The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-02
Red Fire Wouldn't Bring Him
Down But Hunger Did
the Work.
The Curious Contest for the Pos
session Of the Opera
House.
Manager Mcguire Enjoined From Inter.
fering with Manager Remington
Prospects Of q New Theater.

John G.. Remington will be fortunate
during his lease Of the opera house il he
gets m attraction on the stage near SO
funny as the history Of his first day as
manager. John Maguire's lease expired at
II O'Clock on Tuesday night. He left a man
there to look after tho property. The man
was j. b. McCabe. About ten minutes Of
midnight McCabe stepped ont for a few
minutes. Three employees Of the nev
lessee, Mr.. Remington, were in the gallery
looking for this. Mr.. Remington was noti-
fed. and finding the house open, entered
into possession, and placed John Frey in
charge. The doors were locked and barred,
and Frey, with gun in hand, patrolled up
and down the aisles and between the rows
of empty seats. 1t was lonesome work, Frey
says. About four O'Clock in the morning
there was a knock at the front door. The
portoullis was dropped and the gates un-
Jared. 1t WAS the new manager come to
invite his faithful %henchman out for re-
~freshments. Frey was one about an hour.
When he returned to the theatre he found
that some one had taken a plank out of the
the lock. 1t is thought that this WAS done
by McCabe in order to get his overcoat
which he had left behind.
About eight O'Clock in the morning Frey
went away, thinking everything secure, and
leaving his relief standing at the front
summoned to the theatre hastily and told
that McCabe was again in possession. S ure
enough there was McCabe. He had gotten
in the back way. climbed a ladder, and
perched up in the flies, pistol in hand.
What are you doing up THEREOF asked
Mr.. Remington.
'Fm up here for pay" replied McCabe.
MIR. Remington took a chair and seated
himself in the wings, where he spoke a
piece to the man up in the flies. McCabe,
however, wouldn't come down, Then two
pounds of red fire were prepared and lit.
Theater goers are all aware of the disagree
able odor which comes from this. McCabe
only sneezed, but kept his perch. The lad
der was next removed, and he couldn't
come down. Then he got another dose of
red fire, three pound this time. He only
sneezed.
flies, the Remington people took possession
of the other part of the house. The carpets
were torn up from the aisles and the floor
OF the lobby, and everything except the
cushioned seats treated to a liberal dose of
water from the hose and a mop
ping later on. Things remained in this
hunger had accomplished what red fire had
failed to do. McCabe had had nothing to
est since he went up in the flies. His
stomach could hold out no longer. He
asked for the ladder and when it was pro-
duoed he came down.. II guess I've earned
my money! he said, as he left the theatre
ployes. Soon after that Mr.. Mcguire was
served with an injunction issued by Judge
Buck, of the district court, restraining him
from interfering in any way with the Rem
ington management. -
Manager Remington says he thinks the
affair WAS gotten up to annoy him and to
interfere with the Marie Wainwright en-
gagement, which begins tonight. He says
the plan was to have him get out a writ of
ejectment. which would take five days.
Instead OF taking that course. however, he
got an injunction.
tentiOn of causing any Inconvenience to
Miss Wainwright, lnasmuch as this is her
third visit to Montana though my agency,
nor to any other company that will play in
Ming's opera house. And | may say, by
way of parenthesis, that no company is
minstrel company, which were not under
engagement to John Mcguire. Had l a
place ready for them, they would certainly
not appear in Ming's opera house. There
is not an attraction coming to Montana the
ensuing season but which is booked by me,
dAu tue CouUrHCGb 90 uOG Cali IOr Mlng'S
opera house. Even if they did, it would be
all the same. Had I a place ready for them
they would play nowhere else.
"As to the man in the theater, I put him
there to look after properties belonging to
myself n Mr.. Arthur Curtin, to whom 1
am responsible for anything in the house
belonging to him.
1.-THE only business which keeps me in
town now is the contamination of every.
thing pertaining to the new opera house.
The building will cost in the neighborhood
of 100000. The location is all that can be
desired. More than half the money is al
ready guaranteed by the property holders
in the vicinity of the site, as of course such
a building must enhance all the property
for a block OF either side. The house will
be of the latest modern style of theatrical
architecture. The frontage will be stores
and offices. The interest on the invest
ment will be guaranteed from the start. As
soon as the preliminaries are arranged,
which will be in the next few days. the
plans will be published"
While thinking about the city nomina-
tions don't forget to register to-day. It's
the last opportunity.
Knights of Pythias, Attention. Ivy Lodge
No. "a.