New-York tribune., 1902-10-12
A MASCAGNI BLOCKADE
COMPOSER REFUSES To GIVE IRIS
AND CROWDS LINE BROADWAY

The large audience that faced the rain. for The
most part 10 be sure. in carriages, last nigh,
10 see the first performance In this country ~
Nascagnfs japanese opera Iris We're turne5
hack Al the doors. because the composer a. <
oclock T., the afternoon had decided ths, the
coonanv was so insuffciently rehearsed that he
could not consent with due respect 10 his renu
,a,ion. 10 conduct the initial American produc
,ion. He pleaded with his managers and con-
WINGED them that he could not direct the per
fornanoe Appeals in the interest of the large
audience that had purchased tickets was in vain
and notices were posted in the lobby.
But il was too late 10 inform the expectant
ticket holders. They arrived in such numbers
and the handling Of the many carriages was so
cunobrous when baked by the delay consequent
on activitv al the box ONCE that a block was
soon formed that extended down Broadway
from Forty-fourth-st 10 Twenty-sixth-st. Car
riages were lined up in two rows on either side
Of the car tracks The storm had brought 10 all
the theatres in the line host Of carriages. and
policemen were al a loss how TO cope with the
tumble Experienced theatre people along the
Rialto last night said they had not seen such a
sight in years.
The reasons assigned al the metropolitan n
Opera House box once for the failure Of the an
nounced performance were the unreadiness Of
the scenery and the insuAici mt rehearsing Of
the company. Money was refunded 10 only a
comparatively small proportion Of the audience.
Many preferred the alternative of exchanged
seats for other performances. After the concert
tonight the company goes 10 Philadelphia for
Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday But the
schedule was changed for the latter half Of the
week. so that Iris" viii be produced on Thurs
day evening and repeated al the Saturday matt
nee. on Friday night 'Ratclin" will he given.
and on Saturday night ~Cavalleria Rusticana."
Mascagni had his company in rehearsal all
yesterday morning In the afternoon perform
anoe Of "Cavalleria Rusticana' interrupted their
lahors, and the composer. being still extremely
dissatisfied with the state of the work obtained
a concession from ms perpexed managers and
called rehearsal for the evening. which was
continued late into the night
A considerable part of the large audience that
was disappointed al the Metropolitan Opera
House overhowed 10 other theatres. and scarce
ly house in the entire line hut was packed last
night in spite Of the drenchinE rain
An inc dent OF the carriage blockade happened
at Thirtieth-st and Broadway about o'clock,
when a hanson cab. driven and owned by Harry
Hirsh. Of No 5l9 East Twenty -second-st.. was
caught between two cars Of the Broadway line
and badly damaged. The horse had 10 be shot.
A young couple who were riding IN the cab were
cut by broken glass. but in the excitement which
followed the accident they were carried 10 a
nearby theatre and their names could not be
learned.
Policeman Mckay and Roundsman sennett
Of the West Thirtieth-st. station. and several
witnesses Of the accident. say the accident was
the result Of an inspector for the railway COM
pany ordering Thomas Murphy Of No 4oi West
Fifty-eighth-st.. motorman 81 one car. 20 push
the cab from the track" No arrest Was made.
Intense excitement followed the accident
Women screamed and jumped from the cars,
cabbies jumped from their boxes and rushed 10
the assistance Of Hrsh, and policemen ran from
all directions.