The record-union., 1898-11-29
ADJUSTMENTS.

In front of the oval and music stand
at Mare Island Navy Yard are mount
ed two notable naval relics. One is the
battered and storm-to figurehead of
the United States ship Vandalia and
the other is the massive bronze screw
Of her compahion, the Nipsic. The great
blades are twisted and bent like a pa
per shell In the hand of anger The
two relics tell the story of the most
awful storm ever known in the South
Seas and Of the greatest disaster which
ever befell our navy, when the United
States warships Vandalia, Nipsic and
Trenton were ground TO pieces on the
coral reefs of Apia Harbor, Samoa, and
the German warships Adler, Eber and
Olga were sunk and hundreds of brave
men Of both nations lost their lives.
The British ship Caliope alone escaped.
The Trenton went down with the Stars
and Stripes flying and her crew sing
ing the national hymn. Around that
tragic scene is woven the story of I'm
der the Dome" played last night at the
Orpheum and to be repeated tonight.
1t Is simple justice to say that no piece
has ever been staged at the Orpheum
or any other Sacramento theater with
such remarkable scenic and mechanical
effects. More brilliant and snowy
scenery We have had, and many intri-
cate mechanical stage devices, but
nothing so true to nature and to his
tory, so realistic SO thrilling or in
which the illusion has been SO neatly
worked as in Under the Dome" For
the scenic effects alone the house ought
to be packed tonight. They are all
new; they are novel. and they are
wholly original. One of these is ferry
boat scene The audience is on the
boat as 1t lies in its Slip the gong
sounds and the boat moves out; the
ship disappears; the lights on the hills
of the city grow dim and fade away,
while those of the lower levels and
water front rise to view, tier after tier,
until as the beat Of the paddles appar-
emily drive the boat along, they too fade
and are lost to view. Then the dark
ness of the midday sets in, and pres
emily the pilot light of the slip the boat
is approaching is dimly seen. Grad
ually it grows brighter and larger;
then come into view the white and red
pier lights, and as these apparently
draw nearer the boat moves into the
home slip as the curtain falls. But
this fine effect is as nothing to that
of the fourth act-the storm in Apia
Bay, which closes with the Trenton
sweeping over her and the hurricane
lifting her like an egg shell, tossing her
aloft and then dropping her with fear
full thud upon the reef-but all the while
the Stars and Stripes fly from her miz
zen and she goes to her death to the
music of the Star Spangled Banner" :"
The audience last night rose to the
scene and cheered as we have heard no
other cheer in that theater Six times
the people required the scene to be re-
peated, and they cheered to the end
The scene fully justified the patriotic
enthusiasm manifest, for the text Of
the play adroitly works up the feelings
to this climax and he must be cold in
deed who is unmoved by it. There are
other scenes; pretty and striking one
Is a view of Apia Harbor on a hot
tropical day. Another the National
Capitol from the foot of Pennsylvania
avenue by night. The play all hinges
upon the loves, haps and mishaps of
a blue jacket and his sweetheart, who
are pursued by the usual melodramatic
villain. 1t is a clever and romantic
story, strongly drawn on the lines Of
the sensational melo-drama. It is quite
well played, but the leader and notable
character personator is Mr.. Compston,
as boatsman of the Trenton. It is
really refreshing to see an 'sold salt"
SO 20, y, {rr11xv k1I
from the excessive overcolor most ar
lists lay on in personating the tar Of
the American navy. Two specialists
are introduced-Mr Sutherland,
whistler Of superiority; indeed, one of
the best and certainly one of the truest
to real musical effect. The other is
Miss Hunt, young soubrette, who cam
not sing even a little, since her voice
is that of child and has no musical
tone in it-but as a nimble-footed
dancer she is one Of the neatest,
cleverest and by all odds the most
modest we have had here in many a
day. The same play tonight and to-
morrow night.
Season tickets and reserved seats for
season ticket holders can be secured
for the Capital Concert Series second
concert on Friday night at Pommer's
Music Store after o'clock this morn
ing. There is no extra charge for re-
serving. Single tickets have been
placed at so cents, with no extra charge
for reserving seats. Seats can be Sc
cured on them at Pommer's Wednes-
day morning. Season tickets are pro-
durable at a less rate than at the open
ing of the season, as one concert having
been given there is a deduction for it.
There will be plenty of seats for single
admission ticket holders, as only part
of the season tickets usually sold in
previous wears have been disnOS4d nf