194

TRICKS THAT ARE VAIN.

Dark Ways to Deceive the Doortender
at National Theater and
Steal a Sight of Buffalo Bill--Etc.

The desire to see Buffalo Bill, Captain
Jack, "ye bar' and all the et ceteras of
the present entertainments at National
theater is very general and all sorts of
"rackets" are played on Locke to gain
free admission. In the first place, it is
found necessary to search the hall and all
hiding places on or about the stage and
dressing rooms nightly and from four to
a dozen men and boys are found concealed
there every time and helped out. Then
came all sorts of dodges to get past the
doortender. Last evening we watched a
short time for the purpose of picking up
some of these "rackets." First came a
nice young man with a glass of water, as
though some lady in the audience had
fainted. It did not win. Then came a
bogus typo, who had borrowed a printer's
rule and held it up as a sesame which
should open even rocky fastness. That,
too, failed. Next came a smutty-faced
chap with a few old type. He, too, was
turned back. Next rushed a boy with a
bogus telegram, all enveloped, sealed and
directed. Another tried to dodge in, conspicuously
showing a lady's fan, for which
he insisted he had been sent out. All these
and many more "rackets" are tried every
night. It is no uncommon thing for
these anxious individuals to try counterfeit
checks. Last evening those in use were
punched with a letter T by one of Titus'
punches. The curtain had not raised before
two very excellent imitations, punch
holes and all, were tried on the doortender.
So great is the anxiety of the bummers for
a free look at the performances that a
ladder is frequently improvised or obtained
and put up to the Smith-street
windows. One little man with a stumpy
pipe has been at the door every night trying
to work his way in without paying.
He succeeded one night in getting as far
as the first stair of the gallery, and was
then incontinently pitched out. Another
game frequently tried is for a boy to get
up stairs for two bits and then to come
down, get a check and give it to some
strapping fellow, who will try to beat his
way in on it. All such endeavors end in
the confiscation of the check. But the
ways invented all show how popular are
the plays now holding the boards at the
theater, and also that the hard times are
not yet over on the Comstock.

Bergstein, Grant and [?] were soon in
attendance, and an examination showed
that the wad with which the pistol was
loaded had entered at the place indicated,
ranged down some four inches and there
lodged. An incision was made and the
troublesome intruder removed. The
wound is large, ragged and painful, but
not necessarily dangerous.

There were some incidents in connection
with this little affair which were also
not down in the play. When Crawford
dismounted, the horse naturally commenced
looking about for himself. He
pointed directly toward the audience and
for liberty. His owner, the irrepressible
Crosby, who was standing behind the
scenes, however, sprang forward, caught
the animal and held him till the curtain
dropped.

By this time those on and about the
stage knew that some accident had occurred,
and when the blood, which flowed
fast from the wound, was seen trickling
from Captain Jack's leggings, Miss Gertie
Granville, who occupied one of the boxes,
fainted.

There were several rumors afloat last
evening as to the cause of the accident
and the manner in which the wound was
inflicted. Some said that Buffalo Bill had
shot Crawford in the head; others that
the horse had stepped on him. The foregoing,
however, are the facts in the case.

This affair, however much it may be
regretted, will not in any way interfere
with the matinee at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

National Theater.

An audience which packed the hall to
suffocation was present at Buffalo Bill's
benefit last night. " The Scouts of the
Plains" went off with a dash which carried
the audience fairly into the haunts of the
red man, and many of the gallery gamins
undoubtedly for the moment were alongside
Buffalo Bill and Captain Jack in their
valorous encounters with the Indians.
The horses introduced in the "Red Right
Hand" were received with unparalleled enthusiasm
and really performed their roles
in a most creditable manner. Barring the
accidental discharge of Captain Jack's revolver
against his leg and the consequent
simple flesh wound mentioned in another
column, everything was to the entire satisfaction
of the crowd, which was at times
decidedly vociferous in its manifestations
of delight.

This afternoon the "Red Right Hand"
will be performed at the matinee. Captain
Jack's accident will in no wise affect
the performance. This will be the last
performance in Virginia, as the company
and Buffalo Bill leave for Carson, where
they will perform to-night.