, 1863-05-22
EXCITING NIGHT AT ,VEQE
OPERA In NEW ORLEANS,
Hail Columbia Demanded and PLAYED
The American Flag Displayed.

The performance ut the Opcr:, House lust
night were attended by I'LL unusually large
audience. The boxes were filled with fashion,
ably dressed and beautiful ladies', while other
portions Of the house were crowded with
gentlemen, large number Of whom wore
gold lace, brass buttons and shoulder straps.
everything was quiet for the first hour, and
the fair singers us they appeared, warblcd aud
disappeared, were applauded to the echo.
Suddenly, while everything was still, there
for " Hail Columbia" and at The same mo-
nent at least t" enty f1Ags were displayed in
different parts Of the building. The demand
for the national air increased in force and
cn1nestness, and after come little delay the
musicians returned to the stage, took the;r,
places, and We're hailcd with loud cheers.
They struck up the fine old tune and the au-
thence showed their delight in most cntIu-
tiastic manner. The air finished, three cheers
were given as the player, retircd,- flags aud
handkercliiefs were waved, and large star
spa,gled banncr WAS thrown forth from one
uf the galleries and received with cheers,
The excitement then subsidized, in TACT com
ptctcly callned down, aud all was again quiet.
Alan.Eladics and some gentlemen left during
the slight disturbance, and others were pre-
par'ng to take their departure, but seeing
that all danger vas over, again took theft
scats and concluded to see the Performance
out.
Two Of the performers advanced to the
front OF the stage and sung duet, which was
received with marks Of pleasure, but as they
retired, some half dozen voices called for the
Star Spangied Banucr. The call WAS not at
first received with favor, and there was
pause for few moments; then there was
another and more general cali for Yankee
Doodle, At this point, pr. Dostie rose In the
ra[anette ';E.ai . ard ard said: "Gentlemen, we have
order, and that the concert will be allowed to
continue. They have responded to our de-
man1 freely, and III the proper spirit, and we
should be content with the victory wc have
gained, and allow the performance to pro.
eyed" The Doctor was interrupted by the
Mayor, Capt Miller, who stood up in his box
and said: :" Doctor, that will do. Sit down.
Twill see that we have order. The national
airs have been played, and there is no. good
reason for any further disturbance. Ladies'
and gentlemen, keep your seats. The
Ssnss1 % T R1G'efS d ale nowaS nG Fhss 4S5
Of Yankee poodle e'0%aSa Gi1o IN n. e fFies
kcc Doodlc!" And the confusion and noise
grew wild and loud. His Honor stood his
ground, and said they could not have the air,
sSes ssf o hs IS so nnf to Play T. him ahe{e
1T Is such men as him that has made the
South what it is,'' and other equally wild re-
marks. The Mayor said he would have no
riot there-that he had Il sufficient police
force In the house TO preserve order, and he
vas determined to nsc that force if necessary,
The officers of the army mostly sided with
the Mayor, and one Of thcm-a Lieutenant Of
Louayes-walkcd around the circle, and ap-
preaching young man who WAS waving
tIag, seized 1t and 1ctked it out Of bis and
This brought the heaviest imprecations and
denunciatious down upon him, hut he did moi
"tfaitor, "secessionist," and s'copperhead,
that we're raised as he walked back again and
took his place among group Of brother OFF,
GERS that were near the Mayor. But we can
not describe the excitement at this point-it
Lad reached its climax. and there was
q a. stormy time. Many bitter words pass
cd between DR.. -Dostie and other gentle
men IN the parauette, and the officers In the
boxes and the Mayor. The former crying out
that they we're traitors and cope zheads, and
the latter saying, "before you call us traitors,
Pat on Uniform and fight for your country.
We have fought for the Union, and arc per
haps as good patriots rs you." The desultory
war Of words, however, was brought to .
close by DR.. Dostie e1clAiming: "let every
Union man leave the house-the Coppcrheads
can renain." He was answered bY cheers,
aud there was general movement for the
doors. The DoctOr aud his friends hayiur
all kit, the audience was considerably reduc-
ed. The mayor remained for 4 long time, but
is the audience one by one hc.an to leave,
and an there did not appear to be any disposition
A>~~
concert, it was determined By the few who
had remained to eyacuate the building. The
Mayor and Col. Hopkins, Chief OF Police
were the last to leave the house, which th:9
withdrew from after the entire audience had
retired. and the crowd in the streets around
the Opera House had dispersed.
4 few moments before the Mayor left, O
party Of gentlemen bore out the flags which
had been upfurlcd in the building, and as
they passed ont Of the entrance gtye three
cheers for Gen. Banks and somebody else,
ard three groans for some one whose name
we did not catch.
There was heavy police force present and
q guard Of soldiers, and the Chief, and Lieut..
Mll!tr were c1crting their best efforts to pre-
serve order without making 1t necessary to
resort to force, and We arc happy to say that,
with the assistance Of the Mayor, they fully
succeeded.
- Thus ended "the night at the new Opera
House" which has given another historic |
event in the chronicles Of New Orleans.
We could not help recurring four memory |
similar character which occurred in this same
stately and magnificent editice more than two |
years ago. It was on the night OF the 9th Of /
December, 1sC0. South Carolina had seeded, |
but Louisiana was still in the Union, and a |
mna}oI1ty Of the people were we're loya to tie old
Opera House-when the following scene, de-
scribed In the New Orleans Be Of that date, |
was enacted. We quote from the Bee OF the |
24th Of December, 1850:
EXPRESSION OF PorULAR SEST1MESr At THH
OpEBA-On Saturday evening the pelican flag
Of independent Louisiana was unfnr1ed in the
Opera House, previous to the rising Of the
curtain, and the audience received 1t with
three cheers, and then gaye three more for /
South Carolina. At the end Of the third act I
Of Charles II, Genibre1 WAS called upon TOR |
the Marsellaisc, and gave It in fine style, sup
ported BY the entire troupe in the chorus.
luis called forth great enthusiasm and ap- |
planse from the audience, and after the con |
cluslon Of the opera, Gen. ". R. Miles made |
brief secession speech, which was we'll re-
ceived.
There WIS but one arrest made last evening,
but NC did not learn the name OF position Of |