Kansas City journal., 1898-05-02
THEATERS Went Wild.
NEWS OF VICTORY AROUSED UN-
BOUNDED ENTHUSIASM.
Great Demonstration Mt the Orpheum
Audience Shouted and Cheered
for Ten Minutes When the
Bulletins Were Read.

Kansas City theatergoers went wild last
night when the news Of the great Amer
ican naval victory was announced.
1t was $50 o'clock when the people at
the Orpheum theater heard the first news
of the victory. The orchestra had just
stopped playing an interlude. The curtain
was about to rise on another act when
Rush Bronson, the stage manager, stepped
from behind the wings into the glare of
paper in his hand, raised it above his head
and waved it for silence. The babble of
small talk in the crowded pit, balcony and
gallery ceased.
Il have good news for you and I want
you all to hear it," said the stage man
ager. He Strengthened the crumpled paper
out in his hands, stopped over slightly so
the light would fall full upon it and read:
Associated Press dispatch from Madrid
to The Journal of this city,
There was q stir of excitement in the
theater as the people leaned forward to
listen. The mention of the one word Mad
rid led all to believe that it meant news
from the Philippines. 1t had been an
nounced in every newspaper, and every
one knew that the first news of battle in
the far East would come by way of Mad
| rid. How anxiously that news was await
ed was seen in the eager faces bent for
| ward, watching the man with the sheet of
paper behind the footlights. There was
perfect silence as the man read on:
1.-THE Journal has just received news
| from Madrid to the effect that the ex-
pected battle at Manila took place Sun
| day morning"
The man paused moment to turn the
message better to the light and the still
| ness was SO profound that the rafting of
| the paper as he moved it was distinctly
heard. There were two engagements. and.
according to Spanish advices. the flagship
of Admiral Montejo, the Reina Maria Chris
tiana. was burned and her commander
| killed: one other Spanish cruiser blown
| up and still another DESTROYED. ,a
| for full five minutes. A great, resounding
cheer let loose from pit to dome. Men
and women stood up some even tha1r iaapea aams
| Theater programmes in clouds were rolled
into balls and d. thrown en upTare E'yervone Twas was
laughing, shouting. hurrahing. Men Men
Slapped men they. had never seen before
| upon the back and hurrahed again.
| The man upon the stage was cheering.
too. and waving the cablegram above his
head. At last there was iuil enough LUZ
| him to be heard. go
"rhere's more of it! Listen!'
| But the people did not sit down. Insy
became quiet. but remained standing while
| this was read: , 80 ,,fo
The Spanish account declares .,,,.,. ..
He stopped reading and said This Is
| the Spanish account mind you. Ano u
| the Spaniards concede this much. just walt
| till you hear from our side.
| Again the cheering broke OUT. II conl
| tinued as before for several minutes anu
| then the stage manager hnished reaoihs
| the dispatch, as follows: =.
American fieet sustained heavy losses.
but makes no mention Of what they were
| The official dispatch from the captain gen
of the af to the hut
Losses 1t is very clear from the teno!
| of the dispatches that the Spanish fieei
| suffered a crushing defeat, if indeed, II
was not practically wiped out OF exist
| ence."
| There have been times in the history Of
| this theater when its walls and dome shooH
| with the cheers that greeted news OF eiec.
tions and other events nut me scenes ae dine are
| of this dispatch last night were never look
ed upon or heard there before.
The stage manager bowed ana te1t tne
stage. but nobody saw him. People were
| looking into each others eyes as they cheer:
ed and yelled like men gone wild, Behinc
| the wings the actors waited and Waitec
aue, so they could ;b Eg on 4he and d
siencing the uproar. struck up: THE Red
White and Blue" The audience caught the
| strains of the patriotic air tiltering through
last a bell tinkled loudly. the curtain rose
| and the noise quieted down; not suddenly
but gradually. and after the actors appear.
ed upon the stage there were ntlui ripplse. ps
| of clapping hands from every part OF the
house. like the pattering of hail IN pass
| ing thunder storm.