The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-07

Is the Oldest playhouse IN Rlchmond-a place
where Bouth, Boniface, Raymond and other
renowned actors have won fame-and is at
tended by the highest class of citizens. "The
Strangers of Paris" was on the boards. H. H.
Mortimer, South Carolinian by birth, is the
manager, while Frank A Tannehill, who was
an aide to Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston, is a
star Of the company. AS soon these gentle
men learned that the disturbance was
being transferred to their house they at once
proclaimed their determination to cooperate
with the whites in suppressing the execution Of
any design to seat coiored men in the house.
When Major Poe informed Manager Mortimer
that the house had best be closed for the night,
the latter said:
No; there is no use Of that. Let the people
come in, and, if a colored man enters the audi
torlum, | will ring down the curtain, announce
that there will be no performance, and tell the
people inside to 60 to the boxofice and get their
money"
At 7 o'clock several hundred people were
crowded in front of the theater AT o'clock
the streets and sidewalks were bockaded with
men, there being few ladies in sight, and excite
ment ran high There were earnest inquiries
for the Forty miners" and the colored delegate
A more earnest concourse of people never assem-
bled anywhere than that the outside Of the
Richmond Theater They belonged to the best
families of the city, and it is presumed most of
them were armed, and came to defend
their social principles. When the curtain
was run up not seventy-fye persons we're in
ness OF the night Fifteen private policemen,
headed by Major Poe and three captains, occo-
pied seats in the orchestra circle, while num-
Der of privates and officers patrolled the side
walks on the outside and kept back the excited
populace. rattle Drained white man, warmed
by liquor, mounted box in front of the theater
and called to the black men to assert their
rights and enter the theater. He was promptly
arrested and marched off to the station house,
hundreds of people hootng at him as he was
tvnif cokf oooR
and the slightest disturbance would have set fire
to the tinder box of popular indignation and pre-
cipitated bloodshed But the delegates of 49,
with the colored member. Farrell. did not put
IN an appearance, aud gradually the threatening
aspect of affairs died out.
1t is believed at this writing 10 o'clock that
the very firm stand taken by the citizens will
prevent further trouble during the time Of the
convention and that this is the end of it. The
local newspapers comment very generally upon
the colorline affair and deprecate it's existence.
The Wing, one of the most able and conserva-
tive newspapers in the South, will say to morrow
morning.
The color-line issue is one of the most important
ones to oe considered and is which will stir up
more feeling than any other and may perhaps lead to
trouble.
Public sentiment is strong against the action
the New York assembly in pushing the negro
into the Mozart Academy and many Knights
living here are strong in their denunciation of
the proceedings. The State this evening ex-
presses itself in this firm language:
Those Knights of Labor delegates who attempted
to interfere with the social customs of Richmond
making most unpardonable mistake to say the
least. The presence of colored delegate in the
auditorium of the Mozart Academy of Music last
night during a dramatic performance
an outrage on large majority of
citizens which cannot be too severely
condemned. We have nothing to say concerning the
custom that obtains in Washington Philadelphia ew
York, Chicago and other Northern cities. In Rich
mond the usages touching the socalequaty question
Coored Delegate Farrell of District 40,
called on Mr.. Powderly at his hotel this even
ing. and had an interview 1t is stated that no
further attempts will be made by colored dele
gates to enter the theaters in unauthorized por-
tions of the auditorium while the convention re-
mains in session.