The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-08-01
DRAMATIC AND LYRIC.
Jean Clara Walters IndOmi.
table Pluck.
MISS ADAMS IN "AGTICLE Al
Club AgAin-Latest uusieaI and
Dramatic News

Tie following article from the San
Francisco Pos appeared originally three
years ago, but is now being widely
republished in view of the q. A. r. visit
to San Francisco. Miss Walters states
that the theatre in question was the old
st. Charles, managed at that time by
the well known Ben DeBar. The de
scription of the affair, she says. is but
tame compared with the excitement OF
the event itself.
The conversation between a promi-
nent Democratic official. who had Tough
for the Union, and q Post reporter
drifted towards General Butler aad his
regime while he was governor of New
Orleans during war times. Naturally
enough, the officer eulogized General
Butler for the bravery and talent he
displayed during his executive admins
tration, and spoke feelingly of the
insults thrown upon the Union soldiers,
which were in many instances so vile
and gross as to be uDmentionable in
print. After justifying, on these
grounds, the action OF the governor in
issuing hrs celebrated proclamation in
regard 10 the females of the Crescent
City. he narrated the following incident.
which possesses a certain amount of
historical interest:
TIE CITY WAS IN THE POSSESSION
OF the Union troops, and General But
Ter was appointed Military Governor.
The ConfedeIates were on parole and
supposed to be unarmed, vet they al
carried their sixshooters. One evening
at the National Theatre play was an
nOunced in which the national anthem
of The star Spangled Banner" was TO
b. sung. Notice was sent to the mana
ger by the rebel element that if an
attempt was made 70 sing the hymn the
singer would be shot on the stage.
General Butler, hearing OF this, sent an
order 10 the manager directing him
TO TAKE no NOTICE OF THE THREARTs
And commanding him to have the play
performed in its entirety. An immense
audience assembled in the theatre, the
"Johnnys" and the "blue boys, being
about evenly blended, but each watch
ing the other with bated breath and
finger on the trigger. The critical
moment arrived when the soul inspiring
song was 10 be sung. The manager
faced the audience and told them the
predicament he was in. On the one
hand the southern ctivalry had threat
ened bloOdsned If the song was sung,
and on the other the acting governor
had demanded that it should be given.
An indescribable scene OF confusion and
upToar at once ensued. Throughout
the house, as the young lady who was
billed 10 sing the anthem came upon the
stage
THE NOISE WAS HUsHED,
But the hurried clicking OF the cooking
of hundred reyolvers had a most ON
ineus sound. The Union men hurriedly
glanced at the rebels and prepared to
cover them with their deadly weapons.
The lady stood unmOved. Uprose a
young Union officer and said: That
song shall be sung if the whole house is
deluged in blood. NorthFrners or south
erners as we may be there is gallantry
enough in our hear to protect e
wo:ran. II a single shot is fired at the
stage woe be TO the man who fires it!'
Other Union men echoed his remarks,
and here and there a southerner backed
known in this city,
MISS JEAN CLARA WALTERS,
Advanced boldly to the foot!ights, and
robed in the national banner declared
her intention to sing the anthem at all
hazards. She was young and pretty
and in good voice. Again the reyolvers
clicked. but Miss Walters commenced
the song. She was so nervous at first
that her voice could scarcely be heard
above the din and uproar in the house.
Before she concluded however a deathly
silence spread itself over the audience,
to be followed only by the most raptur-
Gus applause from both "Yanks" and
"Rebs" as the soul inspiring words.
blended with noble music, rang through
the house. Said the Posts informant
1--WE narrowly escaped bloodshed after
wards, but you bet We Union men had
our boys covered every time. Not
'Reb' would have left that house alive II
boH couamancPn y