The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-09-22
FISKAL AFFAIRS.
Ffsk's Engagement with
Maretzek.
Two Versions Of an Unimpor-
tant Scrimmage.
Both Parties Whip and get Whip
ped. as Usual.

New YORK, September 2l.-An i'm
promptu pugilistic encounter of mad
dening interest to the public, took place
yesterday morning on the stage Of the
Grand Opera House The gladiator.
were Colonel James Fisk, Jr., and Max
Maretzek. The latter has been acting
as manager Of Colonel Fisk's Opera
Bouffe Company, but at the same time
had been negotiating with Strakosch
for conducting the Nlllson concerts at
Steinway Hall. The casuS belH was
the application Of the terms liar and
thief to Maretzek by Colonel Fisk, dur,
ing an interview, in which Fisk ex,
pressed his indignation that Maretzek
should have connected himself with an
opposition show. Three rounds were
fought, and the Colonel was badly pun
ished; not, however, 80 much as 10 pre-,
vent his appearance in proscenium
box at the theatre last evening, in com.
pany with Montaland. The facial
marks of the scrimmage in the morning
were concealed beneath the esthetic
touch of art Late in the evening Mar,
etzek took possession of another proscc-
mum box on the opposite side OF the
house, and the champions then scowlei
at each other through their glasses.
MARErzEK's STATEMENT.
A reporter early in the day. sought
out Maretzek and obtained his state.
ment of the affair: have had charge
of all the business of arranging the
operas Of the grand opera house, but
my arrangement with Fisk did not spe-
CITY that / should not conduct at a con
cert. / tried to get Fisk to come to a
definite understanding about my engage
ment for the season but he put me oil
and never kept his appointments with
me, but he put my name on his circu-
lars as musical director. He did not
like the idea of Wilson's coming at all
because he didn't bring her, and when |
conducted her first concert threatened
to settle me. tried very hard to get
him to put the entire management OF
the musical season at the Grand Opera
House in my hands as he had adver-
tised me as director, but he not only put
me of with vague promises but inter
fered with members of the troupe to
such an extent that | begin TO doubt
the success Of the Opera Bouffe enter
prise and his desire 10 do any
thing more with Opera BOuile
than to have his own little fun
out of it. He took the first prima
donna, Mile Montaland, and exhibited
her everywhere, walking her around
the theatre during rehearsals when she
was wanted on the stage. When ]
demonstrated with him he said, "W ell,
don't ! pay for it?' When ! went over
to conduct the rehearsal this morning
he insulted me by calling me thief
and liar before the whole company,
for which knocked him down; that :
all there was about it. Id have given
him lesson to remember all his life,
if it hadn't been for the stage manager,
who kicked me in the face when / was
down and who will be legally called TO
account for it. What Fisk wanted to
do with me, was to drive me around
like his four-in-hand 1t could mt bc
done with me, an old bird; | didn I OBJ
ject to his buying houses and furnish.
ing them for all the prima donna and
ballet girls, in the bargain. Why
should |, il the Erie stockholders
didn't? But when he interfered in the
rehearsals and trumped up silly charge
of theft against me because | conducted
the Nillson concert, why ! got mad
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
An unlocked for scene occurred yes
terday afternoon at the rehearsal of
the new Opera Boufle company, at the
Grand Opera House Max Maretzek,
the well known impressario had been
engaged, it appears, by Fisk as the con
ducter Of the Montaland Opera Boutle
Company. On Monday night, however,
Maretzek appeared at the Stelnway
Hall as leader of the orchestra Of the
Nilsson Company, and Yesterday after
noon he visited the Grand Opera House
TO conduct the musical part Of the
Opera Bouffe. The rehearsal of mascu-
line and feminine Opera Boutiers had
all assembled, and Maretzek was about
to move his baton as signal for
the commencement OF the magic
strains, when James Fisk Jr., dress
ed in his usual extravagant
manner, appeared upon the scene,
Going up to Maretzek, Fisk accused
him Of being thief and a scoundrel.
1t seems that Maretzek did more than
conduct the Nillson concerts. He had
charged Fisk, it was alleged, for his
massage to and from Europe notwith-
standing that Fisk had paid his passage
in advance. Maretzek on being accused
by his former employer of being thie'
rushed at Fisk and struck at him. Fisk
parried the blow and returned the com
pliment with vigor and none the les:
skillful in the manly art. Mare;zek
came out of the fight with black eye
disfigured nose and disarrangcd cloth
ing, while Fisk retired without
scratch, only slightly discomposed, bu
occasionally chuckling overthis triumph
and saving that Maretzek, beside ne
ing ungrateful, was fool whom h'
would whip if he ever had the temeri',
to approach him again.
oil Shtpmeuts.