The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-11
FEARS OF hASGAGNI
Great Composer Asks for an
Armed Guard
TO PROTECT HIS LIFE
From What Source No One in
Authority Knoweth.

New York, Dec. l0.-Pietro Mascagni
the Italian composer. came into the city
for a concert last night. At the station
he was surrounded by forty policemen
and detectives. He was in fear OF his
Police Commissioner Partridge had
sent Captain Walsh of the West Thrift
eth street station. with the police, TO
meet Mascagni. The captain appeared
himself with revolver and billy. at the
Grand Central depot when the train with
the impressario-c omposer-conductor pull
ed in
Just what the causes of Mascasnis
| fears are seem mysterious. II is. how
ever, declared by his representative 10
be the outcome OF the trouble in Boston.
when the composer was arrested on civil
suits in which men connected with the
tour of America were concerned.
The fears of Composer Mascagni were
communicated to Mayor Low Saturday
IN a letter by Robert Heard, Mascagnis
for the composers life because of the
manager. He told the mayor ne feared
fears; said that great men are always
hated and feared. and that there was too
much risk in the celebrated Italian com
ing into this city unescorted by represen-
tatives Of the law who could AFFORD him
protection.
The letter was turned over TO Com
missioner Partridge. He deemed it of
sufficient Importance to send to Captain
Walsh. Mascagni had appealed TO the
Italian prime minister Zardanell. when
arrested in Boston and that official had
promised to interfere and make it his
personal business to do so.
Captain Walsh's injunctions from Com
missioner Partridge were to send forty
or fifty men to the Grand Central de-
pot
When the train from Springfield, Mass,
came in at $40 the detectives swarmed
about it. 1t looked like a reception to
the composer and the dozen other people
in the depot, with the attendants and
guards, ran up to see what the matter
was.
Mascagni and Manager Heard stepped
out of the car and Captain Walsh greet
ed him.
Pleased to meet you, Senior Captain"
said the composer. Mr.. Heard looked
about him suspiciously He consulted
Captain Walsh in whispers.
Mr.. Heard stepped into the cab and
Captain Walsh assigned one of his de-
tective sergeants to get into the cab
with the composer and Mr.. eHard
The drive was to the Herald Square
theater, where Mascagni was billed to
conduct a concert.
There were four women and about
forty men in the party. They split up
into twos and threes and walked. de-
tective accompanied each group or walk
ed behind
In this way they went through Forty
second street to Fifth avenue. Though
they were large sized groups they mixed
in with the crowds on those thorough
fares, and little attention was attracted. !
They also went TO the Herald Square
theater.
The forty detectives went behind the !
scenes in the theater to watch the COM
poser and his troupe. What the fear
was in regard to the troupe was vague. |
but their lives were also endangered. ac-
cording to rumor, and the detectives |
watched them as closely as the COM
poser.
Mascagnfs first arrest in Boston was
in civil action brought by Mittenthal 4
Bros, who were backing the enterprise. |
He had received $500 in advance from |
them. they claimed, and he had refused /
to play in Boston on a certain night. /
They claimed TO be out s21 900 in money |
advanced to the composer and his men. I
but they said they only wanted the $, 900 /
they had given him.
The other arrest was in q civil suit by 1
Joseph Smith. who claimed to have ar
ranged the negotiations for the composer, /
and wanted $1,000. Bonds were given for /
the composer. and he was able to leave |
thu state