The morning call., 1891-09-07
WAS IT BUNCU?
An Angry Crowd at the Powell
Street Theater.
They Claim They Were Taken In by Lessee
Knapp-A Mob Held Back by Police.
Exciting Scenes.

There was wild excltment in front of and
inside of the Powell-street Theater last night.
Nearly 1000 people, the majority of them
women, were clamoring indScriminatey for
their money and for blood. While very few
got any of the former, yet it is almost GER
tain that had it not been for the protecting
walls of the theateT boX-Of1ice and the pres
ence Of half dozen of policemen, the crowd
would have scattered more or less gore.
The blood and the money both were de-
manded OF A. r. Knapp, the present lessee OF
the Powell-street Theater, by angry an crowd
of men and women who made no bones OF
their belief that they had been buncoed, and
boldly threw the accusation into the grim
ming face of mOney-taker Knapp, safely
enscOnced in the box Office barricade, and
reinforced in the arduous task by Mrs.
Knapp.
THE POLICE TAKE A HAND.
Some few of the first Corners at the box
office window who demanded return of
their money were grudgingly accommo-
dated. but the crowd came finally so thick
and fast. and were so clamorOus, that police
aid was importuned and the people were
turned roughly away.
According to the story told by several of
the people who claimed to have been fieeced,
and also by l.. Eppstein, secretary and
treasurer of the Oriental Opera Company,
it does no. place Mr.. Knapp in a most env-
able light.
A week ago yesterday, said Mr.. Eppsten,
the Oriental Opera Company, an organiza-
ton of Hebrew performers, made an engage
ment for week with Nj. Knapp to play
operate selections at the Powel-street The
ater The contract called for 50 per cent of
the gross receipts for the company, Mr..
Knapp TO have the remaining 10 per cent,
aud out OF which he was to pay the ex-
penses.
Mr.. Eppstein says the contract was kept
the first night. but ever since, or every night
last week, from Monday until Saturday In
elusive Mr.. Knapp. to use his own graphic
company did not get cent The company
found itself stranded, and last week cast
about to better itself. benefit perform
ance at the Orpheum Theater for next SUM-
day night was agreed upon and tickets were
issued accordingly.
ON DIFFERENT TACK.
In the meanwhile, says Mr.. Eppstein. and
dents OF this city bears him out, Mr.. Knapp
started in on different tack. He also had
some tickets printed, and for several DAYS
has been industriously peddlng them out
at from 30 cents to 81 each, disposing of
most OIL tnem 10 hebrew persons, by rep
resentng. to them that the tickets we're for
benefit for the Oriental Company.
The tickets sold rapidly, the purchasers
| evidently being DESTROYS TO help their fell
| low-religiOnists, and it is asserted that over
| $1,000 worth of tickets were sold. i'm addi-
ton to quite a sale at the box-office last
| night.
When the curtain rose at 8 o'clock the
| house was well filled; but instead OF the
Oriental Opera Company, as the audience
| had been led to expect they gazed upon
dreary variety performance BY a half dozen
| "ham-fatters," who were grou ped mon the
| programme under the fetching title of the
| "Oriental Quartet"
A RUSH FOR THE Box-oFFIcE.
Many Of the audience left the bou.e i'm
mediately In disgust and not a few of them
demanded their money back. Others re-
manned throughout the performance. !"
! however, which lasted exactly forty-nine
minutes, and then, feeling that they had
| been imposed upon, made a mad rnsh for
the box-office, wherein Mr.. Knapp was
safely housed. That gentleman. however,.
had taken time by the forelock. and half
dozen policemen were stationed In the
| lobby of the theater, against whom the i'm
| precautions and complaints of the outraged
crowd fell harmlessly, some of the more
obstreperous ones being rudely pushed out
on to the sidewalk and told to 90 home,
MAD CROWD.
| To say that the crowd was mad. esneciallv
the members of the Oriental Onera Com.
pany, who were present in force would he
putting 1t mildly. For fully an hour after
the" performance ended q crowd of angry