The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-15
THE BIG CHIEF.
Apache Indians Who Wanted to
See Aimee in Comic Opera.

II went to see the opera OF 'Girofe- GirOha'
this week." said j. b. Readman, an eX manager,
TO a CALL representative last evening land
While enjoying the antics of the players was re-
minded of an incident which has never appeared
IN print
Along in the seventies was business man
ager OF the Aimee Opera Troupe, and after two
months season on the Pacific Coast We reached
81. Louis, on Tie return journey, IN September.
| The weather was m ghttuliy not, The company
felt il severely after the delightful GOODNESS OF
The weather on The Coast.
TO make matters worse we were playing 10
De Bars Opera House, which WAS not the best
ventilated theater IN the world
zone afternoon While sitting IN the Office OF
the the tier trying TO keep cool, WAS told man
wished TO see me. show him ill.,, said |, and in
slaiked tall man, as brown an Indian. who
introduced himself as the guide and Interpreter
of lot OF wild Apache Indians who were being
| taken 10 the city OF Washington TO arrange some
| sort OF treaty with the Government and who
| were in a civilized ely for the first time. He
said he had called to negotiate for seats for him
self ana his twenty Indians TO come and see III e
| show.
| - Are they as natural as on their native
| heath l asked. = If so, there might be some
| objection On, no, said he, they would
like that, no dnubt, as the weather Is 50 hot. but
| have managed TO get them all into billed shirts
| and store pants, so | guess no one Will be
| shocked
,'The arrangements were soon made for the-
| row of Ibe balcony circle. and The agent was in
sfrucled 10 bring bis band in early 10 get
sembe.
promptly at 7:3o the Indians filed In, and a
line locking lot of bucks they were, albeit the
billed shirts and store pants detracted soma
what from their tiei ceueSS, especially as each
one was supplied with 4 large palm-leal fan.
Il wondered II they would take any interest In
the performance. su | seated myself where |
could watch the effect OF music aud acting upon
them. During the assembling OF the audience
the overture aUu the eailier scenes OF the opera
they exhibited little or no interest, in fact, look
Ing rather bored WIN the whole proceeding, and
sat Stodly tanning themselves.
FINALLY lie Stage was cleared and the weird
music, which Is the cue Tor Inc fist OF lie pirates
TO pop up his head over the seawai, IS heard. AS
tue head appeared mus suddenly then a second
and ih'fd aDd so on tile effect was magical. H.
stantly every fan was dropped, the most eager
aud iHleu>e excitement Iighied every face Here
was something they thoroughly uuderstoOd-an
attack-a surprise.
las The pirates sprsng stealthily over the wall
every Indian ciutched the arms OF the seat ana
closely watched the actors. As tie signal is
given OF The approach OF Girofil aud her madens
and TIE pirates conceal themselves the Indians
talked together eXcitedy.
The gi'ls stand grouped and singing merry,
the pirates creep stealthily ont OF their hiding
places, The Indians eyes fairly baZed with ex-
element As the pirates seize the gltls I'll In
dians half raise IN their seats. Would they jump
on to The stage and Take Il hand In the canIure Z?
/ BAR expected TO hear Wlr-wnoop, but the
agent too, saw, had been watching his men
aud feared something OF the sort, for he speaks
RAPIDLY 10 those nearest him. Tie wOrd Is passed
along The line, ana 10 moment the Indians
dropped back into their seats but watched
htehly thereafter every scene OF thr play.
"Ou The entrance Of MuurZOuk they are again
aler he is evidently big chief, aud it amused
item 10 see bow lie IS feared by every one.
In the scene, where Duplan BOero tries to
explain 10 MouTZouk how he happened 10 lock
linn In his room and the latter draws his scim-
ilar to cut him down, Duplau dropping on his
knees, would beg for mercy, aud Mourzouk
with thumb nd hnerr, would lake hold of the
little luft OF hair his bald pate aud lift him TO
his feei. AT this point The Indians actually
laughed aloud.
II mel The agent next day and asked him how
his Indians had enjoyed themselves.
q" on, hrst rate, coufound them. Only this
morning every mothers son of them wants rig
Ike The Big Chief" (HIOurzOuk) 10 the play"