The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-16

1t sometimes happens that in the first shock
Of great battle Of modern times the move
ments of the combatants on either side are OBJ
scured by the smoke OF the "villanous salt
petre" Such is the case at present in the first
engagement of the great operate war between
Peter Stuyvesant Strakosch and Jan Risingh
Pike The battle opened on Wednesday night
with desperate attack made by the intrepid
Strakosch at the head Of the one hundred and
ninety-nine and half chivalrous stockholders
Of the Academy Of Music. The Van Wycks,
Van Dycks and Ten Eycks; the Van Hoffmans,
Van Belmonts and Wander Pooles the Ten
Breecheses and the Tough Breechesos and
host of others were marshalled in battle array
at the catacombs by the sturdy trumpeter,
Antony Van Corlear Kingsland, who blew
tremendous blast Of defiance against the Eighth
avenue foe. The herceness of the sturdy
chivalry Of Irving place seems to have thrown
the enemy's camp into confusion, for affairs at
Pixies are somewhat muddled at present On
the muster roll of the garrison of the Opera
House on the west side we find Italians, Ger
mans, "Black Crook" dancers, and miscel-
laneous array of tenors and managers. Disaf
lection and INSTRUMENTATION prevail amid this
chaotic force, and it will require all the Napo-
leonic strategy Of Pike to reduce them to order.
"Watering his stock" however, with tenors
and dancers is hardly judicious in view of the
present state Of the operate market. Stra-
kosch presents a solid phalanx in the persons
Of La Grange, Brignoli, Phillips and Orlandini,
although they have not escaped injury in the
first attack. After the commencement Of hos
tiliies between the tro great house. Spartan
band called the Opera di Camera Obscura
Rangers went into the fight on their own hook,
entrenching themselves near the Croton reser-
voir on Sixth avenue. These soldiers Of for
tune will probably in the end be merged into
either Of the great operate armies, for the
vicinity Of the reservoir is rather limited field
for operations in their line. The eloquent
Knickerbocker would have great theme for
his epic pen were he to witness the terrible
war that has been ipaugurated between the
rival opera houses "And now may be seen
prodigies Of valor unmatched in history or
song. Here is the sturdy Stohel BrinkerhoR
Van Nicolai brandishing his baton like the
giant Blanderon his oak tree, and drumming
horridc tune upon the hard heads of the Pike
men. There are the Van Belmonts, posted at
Q distance like the Locrian archers of yore,
and plying it most potently with the long bow
for which they were so justly renowned. On
a rising knoll are gathered the valiant men Of
Sing Sing, assisting marvellously in the fight
by chanting the great song of the stockhold-
ers." Nor would the eloquent Knickerbocker
omit the valiant achievements of Antony Van
Corlear Kingsland, VINO comes into the battle
with no other weapon but his trumpet, and
twangs away in the most fearless manner.
What plan of battle will be adopted by the
undaunted Jan Risingh Pike remains to be
seen. Perhaps he will attempt to undermine
the citadel of the foe with Bourbon, and
achieve another victory like that of General
Fritz in the "Grand Duchess" The coming
week is pregnant with great events, for the
legions on both sides will then advance, and
the result of the battle will be no longer
doubtful.