American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-12-27
HostOn, Dec. IS, 1895.
Mix. KEAN.
Crcat RAJ 1t he Federal Stree. Theatre.


Witnessed IN our CITY, took place Wednesday evenln
al the theatre and the whole Of the blame deservedy fa
upon the heads of the managers 1t had been previous
announced that Kean would attempt appear in his fav
rite character Of Richard Ill alias attempt palm uif
haed and hateful self upon An insued public according
y both his friends and his foes were upon the alert iii
press for tickets on Tuesday, tremendous and
wednesday morning the excitement seemed to pevade
classes many of those who had purchased cards of az
mSsion, re-soid them at an extraordinary advance, all
during the whole day, and boys in crowds ffocked
and from the playhouse Towards evening the ,lron
became more and more dense and noisy, and the
the doors were thrown open the holders of tickets rushc
n and at once filled the pit, boxes and galleries to owe
flowing.
Taking into view the vast numbers assembled, and ii,
unusual excitement created, the audience may said
have been calm and patient until the usual hour of pero
nance arrived Previous to the rising of the curtain, how
ever Mr. Finn, of the managers appeared the stag,
and was received with the mingled Kisses and cheers
the audlence-be stated that Mr.. Kean in the house
and wished to make humble apology but the only
to this, was in the loud cries Of "No Kean,"N No apo
gy,'-s Hear him, Kean forever Mr. f. retired, an
soon after Mr. Kean on, dressed in plain citizen
DRESS and after making and repeating the customary saut.
tions, attempted speak-the moving of his lips could
perceived but not syllable heard for the noise an
canor which was general in the third tier OF boxe
and gallery was renewed with double vigor, and the
himself was aimed at by missiles OF various descriptions
til he was compelled to retire. Mr.. Finn again appeare
essayed TO speak, but received similar treatment be
tore, with the addition OF few missiles which appeare
to come from The slips. Mr. Kner, another Of the
gers nov presented himself, bowed and undersoo
to say, " Mr. Kesn wishes to make apologyhe wshe
to make it from his heart-he soon Withdrew amidst Tn
confusion, and after few moments Mr. Kea attended b.
Mr. Kner, reappeared and made several unavailng eli
forts to address the audience, when both passed off tn
STAGE amidst showers OF Kisses, applause eggs, apples
peas, beans, &c.
The time not long, ere Mr. Kilner once NOR,
before the audience, and by respectful bows and gestures
endeavorng to gain hearing, which after some little time
he partially obtained He then said, "Gentlemen, MIR
kean declines playing unless he cali be heard-he R
play unless he can have hearing" Mr. X. then consul
ted gentlemen in of the stage boxes and coming for
ward requested the friends of Mr. kcan rise when man,
but how great proportion of the whole unable
say arose, but soon were mostly re-seaed. Mr.. Kne
absented himself for short spaces and then exhibited
Kean declines playng and the other Shall the pla,
go on without him. This noticed only by innumera
BILE Kisses and acclamaonscres Of Go on No play,
&c. The curtain soon arose. and the play commenced
in the proper place, Mr. Finn appeared Richard,
saluted with such deaenng EXPLANATIONS as "Of of
NO Finn-Kean. Kean-Of with Bob Logic-Ffa sh thai
fellow"
In to the calls for "Kean," the audi
ence had been informed that he not in the house, the
first act gone through with and The second comment
ccd, when Mr. Finn, then the stage, called aside
and spoken to from boxes and soon after made his exit
the curtain then dropped and the performances
pended AT intervals, during the have family
described, several of most Influential and respectable
citizens arose in their places and requested audience while
they addressed the house but the shout was "On the
STAGE The speakers declining take the stage, were
not able to be heard.
In the mean time the people, to the number oil
least 5000, collected in Franklin street, Federal
street and Broad.aey-- surrounding the theatre Gu
all sides and making continual efforts 10 break in
the doors-now wrenching shutters and doors from
their hinges-now smashing lamps and windows,
and anon hulling stones and billets OF wood and
missiles of every kind-the peace officers and others
inside resisted with ratiop-but nothing could
Withstand the In petuosity OF the multitude, and
bearing down all before them, they gave three ire
mendous cheers and poured into the house amidst
cries Of /" murder shame shame, down with Kean,
away with the managers, demoish the theatre, strip
the place from top to bottom," &c &c.
Such scene as now cnsued beggars all descrip-
ton. Some of the audience sprang from the gale
ry into the boxes, from the boxes into the pit, and
from the pit upon the stage-o,hers jumped from
the windows into the ST. eet, made good their re-
treat through the doors behind the scenery--whilc
the mob continued to press onward, occupying eve
ry vacant spot tearing up the seats and the benches,
and hurting them in every direction, demoishlng
the lamps, chandeliers, &c cheering and shouting,
a. intervals, "Down with the Keanites over with the
New Workers Drive off the managers-Out with
that fellow-Huzza--Send for Kean-No, no." sc.
Some little opposition was now made to the mob,
but without much effect The riot act was read
tut no one needed it-and the alarm of fire was
cried, in order 10 draw the depredators from their
work of destruction, but in van-they maintained
their ground without much Interruption, and if they
were once twice driven from their positions,
they returned again to the contest With greater fury
At length the populace having accomplished their
object, reti' ed peacesbly to their homes about IL
O'Clock and left the building in the possession Of
the friends OF Ksan and The managers who imme.
dalely boarded up the dtors and windows. SIEVE
raj persons were considerably injured. We have
not heard that any lives lost and are unable to
state the actual damage done.
Thus ended this shameful affair-whout par
allei in the records of the drama in this pace-aI
disgrace to the managers-a disgrace to the cit-
zens- and perfect death blow to the "proud re.
preventative OF Shakspeare's heroes"-and while
an the one hand we sincerely rejoice in the result