Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-22
JEEMES FISK.
He Encounters his Opera Manager, Max
Raretzek, and Thrashes Him.
Another Among the many Disgraaefal
Scenes that New York Affords.

NEW YORK, September Zl.-An I'M
promtu pugilistic encounter, of madden
ing interest to the public, took place
Yesterday morning on the stage of the
Grand Opera House. The glsdistors were
Col. James Fisk, jr., and Max MaretEek.
The latter has been acting as manager of
Col, Fisk'S Opera BOutfe COInpa-
nv. but at the same time had been nego-
tiating with Strakosch for conducting the
Nillson Concerts, at Steinway Hall.
The eGslES beLLi was the application Of the
terms liar and thief to MaretZek by Col.
Fisk. during en- interview, in which Fisk
expressed his indignation that Maret-
EEK should have connected himself
with an opposition show. Three rounds
we're fought and the Colonel was badly
punched, not however, so much as to pre-
vent his appearance in proscenlum box
at the theater last evening, in company
with Mile Montaland. The facial marks
of the scrimmags in the afternoon were
concealed beneath the esthetie touch. of
art. Late IN the evening haretzek TOOK
possession of another prscenium box on
tha opposite side of the house, and the
CHAMPIONS then scowled at each other
through their glasses.
A reporter early in the day sought out
Maretzek and obtaine his statement OF
the affair:
~ have had charge Of ali the business
OF dfEduBlDR bu6 OHCIhS VI b-O NJ HAN
Opera House, but my arrangement Wlth
Fisk did not specify that l should not
conduct concert. tried to get Fisk, to
come to q definite understanding about
nv engagement for the season, but he put
me off and never kept his appointn ent
with me, but he put my name on his cir
culars as musical director. he didn't
like the idea of Nilsson's coming at all,
because he didn't bring her, and whom l
cd haF Hrgf ha thraafaaad
to resent it. tried very hard to get hiIa to
put the entire management of the music
al season at the Grand Opera House in my
hands, as he had agreed, as director, But
he not only put me of, with rogpe prom
ises, but interfered with the members Of
the troupe to such an extent that began
to doubt she success of the Bouffe enter
urise, and his desire to do anything more
18th Ot,aFa Bouffe than to have his own
Hit+la FIn out of it. He took the tirst
.lSiI,oa doana. Nile Montaland, and ex-
bibitaS her eSerywnere. When Walklng
her around the ,eater during rehearsals,
vVhan She was wanted on the stSSe, ana
when demonstrated with him, he sSo,
We'll, don't pay for it9' When went
over to conduct rehearsal this morning.
he insulted me by calling me thlet anu
liar before the whole room and company,
for which knocked him down. Thsts
all there is about it. would have given
him a lesson to remember all his lie,
If it hadn't been for the interference OF
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 hKe
his four-in-hand. 1t could not be done
with such an old bird. / did not object
to his buying horses and furnishing them
for all the prima donnas and chorus girls
in the bargain. Why should !, II Erle
stockholders didn't. But when he inter
fered in rehearsals and trumped up silly
charge OF theft against me, because con-
Quoted the Nilsson concert, why l got
mad"
Another account: An unlocked for
scene occurred yesterday afternoon at the
rehearsal of the new Opera Bouhs Com
pany at the Grand Opera House. lhax
Maretzek, the well known impressilrio,
had been engaged, il appears, by Fisk as
conductor Of the Montaland Opera Boutte
Company. On Monday night, however,
Msretzek appeared at steinWsy Hall as
leader of the orchestra of tbs Nilsson
company, and yesterday evening he
visited the Grand Opera House to conduct
the musical part of the Opera Bouffe re-
hearsal. The masculine and female Opera
Bouffers had all assembled, and Maretzek
was about to wave his baton as signal
for the commencement OF Inc magic
strains. when James Fisk, jr., dressed in
his usual extravagant manner, appeared
upon the scene, and going up to Msretzek
accused him of being thief and a scoun-
drel. It seems that Msretzek did not
then conduct the Nilsson concerts. He
had charged Fisk, it was alleged, for his
passage to and from Europe, notwith-
standing that Fisk had paid his passage
! in advance. Msretzek, on being accused
by bis former employer as a thief, rushed
on Fisk and struck at him. Fisk parried
| the blows and returned the compliment
with yigor and none the less skilliul in
the manly art. Msretzek came out Of the
/ fight With a black eve, dis6gured nose,
and disfgured clothing, while Fisk re-
| ceived not a scratch, and only slightly
discomposed, but occasionally chucklins
over this triumph; and saying that Mar.
etzek, besides being ungrateful, was foo
| whom he would whip if he ever hfd tht
temerity TO approach him again.