The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-19
THE MANSFIELD DEMAND.
A JOstIing Line Waiting Twenty
Seven Hours Before the Sale.

At II o'clock last night the 200 men and
boys who had patiently stood or sat in front
Of English's Opera House nearly all of yes
terday, were admitted to the lobby of the
theater, where they spent the remainder of
the night waiting for the sale of seats for
the Mansfield engagement to begin at 8
o'clock this morning, Many of the walters
had been in line all day and were numb with
cold when allowed to enter the warm lobby.
Several police were stationed in the lobby
and kept the crowd quiet during the night.
The line of ticket purchasers began form
ing at o'clock yesterday morning. The
first to come lined up inside the lobby, sup
posing they would be permitted to remain
there until the sale opened to-day Manager
Miller explained to them that they would
have to wait outside until after last night S
performances, and the crowd lined up along
the curbstone. BY noon there was nearly
a hundred men and boys in line, the most
of them having been stationed there by those
who desire to see "Cyrano de Bergerac"
Others were there for speculative purposes.
The most of those in line had been instructed
to purchase all the way from a half dozen
to ten tickets. The management had an
nounced that no more than ten tickets would
be sold to any one purchaser.
The first five in line were from the Bates
House to purchase tickets for out of town
patrons of the Bates. Some of the other
hotels had sent their men to the theater
later in the day, but the prospect was dis
couraging. About the time the line was
forming well-known citizen came up and,
supposing that the sale was to open in a
short time, concluded he wanted some tick
cts, and Joined the walters. He did not
learn of the long wait before him until
one OF his friends came along and enlight-
ened him. II quickly left the line.
Last night the scheme of a prominent
theatrical ticket speculator was spoiled by
the police. During the day this man had
announced that he wanted something like
two hundred tickets and was told that he
would not be able to purchase more than
ten. Last night when the doors of the thea
ter were opened for the performance of I'm
Old Kentucky several colored boys in the
employ of this Spectator took seats in
the gallery. 1t was shrewdly suspected that
these youths were up to some game" 1t
was learned that their plan was to come
down from the gallery with the crowd when
the performance closed and take up posi-
tions near the box office with view to
holding these places against the outside
walters when they should be admitted. The
colored boys attempted to carry out this
plan, but were promptly put out Of the lobby
by the police. They came back again and
were elected a second time.
Captain Dawson, with several Sergeants
and patrolmen, handled the crowd we'll last
night. For an hour before the line" was
allowed TO move into the lobby of the thea
ter there was a great deal of pushing and
jostlirg among the men and boys, and the
police were kept very busy. Once inside the
lobby the walters proceeded to make them
selves as comfortable as possible. Many of
them had chairs or camp stools, and during
the night were able to catch short maps.
Others laid down on the floor and slept
there. Many in the crowd had baskets of
lunch with them.
1t is recalled that but once in this city
has similar rush for theatrical tickets oc-
CURED. This was the occasion of Edwin
Booths appearance in this city a short time
ha q I,1M hoo rla
ing together. The management of En-
ghsh's predict that the house will be sold
out for the Mansfield engagement by noon
TO- Ky ne sag Tvs Is FeserVe9 as Wen as
ment has done all it could to prevent specu-
latOrs buying up seats.