Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-04
COMEDIAN CRANE.
III. Is soon TO Appear Here In His Great
Role ms the Senator.

Tn few weeks there will be presented
IN this city an American comedy that has
bean more widely discussed and written
about than any production that has been
seen on the American stage Tor many
years. 1.-THE SENATOR, produceu oy tns
eminent comedian. william "a. Oiane, snu
hrs company. il this play. Its success has
been phenomenal wherever 1t has been pro-
duced. IL will perhaps interest our readers
10 be told the story OF this mucn-aoVer-
The scene of the comedy is laid wholly
IN Washington and its story depicts the
mannuvres brought to bear IN the senate
10 secure the passage OF PHI. lne par
ticular bill in question IS known as tne
the struggle on the part or an olu man 10
secure reparation of wrong uohe nls
father. which has left him in poverty ever
Silas Denman IS the name of an old man
in the nlav. who is the father OF beauti-
rfu1 Young girl, 20 years of age, named
Mabel, for whom he is struggling through
his poverty and hoping against nope tor
the passage of the Denman bill:
Siias,s father. Captain John z. Denman,
commanded the General Taylor, an Ameri-
can privateer, during the war OF lSiZ. On
September %, 1914. he put into fayel
Portuguese possession In the Azores LOT
fresh water. About shutdown a British
squadron. carving 1876 guns and 2.OOO men,
entered the harbor. The British squadron
was on its way to reinforce Aonllral CUch-
rane's feet intending the capture OF new
: Orleans. and IL was decided TO seize tne
American brig to aid in the expedition.
The English bad twenty men and twenty
Gums To one of the Americans. Ola Den
mans handful of men fought like heroes.
The British lost 300 killed ana wounded,
and the Americans only 2 men killed ana
7 wounded. But the odds were too great;
Captain Denman scuttled the snip ana
vent ashore. She dld not sink immedi-
o,eIv and tho enemy burned the vessel.
| The damage 10 the English fleet, however,
| kept them so long at Fayal rehtting that
| General Jackson was able to reach New
! Orleans four days before the British
| arrived. SO part of the victory at New
| Orleans was due to Captain John +. Den
man. father of Silas Denman ana grand
| father of Mabel. The claim before CON
/ press was for the value OF the snip tnat
was burned. During forty years TINS clalm
was urged by our government against
! Portugal. as a neutral power anu Dounu 70
| protect one belligerent against another III
/ her own territory. The failure OF our
government TO present certain evidence
made the United States justly liable Tor
| compensation TO the owners OF the orlg.
! But long before this MaOeIs grauuIaI!ue'
had died. Her father took up the claim
and since that time Silas ana MS daugntel
have gone on waiting and hoping, but II
| vain. ,. ooIto5
In the play there Is character called
Hannibal Rivers, q breezy. buoyant young
senator from the Wcst-a man OF enter
prise, energy, and unbounded llheralty-
who through the Secretary OF state, De
comes acquainted and interested IA Maoel
learns from her the story of her father
life and the JUSTICE of the Denman, clam
and determines to devote himself hear
and soul to the passage of the bill; How
he succeeds and how he is rewarded are
matters which the playwIlghts have en-
tor is nIaved of course by Mr.. Crane, anC
il gives him ample opportunity to e4er
clse those qualities as an actor which have
rendered him most popular IN the eyes
the public.