The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-30
"THE SENATOR"
An Outline Of the Story Of This successf"i
American Comedy.

American Comedy.
The American comedy, 1.-THE Senator,
| in which Mr.. William II. Crane, the
| comedian, has been so successful, and In
which he will appear here shortly. mas
| attracted so much curiosity and Interest
| from the fact that the ground work or the
| play Is founded on the celebrated claim
| for the loss Of the private armed brig
| of-war, General Armstrong. which was
for many years pending before Congress.
The scenes are laid in Washington, ana
| some OF the dramatis personae are IN
| tended to represent parties now residing
! at the Capital The General Armstrong
| was commanded by Captain Samuel Ches-
ter Reid, OF New York. and after running
the blockade OF the English frigates at
Sandy Hook, put into the neutral harbor
OF Fayal, one of the Azore Islands. be-
longing to Portugal, on the night or the
26th OF September. 1914. A large British
squadron. on It's way TO join the forces
at Jamaica, for the conquest or New
Orleans, attacked the Armstrong. and al
ter the most desperate, bloody and heroic
battle ever fought on the seas. the Bril-
fish loss was over 300 men and officers
killed and wounded, while the American
loss was only two killed and seven
wounded, Captain Reid, not being able 10
contend with so great superior force,
the enemy set her on fire and she blew
up. The posthumous portion of the play
was written by the late David ID. Lloyd
a talented Washington newspaper cores
pendent, who became acquainted with
the facts OF the case from its historical
record before Congress, and whose inten-
ton at the time was TO show up the
bungling and laundering course pursued
by this government in the prosecution OF
IT. CfIhCQ-
quently the injustice, the ingratitude ana
Infamous delays of Congress in the treat
ment of Just claimants, for which 1t Is so
VIGOROUSLY distinguished. The play was
completed by Mr.. Sydney Rosenfeld,
whose genius has adapted THE Senator
to suit the role of the talented comedian,
Mr.. Crane. The character Of Silas Den
man is intended to represent Coionel
Samuel G. Reid, weli-known lawyer ana
writer, now residing In Washington, ana
who devoted a lifetime to the
yindlcation Of the honor Of his father
who commanded the brig, more than for
the indemnity due for her loss. The COM
mander Of the British squadron charged
that Captain Reid had first violated the
neutrality Of the port by provoking ana
commencing the attack. On the truth or
falsehood of this charge depended the
right to recover against Portugal, ana
afterward against the united otateS' Inc
story of Sllas Denman and his daughter
In the play is, Of course, mostly hction'
The breezy young Western Senator Han
nibal Rivers, is supposed to represent
Senator Plumb, of Kansas. who IL is SAID.
is easily identified by Mr.. Cranes make
I'D" of that gentleman. The Senator VINO
really took charge Of and championed
the Armstrong bill in the Senate, was the
late Iamented Hon. George I'll. Pendleton'
Of Ohio who as a member of the COM
mittee on foreign relations, made re-
port In this case Of the most distinguished
ability on international law and Amerl-
can ilIrisprudence In this report made In
March. 1850. il is stated that 1.-The event
out of which this claim arose Is most
creditable to the valor and skill OF Ameri-
can seamen, and its remote influences
evidently secured victory to the American
arms at New Orleans.