The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-22
NOT ON THE PROGRAMME.
Nat Goodwin and His Brother Have Brill
liant Engagement with Stage Hands.

Nat Goodwin the celebrated actor, has al
ways been regarded as one whose peculiar tai
ents all lay in the direction Of comedy, and his
ability to tackle tragedy has never been dreamed
of. Last night, however, during the perform
ance of Confusion" at the Grand Opera house,
he leaped from the realm of comedy into the do
main of tragedy with suddeness and celebrity
that leaves no doubt of his superior ability in
that line of the business. While the audience
was being entertained with Confusion by the
actors the players WERE in turn, entertained by
an exhibition of that article behind the scenes
that knocked their own feeble efforts out of
time. Wigs were dotted unceremoniously, beer
glasses, bludgeons knives and missiles filed the
air, and paint and powder flew like flakes in a
snow-storm. 1t will be remembered that the
Mannerchor Society recently gave series of
p performances of ''The Beggar Student at this
theater, and on yesterday showed their appre-
citation of the valuable assistance of the
stage hands in true Teutonic fashion, by sending
them key of beer. This was ''nuts" for the
boys and the faucet was kept turning rapidly
enough to have caused ignition by friction but
for the constant lubricating result. By the
time the curtain rose the whole gang of carpen-
ters, property men and scene Shutters were glor-
iously drunk. Two or three of them had taken
offense, earlier in the week, at an order given by
the stage manage of Goodwin's company, and
concluded that this was their opportunity
to get even. Accordingly Harry Grace,
stage carpenter, and Pete Daily, property
man OF the theater, went at him in approved
Marquis of Queensbury fashion. and proceeded
to have three rounds and wind up that would
have done credit to Sullivan. The attacked indi-
vdua reciprocated their little attentions and gore
flowed with degree of freedom that would have
thrown Buffalo Bill into ecstasles E. F. Goodwin,
brother Of the star, undertook to separate the
combatants, whereat Grace and Daily trans
ferred their attention to him. Daily grabbed a
heavy "screweye" and struck Goodwin several
scalp badly l and and Knocking knock 'u' HIM out
in one round Nat Goodwin. who was
just leaving the stage, heard his brotherscries for
help and rushed to his assistance. Recognizing
the situation at glance he made a savage on
slaught on his brothers assailant, raising heavy
cane which he carries in the part of Blizzard"
as bludgeon He knocked Grace down and
then went at Daily, who dropped everything and
fed precipitately, closely pursued by the irate
Goodwin. Up the street went Daily, past the
Denison and down Ohio street at 2l0 clip. and
Q few feet in his rear went Goodwin. Peo-
pie on the street who saw the streak left by
the pair as they split the air probably
mistook Goodwin's white wig as the nebulse of
comet. The actor, regardless of the fact that
he was logged out in stage makeup, pursued
Daily nearly to Delaware street before he gave
up the chase and returned to the theater.
Manager Dickson was entirely In sympathy
with the Goodwins, and promptly ordered the
discharge of the offending stage hands E. F.
Goodwin was quite seriously hurt about the
head. At late hour this morning the police
had been unable to find Grace and Daily and as
the company leaves this morning it is not prob
able that any charge will be presented against
tnem