The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-02
THE D4NITES.
DID Joaquin Miller Write tho Play '-What
the Fitzaernids Say.

To THE FpITon or THE SUN-Sir: In THE
Sun OF Sunday Feb. 81. there was published an
article on the history Of " Tho Danitcs.' OF
which joaquin Miller is the rcputcd author.
The writer Of the article evidently intended to
deal Justly with all. but as his account is mac
curate. | furnish the following statement Of the
facts:
Tho Dnnitcs" ms now rendered by Mckee
Rankin. was written by my brother the late
7. A. Fitzgerald Of Philadelphia in the summer
Of 1876. based upon incidents found in the
poem. First Families Of the Sierras.' 10y Joa-
uuin Miller. but 50 slight was the material
therein that II was necessary to change charnc-
tcrs. scenes. 6c.-in fact, to create plot from
the little material furnished. This ncccssitatcd
tho writing Of scenes and acts in which there is
scarcely limo or an idea drawn from the poem.
After mapping out the different acts, my
brother wrote the text. arranged the stngc set
tings. tahlrnus. &c.. completing ono act cuch
week. During the entire time he worked upon
the play he had no manuscript Of Mr., Mier's.
| Mr. Rankin's, or other persons, relating 10
| it. in his possession and he stated TO mo re-
| peatrdly that aside from furnshngthc chara"-
| tcrs and few speeches characteristic OF th'
early settlers Of California. the poem was OF no
NV brother died in the fall Of 1876. and ]
| knowing that while living he was spng'ilne OF
| the success Of "Thc Dnntos. watched Tor lts
| production. and when put upon the boards oi
| the broadway Theatre. in this city. procured
| from my brothcr's family the original drait 81
the ulav, and carefully compared the leading
points NJ produced ON the stage with the manu-
script then in my posscsslon ANA iounh, thcm
substantially M s9ln, - lurth.r satisy n,yr
| to state the facs ~ the cusc, and received from
| her the following reply:
rmrApstrn,, sent H. 1877
quest VIII aye Yen hf fac- relstins To- ,r COMPOST
Sy $SsT si y. d "@i.,s d ii
NV YORK Journal il vas think in the carly part Of
July 1870 That m, husband made an agreement To write
found IN Il story wrtcn by Joaquin Miller In what de-.
had II ~ his possession while writing tue nlAN c wa,
ii different act. a. they were completed to Mr. Rankin
dcvotcd To writing we're his custom. either late
IN he cieGns or m he nsTm9E I'M fo ~ nyS , n @
Hnom ne Iny W. o,. ha nnr d, wr plgrrolI navy
Sny paS. or one line OF anv play, in manuscript o.
not act a. an tor Mr. RANKIN in ny .e.e ii
which that term can be- construed Ih. lay was my
Nr Miller had any part init The part Of nm rer va.
und, ,.h ~ me UNI, wiz @ o ", " H. '
since Nr Raukin received It KNOW not but ina
sSnf You NJ Miller. nainc vas never mentioned Il
husband zane home on one occa.om ard told me. Viii
very s,d,it esssrin ,na, WI HanAn hia
h s,,H, az ,,i ne gn spoke r n Fvs,E M,
Permit me to say In conclusion. that II Mr.
Miller wrote IA play for Mr.. Rankin. " Tn
| Dnnites II not that one. II being 80 lar as an
play can be- where the incidents upon which
il founded are borrowed from the works q
another author. the work Of my brother.
The statement that Mr.. Miller WAS pal
81 200 for writing the play il correct In par
hut there is iriilng. error, in the amour
which should be- 300. 50 slight an ina'curpc
ns $1,000 | feel MIR. Rankin. with his hg
notion Of honor. Will hardly allow TO 20 uncon
trad ted. But. as was assure 10y my brother
the 500 was not paid to Mr.. Miller ~ compen
satlon Tor vrhinE the play but was the amour
Mr. Miller was wiling to accept rs an cquva
| lent for the Use OF his name ~ tho author q
another man : works. Every word and line G
the mHnus ript in my possession IA ia ~
brother handwriting. | challenge Mr.. hankil
MIR. Miller. or any friend or friends OF either
| produce an original copy Of The Danitcs
| Mr.. Miller's handwriting which bears eViden,
, Of having passed through my brothers hand
Yours respectfully. W. y. EIIzIERALD.