Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
1(l RANCH HANDS
SKEPT|CAL OVER
PAY-0FF RUMORS
400 Troupers Continue to
Guard ShoW-Court AC-
ton Seen.
SHOW OWNERS MESSAGE
TO ADAMS is REPORTED
Wednesday Set for Arrival of
Wages, Message Is Quoted
as Saying.


Despite e rumor that Col. Zach
Miller, owner of the 101 Ranch Wild
West Show, stranded at Camp Meigs,
will pay on Wednesday or before the
i've to eight weeks wages owed the 400
troupers, the men remained on the lot
last night, determined that the show
shall not be moved until their money
actually is forthcoming.
Another rumor permeated the lot
that q plan was afoot among the musi-
clans to attach the entire show prop
erty for the benefit of the company,
but could not be confirmed.
Pay-off Rumored.
Jack Brown, head cowboy, said that a
telegram sent to Col. Miller by George
!, Adams, secretary Of the District OF
Columbia Unemployment Committee,
had brought reply that money TO pay
of the men viii reach Washington py
wednesday. Mr.. Adams could not De
reached last night to verify the story,
not were any of the performers on the
lot who claimed to have seen the tele-
gram.
That some movement is afoot among
the musicians of the band to take Acgal
action was evidenced by c0nIerenSs
Yesterday between committee OF CnreS
members of the band and ofnciak OF
the Musicians Protective Union Local
I6l. American Federation OF Musicians.
Just what win be done was not mace
uublic. 1t was the general belief among
fha musicians. however, that their rep
resentatives would institute court action
Monday to attach the show property 1or
the benefit of all the troupers. 1t was
said that bond of $4,000 was needed
for the attachment action and that
the problem facing the musicians Lead
ers was to raise money to pay the pre-
MUM on this bond. Negotiations with
the local union were conducted prtn-
cipally by Jack Bell, band leader.
Trouble Makers Feared
Fear that trouble-makers would be
sent among the troupers led to the is
suance yesterday afternoon OF badges
to all members of the company and
strict police order that only persons SO
identified would be allowed on the 10y.
According to Jack Brown, the men
desire to remain orderly, but are afraid
that outsiders will be placed among
them % create tf00blQ 50 as TO cause
unfavorabIe sentiment among the people
Of washington.
All day yesterday the troupers, in the
fourth day Of their holdout for wages,
lolled around on their hot and dusty lot
and philosophically waited for some
thing to turn up.
some Of the hands have their routine
TO 20 through whether the show Is on
or not In the cook tent, about 1000
f3apiacks were manufactured for break
fast, and the nag went up at 10 O'Clock.
The show Is down to two meals day.
The horses are on short rattons, but
they are being fed. The hands would
rather starve themselves than let the
horses 60 hungry. Two pintos were SOLD
yesterday for money 10 feed the rest.
It is said that the livestock is the
only thing on the ranch not already at
tached. Whoever wants to attach 1t
must put up bond for twice its value
and a bond to feed the stock Tor 70
DAYS Brown has authority to sell the
horses whenever he thinks 1t necessary.
Emergency Fund, s56o.
The show has an emergency fund Of
1850. contributed by the American
Legion, so Il can stave OF disaster for
several days Luckily for them they
are camped alongside of q market de-
velopnent. and the market men are
supplying cases of foodstuffs free. They
even received a gift Of medical supplies
from 1e Of the local drug concerns,
which had read story saying the shows
medicants were running out.
The elephant trainer puts the huge
beasts through their tricks every day,
otherwise they would get stale and sui
len.
Here is how few Of the hands view
the situation Mexican Joe (Jose Bar
rara) has been IN the show business
for 40 years. He says he taught VIII
Rogers how to do his rope tricks. God
has always been good 70 me In the past"
says Joe 1T would not be right for
me to question Him now. He VIII pro-
vide.
II have a wife and daughter in Pawnee,
Okla. My daughter is In high school
I have not sent a centavo for six weeks.
But this is nothing new to me. was
with Buffalo Bits show when II went
broke in Denver in 1898, but here ]
am today. If I have to 90 home, VIII
beg from door to door for the sake Of
God. God viii provide.
II am so years old, but over there
(pointing to Tephon, the CoSsack
RIDER is q man III years old"
You're a liar," said Tephon, dis
passionately, and you know it. l am
6e years old and can get along as
well as you can"
God WIN Provide"
He says Sc, but I know better" said
Mexican Joe. I'VE have been friends
for 81 years and we know that God viii
provide.
Jack Keen. one OF their trick riders,
looks at it like this:
They offered to pay US OF IL we
would pack up and so back 70 Okla
homa. II stands TO reason that II
they can pay OF in Oklahoma. they
can pay of here. II they would pay
of now the show would be on its way
tonight But they gypped US out oil
two weeks pay that way last year.
They told us they would pay on II
NC would take the show back to Okla
homa. Well, we took 10 back. and non.
of us have got a dime Of that pay. We
were showed on the ranch one by one
and all we got was promises. Wei
stick here indefinitely, The people In
this town are on our side. They know
what they would do II they had eight
weeks pay coming 10 them"
Over IA the side show. where this
freaks are gathered together, the CEN
ter Of attraction Is Les Desmukes. the
armless wonder. He likes his game o.
cards, and plays rummy and hearts
with his educated toes with Just the
same ease that the ordinary player does
with hts hands.
He wili turn UP the edge Of 2 card
from the deck while playing rlImrny
consider III slip It into Its correct spOl
in his hand and put his discard &C.
curnAeIy on the pile. when he Is play.
ing hearts he win slam down hear
on an on lead Just Is emphatlcally q.
aix fellow players, and lead d low hear
cautiously In the hope Of bringing ~
ace cut Of is hiding place, He counti
an his losses Tin pennies1 and toxsel
the change across the table 70 the win.
I ner.