The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15
PORTO RICo's VARIETY SNOW.
Seven Stranded New York Actors Playing to
Large Audiences on the Island.

San JUAN. Porto Rico. Jan. 2.-The theatri
cal stage Of this little island. which formerly
filled the purses OF Spanish and italian oper,
troupes on the way to South America. is nov
coupled by seven New York vaudeville actors
who were stranded in Caracas at the time OF
the Venezuelan revolution in February. 1888
Since then these actors. four Americans and
three Japanese. have played in most OF the
West Indian ports. and now form the first
company from the United States to amuse
and entertain the theatre going Porto Ricans
In November. 1897. the actors left New York
with tho Stickney & Donovan Circus Com
pany. and, after filling engagements at the
coast towns on the way, reached the Exposi-
ton fair at Caracas early In February. 1893.
just at the outbreak of tho revolution. Be-
fore they had played between the bull fights
in the aroma a week the circus suddenly broke
up and left many OF the sixty members penni-
less. Unable to walk home on railroad ties.
the seven players referred to formed a COM
pany with Alfred Sutcliffe as manager. He
induced a German steamship company to carry
them. as deck passengers. to Trinidad Island.
Here at Port Of Spain the company gave its
first performance. u regular variety show.
under the shade Of palm and cocoanut trees.
After this modest start THE Sutcliffe and
Royal Japanese Troupe. Endorsed by the Gov
Ohhol Nl5lOOu lou IHt JOWnb on Lie 1SldQU,
Georgetown. British Guiana. and later most
OF. the villages in the Windward Islands. Ne
gro Spanish sympathizers aJ Pointe. a Pitre.
Guadeloupe. compelled the actors to geek tho
protection Of the American Consul in June.
But a more stirring incident. which forced
the actors to flee for their lives. occurred on
the night Of July % at the theatre in st.
Thomas. In the stage decorations. as usual.
were the flags OF all nations. including the red
and yellow Spanish emblem and the red. white
and. blue Of the United States. During the
performance. the second on the island. an
American newspaper correspondent, wishing
Gus clown. a Young membepp Of the cn Sne ne enT-
10 take down the Spanish Tag. Acting on the
spur OF the moment the clown climbed to the
yellow rag and dropped to the floor with his
prize. Spanish refugees and sympathizers
instantly, rose in a body and filled the theatre
with their cries. 1nflamed by this insult, they
attempted to wreak vengeance on the clown.
But, dressed as a Japane 3e boy. he ESCAPED I'M
injured witt, the other members of the COM
Spsniards then went to the island Government
officials and secured an order directing the
actors to, leave the city within twenty four
the only available craft in port. an eighteen
foot sloop with q negro Captain. and set sail be-
fore daylight for the nearest foreign shore.
Porto Rico. At the end of a three days voy-
age the actor adventurers landed on this
Spanish possession at a little fishing village
reached Ponce. the SutcliTe and Japanese
trouOe arrived from the East and took bosses.
guard, the company gave the first OF five per-
In, Ponce. For an orchestra it Sc
Accordingly, when the later TRANSPORTS arrived
from the United States. the soldiers, instead OF
meeting the'Spanish army. saw the big sign: