River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-05-07
DEADHEADiNG 1T.
A Mans Experience Travelling with q
Troupe without Money.

Troupe without Money.
II once took a company of fifteen
people six hundred miles for nothing,
but it was before the interstate COM
merce law went into effect" remarked
a theatrical manager to a reporter for
the News. Il had started west looking
for something at which | could make
a dollar. got TO Pittsburgh, had
good clothes, good reputation in the
business, and five dollars in cash. At
Pittsburgh found a brother manager
who had secured theater at Nash
vile for two weeks during the races.
lie had engaged the Pittsburgh stock
company, but had no money to take
them to Nashville. From my appear
ance and reputation he thought ] had
money; he offered me good big share
of the profits at Nashville if | would be-
come the financial hacker of the venture
and get the troupe to Nashville to fill
the date. | accepted, and went to the
captain of steamboat advertised to
leave Pittsburg for Nashville. | told
the captain of the boat that the mana
ger of the show had gone ahead to
Nashville and had left the money with
me to bring the company to Nashville.
i had tried to break a faro bank, and
there | was with fifteen people who
must get to Nashville. If the captain
would carry us the money would be
sure on the arrival of the boat at
Nashville. Besides, | would give into
his charge the trunks of the company
as security. He said: 'All right; get
them aboa rd in the morning
II paid two dollars of my five dollars
to have the baggage hauled to the boat.
1t was an eight-day trip by river
from Pittsburgh to Nashville; fare
twenty dollars. owed the captain of
that boat three hundred dollars. On the
way the people of the company would
come to me for dollar or two. What
do you want with money!? | would say.
Well, we must have drink and cigar
once in awhile, they would say. Go to
the bar and have it charged was nny
instruction, and when we got to Nash
vile there was a bar bill of twenty
eight dollars, in addition to the three
hundred dollars for fares against the
trunks of the company, every member
of which thought the fares were paid
and that | had loads of money in my
inside pocket.
when we got to Nashville / went to
the proprietor of the Maxwell house,
who had reputation as being a good
elbow. friend of the show people. l
told him that the manager got left in
Pittsburgh and the boat had brought
us on our trunks; if he would kindly
advance me three hundred and twenty
eight dollars l would bring the
people and the trunks up to the
Maxwell house, and when the man
ager arrived he would pay him the
money. lie said he would like to ac-
commodate me, but he did not have the
money; but said he, Il will introduce
you to a gambler; he is a good fell
low and is stuck on theatrical peo-
pie. | think he will advance you the
money.
''The gamble said; 'Well. old fell
low, | have got Just fifteen dollars. |
will go play it against faro, and if win
enough money To help you out | will do
it. | went with him to faro bank and
sat there all night watching him play.
He would win and lose again and again
VII anu lOHt AbOul udN ilHnt Ills ldSl
chip was ralxed into the Unsuitable NAV
OF that hungry faro bank, and we We're
both broke. ! went back to the boat
and took a sleep When / got up took
the captain of the boat into the state
room and told him the whole sick
ening truth; that had lied to him, and
threw myself on his mercy He took
me to the agent of the steamboat line.
To him | stated just what | thought |
could do during the races, and if he
would help me out of the hole / would
let him have charge of the ticket-selling
at the theater; he should take the money
as fast as il came in until he was paid.
lie accepted my proposition, arranged
the rent for the theater and made us all
right at the hotel. We played to big
business. | left Nashville with over
five hundred dollars for my share of the
two-weeks' engagement, and not "A men,
Der of the company ever knew at any
stage of the game but what | had more
money than mule could pack. In
dianapolis News.