The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-05-05
Mccoy Wild West Riders
Fold Their Tent and Show
Film Star COWbOy
Takes Huge Loss
On Venture
BY JAMES CULLINANE

OH Cne plains at F1ICn SCreeC
and Florida Avenue Northeast, as
tragic reminders of a little world
OF make believe which was swept
away last night.
Gone into the hands of the re-
ceivers is the Tim Mccoy Wild
West Show, second largest circus
in the land, which came to Wash
tngton so proudly with new blue
and white striped canvas and new
rubber tired wagons Sunday even
ing.
Tucked into circus train cars
was the entire show-stowed
away by roustabouts and COW
boys, many OF whom have not
seen a pay check for eight weeks.
ALL FOOD SEALED
Also slowed under legal lock
and key were three carloads of
meat, enough for dinner and sup
per today and three square meals
tomorrow for all hands, more than
600 principals and roustabouts.
Despite entreaties, William HON.
nell, of Madison, Wis, commisary
chief, admitted he was powerless
to break the seals on the cars,
Tempers got short around noon
and spasmodic fights broke out
among the milling throngs of cow
boys, Indians and "plainSmen."
Plainclothes men and uniformed
police managed to quell these,
however, before they got serious.
MAY REOPEN
Rumors on the circus lot had
William O'Connon. a reputed
Hollywood director, negotiating
for reorganization of the show.
At a meeting between O'Connor,
receivers for the show, and F.
Steward Stranahan, stockholders
representative from Providence, r.
l., it was said possibility of re-
opening in Wilmington, Del, was
discussed.
Also stranded, said Clint w.
Finney, general agent, were 16 ad-
vance men in Wilkes Barre, Pa.
FIRST INSTALLMENT
After Their job was done the
circus people lined up before d
wagon surrounded by 40 police
men and eacr received a few
dellars-few got more than S.
as the first installment on their
overdue salaries.
The circus employees slept last
night on the new Pullmans Col
onel Mccoy had purchased for his
troupe and the receivers provided
them with breakfast this morning
--baloney, bread and coffee. After
breakfast the crap games started
and in no time at all a half dozen
were in progress.
Collins said he will ask the
court later today for advice as to
whether the receivers should ron
tinue providing for the employees
until the shows assets can be
hquidated to meet the pay roll.
ALL WILL BE PAID
Collins said he is confident all
Of the employees will receive their
full wages soon after liquidation
starts. The employees have a prior
claim on assets to meet their
salaries.
Collins said he does not con-
template disposal of the shows
live stock through auctions. Ne
gotiations will be opened today
with other shows for the sale Of
the horses, he said.
New bosses of the hard-riding.
soft-hearted circus people are Will
liam H. Collins, well-known Wash
ington lawyer and formerly ace
prosecutor on the District Attor"
ney's staff, and Edmund N. Tolan.
They were appointed receivers
for the circus after suits were filed
in District Court by H. Sharpe,
of Providence, R. l., who claims
the circus owes him SIT, 500 and
shows no indications Of making a
profit.
Collins said his first concern
will be for the welfare Of the
circus people and the animals.
HORSES SUFFER
Prize horses became Collins
chief concern. Locked in stock
cars, the horses could not be
watered adequately and as the
day wore on it was feared they
would be harmed by the lack Of
water.
Clear in Collins memory was
the dispute over affairs of the 101
Ranch Wild West Show, which,
ironically, went broke" on the
Fifth and Florida Avenue lot
several years ago.
Unlike the 101 Ranch perform
ers who refused to load" their
show until they had been paid,
the Tim Mccoy roustabouts went
about their work with a will and
even a few scattered songs last
night.
After the last Indian had bitten
the dust when the U. S. Cavalry
arrived just in the nick OF time
to save the occupants Of burning
covered wagons and cowboys
risked their neckS riding evil tenn
pered bronchos, roustabouts went
to work last night to diSmantle
the show.
TEPEEL REMAIN
BY midnight everything NOV
able except the Indian .epees had
been carried to the railroad train.
Most of the circus workers as they
loaded the train whispered that
the receivers intended to allow it
to 60 to Baltimore
But the receivers Sniked the