The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-24
The Eechter-Wallack ImbrOgliO.

We give copious reports of interviews re-
Gently held by HERALD special with the two
great Thespian gladiators, Fechter and Wal
lack. 1t will, no doubt, astonish the public to
learn from these plain statements what great
confagration little fire kndeth. 1t is the
old story Of knocking the chip off boys
shoulder, and, properly rendered, would make
an amusing extravaganza. 1t seems that there
was no fight or personal rencontre imminent
during any part of the controversy, except
that interpolated by Mr.. Chanfrau in a new
version Of his celebrated character Of ''Mose."
At the first there seems to have been an ex-
tremely amiable state of feeling existing be-
tween Mr.. Fechter and Mr.. Wallack Fech-
ter even went so far as to address Wallack by
the tender appellation of ''Old Boy" or sold
Fer-or something of that sort-and Wallack,
it might appear, would move an adjournment
to Parkers or George Youngs for more affec-
tionate modes of determination. Birds and
oh ampagne corks might have flown in mingled
gracefulness and harmony had not that little
misunderstanding about the part of Don Sal
lust disturbed the placid waters of the two
gentlemen's friendship. The billing and COO
ing might still have continued had not
Mr.. Fechter's name been ''billed' too
conspicuously on the theatre posters
as a star of the first magnitude when he con-
sidered himself only manager Of the second
class. Now, what is the upshot of this whole
theatrical rumpus? Mr.. Fechter retires from
the management of the theatre-the job
being too heavy for him to s'boss"-and Mr..
Wallack stands ready to fulfil his contract
with the proprietor of the establishment. We
count out altogether Mrs. Chanfrau, who
seems really to have had no particular part
assigned her in the comedy. The whole affair
might be reproduced under the title of ''Much
Ado About Nothing" with an afterpiece
styled "All's Well That Ends Well" -. =
The Investigation of the Building Murder.
The Coroner has taken in hand the task Of
investigating the cause Of the murder of four
persons by the fall Of the building on Thirty
fifth street, on the 18th of this month, of which
accident so painful remembrance remains in
the public mind. He has had ample time to
per calculation of the whole proceeding, and
we think that in all probability the evidence
will show that the building never should have
been put up, and that Mr. McGregor, the In
spector of Buildings, did not perform his duty
when he permitted the structure to be erected.
AS far as the evidence already taken goes we
baye the oath of the builder himself that he
always thought the walls not thick enough for
a building of this kind, which was eight sto-
ries high. He states, moreover, that the
work was fastened on quite quick enough, con-
sistent with the permanent safety Of the walls;
in other words, that it was put up too rapidly.
He did not know whether the Inspector OF
Buildings was ever there or took any interest
in the matter, although among the people Nv
ing around, whose houses were crushed by
this fearful disaster, the report was common
that the building was liable to fall at any time
Now, if it is not Mr.. McGregors duty 10
| attend to such cases as this, and - aver, as
| far as vigilance aud the exercise Of good iudg-