Morning journal and courier., 1888-05-08
Tuesday, May g. 1888.
WHERE DOES THE BLAME LIEe

k1 A Comnsittee Investigating the MS
 management of Affairs at the Hype,
 rion on the Night ofthe Graduation
 Exercises.
 The committee appointed at a recent meet ing of the board of education to find out who is to blame for the outrageous way people were treated who tried to get into the Hyperion on the night of the graduation ex ereises and couldn't met at two o'clock yes terday afternoon in the rooms of the board of education. There were present: Superin- tendent Dutton, Manager Bunnell, George E. Gay, Joseph E. Rice, Fire Marshal Kennedy, Captain LanRdale and Usher Haines of the Hyperion.
 The committee is composed of Captain O'Brien, Maier Zunder and Philo s. Ben- nett.
 Manager Bunnell and his corps claimed that they were not to blame, and Superinten- dent Dutton said he wasn't Each moaestly tried to place the blame on the other.
 Superintendent Dutton was first heard. He said the whole front of the house was blockaded. People who had received seat tickets could not get in, and those who had rush tickets blocked the way. The force of ushers was not as large as usual. He did not think that there were 80 many present this year as last. The rush tickets were given out with the idea that those holding them would be admitted and stand until eight o'clock. spoke to MT. Gay, but he didn't do anything about it. If the people with rush tickets were to be excluded until o'clock the tickets should have so stated. But we did not intend them to be kept out until s o'clock, but the theater management seem to have thought it would be best to keep them out until the holders of reserved seat tickets could be cared for.
 MT. O'Brien-Were there more tickets fs- sued this year than last !?
 MT. Dutton-This year we issued 300 more tickets and think about the same last year.
 Mr. Bennett-Who has control of the opera house
 Mr. Dutton-I don't know.
 MT. Bennett-Did you have an under standing that you were to have control2
 Mir. Dntton-I assumed 50.
 Mr. Bennett-Then you don't make very definite arrangements. The arrangements were net very clear to yourself even.
 MT. Dutton-Well, the arrangements were as understood them, but suggestions to be made by us should be followed out by the management
 MT. Bennett-What do you think was the cause of the trouble?
 MT. Dutton-Keeping out those who had rush seats. They congregated around the door and kept the holders of reserved seat tickets cut went in search of Mir. Gay to suggest that he let the rushers in. The reason that we issued rush tickets is that several years ago, when none were issued, there were several hundred vacant seats. Manager Bunnell said he tried to make it pleasant for all who came that night. If the management of the board had stated their arrangements to me clearly think I could |. Ao1-- ( q -al, such variety of tickets or so many rush tickets in my life. We knew every seat in the house had been numbered and given out, and when we saw so many rush tickets com ing we kept them out until o'clock. Had we been acquainted with the plan of ar- rangements we'd have been able to manage things nicely.
 Mir. Gay said that as those holding rush tickets crowded in>the ais1es and seats, he gave orders to have the outside doors closed
 Fire Marshal Kennedy said that he gave nc orders and was there to see that the city or dinanoe in regard to theaters was carried out. MT. J. D. Rice, the doorkeeper, said that he refused admission to many who had rush tickets as he thought they would not wait until o'clock before they would take the reserved seats. He asked them to stand aside, but they didn't.
 Usher Haines of the dress circle said that there were three ushers in that part, the same as usual People who held gallery tickets came in and took dress circle seats and would not move when asked to move cut. The aisIes were blocked half way down. Many were waiting until o'clock so as to make a rush for down stairs.
 Cornelius s. Morehouse of Futile, More house & Taylor said that there was an im- mense jam around the door when he got there All who blocked the way had rush tickets and so those who had reserved Beats could not get in. He thought if the system of taking tickets had been done properly there would have been no trouble. He final ly got into the parquet and was surprised to see half the seats empty when the doors out doortsrders onid not iet in tbgs Ieenine ;n out those who had reserved seats. The committee had an executive session and talked the matter over, but made no re. port That will not be made until the next meeting of the board of education.