The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-04
VIM. SELLS SIDE.
Topeka Snowman Talks About
His Troubles.
Disagreed With Mr.. Gray About
Winter Quarters.
WILL SAVE NOTHING.
Says He Does Not Expect to
Bid ON Show.
Bad Business in Texas Caused
the Smashup.


side of the controversy over the Sells
Gray show. The Picayune says:
Mr. Gray and myself started in the
show business a couple of years ago,
and played in the widest and woollieSt
country in the world, yet we came out
with $4,000 to the good When l tell
you that we went to Portland. Ore,
Columbia, Seattle and way off yonder,
you will understand that we have been
over some country We are a loser this
year, but nothing to hurt. was against
wintering down here, knowing that al
ter the expensive wintering we would
have nothing to play to in the spring.
except after a long jump. And in this
Mr.. Gray and myself disagreed. I was
for sending the equipment and animals
to Carthage, just outside of Cincinnati.
We could get the corn and feed cheap
enough there, and when spring broke,
play close in and make money as we
moved along. Yes, we came to AlgierS
a loser, and had bill from the Donald
son Lithographic company against US.
1t was for $4,000, but Mr.. Donaldson
gave us a thousand when he came
down and this enabled us to pay off
the hands and send them home. We
were a little shy on the performers
salaries, but they were willing to close
out for 25 per cent, and we covered it.
When / saw what was coming, Of
fered to sell out to Mr.. Gray for $500.
/ know what is to happen with the
sheriffs and the attorneys on to a show.
Gray wouldn't buy. would have paid
him more than that if he would sell out,
There is nothing to it but a sacrifice of
some mighty fine animals. The horses
are about the only animals that will
command any price here, even If they
do. The other animals will be of no
service to any one not in the show bust
ness, and there does not seem to be any
of them down here. We were in no dam
ger from Mr.. Donaldson. He knows that
if we put out in the spring a week to
the good would put him safe. While
we seem to be losers, we are not to any
4 70 Il nod in
Texas. The trouble was that we ran
into an early winter, an unusually early
one, and there is the responsibility. You
know the sort of weather Texas was
that is what hit u.s.
well, what are you going to do
about the sheriff's sale, Mr.. Sells?"
Nothing at all. Shan't bid thing.
An animal here and there would be no
good. 1 have a cousin with the Sells
Bros. He has couple of hundred thou
sand to his credit and can get the
money to go in with him and put a show
on the road, a brand new one, on
bigger scale. 1 have no fault to find
with Mr.. Gray. We disputed about the
proper winter quarters, and that is all
to it. I said we were losers, but, then,
it is to be remembered that we laid in
considerable money in stock during the
season.
You have had some experience in
this business, Mr.. Sells, have you not?"
well, should say. Was years of
with the man = supposed to be Iay
father In fact, I knew no other father
mother, and from that day until 1
was well grown they got all of my
wages and 1 made good money in the
business, being one of the star perform
ers on horseback. In 1872, when my
father and his brothers started a circus
known as the Sells Bros. circus, was
a youngster of years of age, and riding
bareback at that. Followed the shows
and made money at one turn or another
until was q years of age, giving all of
it to my mother. I had a rough old
time with my trainer. He gave me
lick in the ear one day, and it has left
me partially deaf to this day."
Mr.. Sells then went into q general
story of his life, and it is indeed a very
interesting one. He was the lad who
conceived the idea of initiating balloons
with wind from a pair of bellows, in
stead of gas, and tying the balloon on
a stick, instead of a string. He took
up with the show falzirs one time, and
they showed him how to make hair oil.
AS he was always after the money, he
made the oil and sold it. He had to
duck that section of the country for a
while, for the oil turned the hair of
every one who used it green.
Mr.. Sells tells that he went with Bar
mum to Europe in 1889. He was then
one of the greatest of bareback riders,
and was the first American who rode in
a circus before the Queen of England.
He was offered double salary to remain
with Barnum for the following year, but
his father wrote him to come back and
take charge of the hotel he had started.
He remained at the hotel for some time,
but subsequently he put a circus on the
road with some financial assistance
from his father He cleared $4,000 IN
one season with his circus. With that
money in hand he went to New York
that was in 1S95-Secured the Standard |
Theater and opened it as a high-priced
vaudeville house He brought Loie Full
Ter from Paris and paid her $500 night. |
He cleared $4,000 on the theatrical VEN
ture the first year. He then tried a 20, |
20 and 80 cent house, got good talent, |
but New York would not stand for the |
cheap prices and he consequently lost
money.
With regard to the suit which has
been instituted against the administra- |
tor of the estate of Sarah Ann Sells, |
Mr.. Sells says the petition recites the !
story pretty clearly. 1t has been filed |
in Topeka, Kan, the domicile of the ad- |
ministrator, p. I. Bonebrake. 1t sets |
forth that William Sells always suppos-
ed that he was the son of W. Allen Sells |
and Sarah Ann Sells until after the |
death of his father and mother. the lat
ter having died last spring. Then he |
learned that he was placed in the keep |
of Mr.. and Mrs Sells by his real moth |
er, and with him 81, 500 for his educa-
ton That 81 500 was invested in the |
circus business, and was in reality the
foundation for the wealth afterward |
amassed. The petition submits that |
William Sells earned a big salary a |
bareback rider and for other work In |
the circus, all of which was given to his |
supposed mother. He naturally suppos- |
ed he was to be the son and heir of the |
family, hence yielded up his money. He |
also presented his supposed mother |
with several thousand dollars worth of |
jewelry, all of which he makes claim |
for in his petition.
William Sells says that his son Allan |
was remembered in the will of Sarah |
Ann Sells to the extent of more than |
$50, 600. but by the terms of the will |
he is not to become possessed of it I'M
til he is 25 years of age. The other |
beneficiaries of it are Miss White, P. 7. |
Bonebrake and A. Bergen.