happened.
The singers again grew scared and re-
fused to sing: They wanted their money.
his score for $500. This they refused.
Then Neuendortf began to howl for paw;
Charles Hedmondt, the tenor, yelled for
pay; Leo stormont, Payne Clark and the
other male members shouted for pay; the
ladies all demanded money at once, and a
riot was narrowly averted. Locke could do
nothing. The singers would not listen.
They wanted money and he could not give
it to them.
Meanwhile an audience of 1000 persons
sat in front mi wondered what was the
matter. 1t might have been going on vet,
but for Manager Frank Gaiennie of the ex-
position. Seeing that no settlement was
probable, Mr.. Gaiennie said: Gentlemen,
the reputation of the exposition is at stake
here. You must go on with the perform
anca at once
1--WE have no score" said Locke.
1--WE want our pay first" shouted the
singers and musicians.
"Tll tell you what I'll do" said Mr.. Gal
ennie." 'lf you do not go on at once iii
go out on the stage, call the performance
off, and announce that money will be re-
turned at the box office"
The singers saw that Mr.. Gaiennie meant
business. they did not want to lose the
receipts. of which they expected a divvy
later. and it was agreed to put on the Bohe-
milan Girl. Locke went out and made a
speech, explaining the delay. Conductor
Neuendolff carried out the scores, while two
performance went on.
In the evening the trouble broke ont
afresh. Tho SINCE 8 at first refused to sing
at all unless they were paid in full. Locke
told them he could not pay. At one time.
IT, ~ looked as though NE Walkure would not
creditors all got together and agreed to turn
all the receipts of the evening over to the
company. Tn curtain went up at nine u.
n. There was a long delay between the
first and second acts. There had been
more demands. Locke had appeased his
principals.
But mutiny broke ont among the chorus,
the scene shutters, etc. The second of the
three acts was not finished until 1880 D.
m. Then nearly two-thirds of the audience
OF 2,UOO lhales ana gentlemen went out to
oatch their cars and conveyances. leaving
the third act to take care of itself. This
act was begun shortly before midnight.
Locke WAS lodging everybody. Nobody
seemed to care how the thing finished.
At midnight Constables Dolan and Hand
were holding the fort behind the scenes for
Attorney Ryan. They had numerous as
sistants, prepared to meet all Corners. The
ladies of the company furnished MANY
laughable Incidents during the afternoon
and evening. They were not allowed to go
near their trunks or to touch ANYTHING
without the consent of the c%onstables.
When a trunk was opened, the owner WAS
forced to show that the article she wanted
was her private property, not Il piece of
costume, nor any of the properties OF the
company. The squabbles that occurred we're
countless, but the constables held their
fight, but it did not avail. Tho constables
Sat on the trunks, as they have been doing
all week, and allowed no removals.
The creditor who made no trouble during
the week was the maddest of all last night.
His name is Wilt; he owns a theater in
Pittsburg, md he Ind advanced Manager
Locke $500 to get out of that town.
Locke had told him, rs no told everybody,
that he wonld settle in st. Louis. Wilt was
here before the company arrived, prepared
to file an attachment, but Constable Dolan
got ahead of him by grabbing two car
loads of stuff that came ahead of the
troupe, and catching the Test of it as it
came, shutting out the man from Pittsburp,
Locke Coddled Wilt during the weak. Int