The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-04
Duff Opera Company Strikes on
Tacoma Theater's Manager.
THE GUARANTEE NOT PAID.
Nelson Bennett Makes a Speech and Is
UprOariouSly Applauded.
BE Located-Firo ut WalIa Walla-
Stevens County Horse Thieves Par

TACOMA, Dec. 3-lSpsciai l-During the sec.
ond act of "Miss Helyett," by the Duf Opera
company at the Tacoma thea:er tonight, tho
curtain was rung down by Treasurer Roth He
had been unable to effect satisfactory settle
ment with Manager Heilig, and threatened to
stop the play If he did not pay him the
usual guarantee Manager Heilig claimed
TO be in the right. He said Duff had
not lived up to his contract There were to be
nifty people in the company, and only thirty Eve,
according to Heillg. were present There was
also some difference about the orchestra, the
regular tbeater orchestra not being able TO sup
port large company in producing the Opera.
In this Heilg claimed Duff was in the wrong,
as he should have, he said. furnished a
suitable orchestra. These gentlemen dis
cussed the situation with great vchemence.
1t was feared they would come to blows. One
OF Heilig's friends remarken audibly that If he
were manager Roth would not have escaped
without a personal encounter. Heilig fatty
fused to pay the guarantee and insisted on hav-
Ing ~ per cent OF the receipts. I'll give you
TWO minutes 10 SETTLE" Roth exclaimed, as they
entered the foyer from the box Office "If you
DO not settle in that time I'll stop this play"
There was fair-sized audience, with many
leading society and business people present.
Heilig lifted his eyebrows and smiled defiantly.
Roth moved about, angry and impatient. Thsre
was no possibility of Heilig settling, and at the
chu Vi mIuute hotn walked uOWn Il S1Go
aisle and pounded viciously on the stage door,
which was locked. The audience heard, but
did not understand. Finally Roth gave the
stage manager the cue, and the actors
were taken off the stage in jiffy.
They did it so naturally, however. that
few persons knew that anything was wrong.
"Will you settle now?" demanded Roth. after
the curtain went down. Don't pay him
cent" advised one of Hei!ig's friends.
The audience in q little while grew impatient,
and still no settlement had been effected. Nell
son Bennett heard that something was wrong,
and he took a commanding position in the left
aisle and said: Ladies and gentlemen, as
many of you are leaving tako it upon myself,
as citizen OF this city, to call your attention to
the fact that something is wrong. If the play
is not 70 go on, l advise you to demand the re-
turn OF your money at the box office
Mr.. Bennett was applauded uproariously.
Manager Heilig had intended to return the
money to the audience. however. but this was
not necessary, as at the end OF half an hour q
settlement. was effected without the guarantee
being paid, and the play was resumed Pend.
ing this settlement there YVES q buzz Of excite
ment and much gossip.
The Duff company has engaged several Ia
coma musicians to assist the orchestra in pro-
ducing opera at Seattle next week. and every
effort will be made looking to the successful
production OF the operas announced to be given.