The San Francisco call., 1896-01-25
Rival Bands at the Tabernacle
Entrance Persist in
Playing.
ONE ORDERED BY MISTAKE.
As Both Were Originally One the Feel
ing of Hostility Is Hard to
Suppress.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALI
90S RrOadwav Tap "a

90S Broadway, Jan. "a. (
The final Growing of the roosters and the
cackling of the hens in the Tabernacle
last night was entirely swallowed up in
the volume of music that was created AT
the doors by the two rival halves of the
original Fifth Infantry band. For a
quarter OF an hour the two bands plaved
different airs only few feet apart, and
not until after conference with the di-
reetors was peace and harmony restored.
For long time there has been dissatis-
faction between the two bands. which
were originally one. Stories differ as to
how the trouble started; but about a
month ago the seeding faction, which is
styled the Oakland Professional band,
threatened legal proceedings against the
Fifth Infantry band if some music which
was joint property was not restored to the
place from which it had been taken. This
widened the breach, and when the Poultry
Show was opened both bands applied tor
the privilege of supplying the evening
music. In order to prevent any friction
Superintendent Sharpe made an arrange
ment by which the two bands should play
on alternate nights.
This arrangement was satisfactory. and
had the show closed Wednesday night, as
was anticipated, there would have been no
complication. But the show decided to
keep open another night, and by some
misunderstanding both bands were told to
report for duty last night.
The Fifth Infantry band arrived first,
and taking Up their stand at the entrance
under the leadership of Director McBain,
they commenced playing the Boulanger
march. = few minutes later the Oakland
Professional band, under the direction of
Mr., Richardson, made its appearance, and
Without paying any attention to their
rivals they took up position on the other
side OF the entrance and opened up with
one Of the liveliest of Sousa's productions
For quarter OF an hour the two bands
played, and each manipulation of a brass
instrument exhaled martial music as if his
life depended on the volume of sound
emitted.
When the exhibition officers arrived they
called the two directors into their office
and consultation was held. While the
negotiations were pending the music
struck up again and the two leaders rushed
10 The Tabernacle entrance to see who had
broken the temporary truce.
Directly across the street from the show
entrance Is the entrance of the Oakland
Theater. A band also plays outside the
house prior tc the curtain-raislng, and
when Directors McBaln and Richardson
arrived at the entrance they found that
neither or their bands had been diseourte-
Gus, but that the music came from the
band controlled by the man across the
street.
Eventually it was agreed that one band
should play the first hour of the evening
and the other band the second hour. It
was found out that both bands had been
ordered by mistake and as there is a pros
pect OF much music being required at the
Tabernacle during the coming six-day
bicycle race the superintendent did not
experience much trouble in adjusting the
difficulty. The incident, however, has not
produced any harmony between the two
bands.