The evening world., 1904-02-05
Alll See that the Grand Opera.
House ls Not Open Tonight
and Has Instructed Police to
Enforce Orders.
OPENED LAST NIGHT
THROUGH A MISTAKE.
Police Waited for instructions
from Health Department and
When They Did Not Arrive
They Declined to Act.

uron reaching his ONCE after the Whit
ney funeral to-day was to find out why
he Grand Opera House was not closed
last night as he had ordered. He found
at, and said that the police would be on
hand tonight to prevent persons from
entering II the management persists In
keeping the doors open. Tickets for to-
nights performance were sold at the
theatre box-ofice as usual to-day.
A misunderstanding as to authority
furnished Manager Springer with the
opportunity to keep his theatre open
when 1t had been ordered closed. Com
missioner OF Health darlington. infer.
ing that there would bs no protest on
the part OF the managers. did not send
inspectors to the various theatres af-
tected TO see that his closing order was
carried out.
AZ the police had no author ity with
but orders from some one authorized
by the Department or Health to give
orders. they were powcriess TO do any
thing at the Grand Opera-Houst. The
other managers might have opened Just
Tho same had they chosen to defy the
Mayors order. because there was no
Health Department inspectors at any
OF the theatres.
The Grand opera-tIouse will lie
closed Tonight" said Mayor NcClnl-
Ian. There win be no repetition of
the MISUNDERSTANDING hat made the
occurrence OF last night possible.
All q Misundersta nding.
ut appears" he continued, that
Commissioner McAdoo sent his men
to the Grand Opera House subject to
IN action which might be taken by
the Health Department. 1t was under
stood that a representative of that
department would give the order to
cleTe the theatre upon the arrival OF the
police.
mo such order was given. how
ever. IN tile absence OF any one from
the Health Department. so the police
did not act.
There viii be no fsistake tonight.
Commissioner McAdoo win see that
the public is not admitted to the Grand
9pe!.t-Horsc tonight. Sor will ad-
mission be allowed In any OF the other
theatres ordered closed" concluded the
Maror empha tically.
The Madison Square, Princess and
Vaudeville Theatres, Huber's Museum
and Hurtig & Seamon's variety house
were closed In accordance with the or
der of the Mayor. The Grand Opera
House was open and a performance of
THE Earl OF Pawtucket' was given to
one of the biggest houses Of the season.
onIy the Gallery Closed.
MIR. Springer made no pretense of
compliance with the order beyond clos
Ing his gallery. The Grand opera-House
gallery Is equipped with benches. The
authorities have ordered that opera
chairs be substituted for the benches.
This has not been done, and the gallery
was not opened. Holders OF gallery
SEATS bought in advance were seated In
the rear rows OF the balcony.
The Grand Opera House was open and
the performance was given Under amaz-
ing conditions. Capt. Cottrell, of the
West Twentieth street station, with 20
men was ON hand to enforce the order
OF the Mayor. but all he did was handle
the crowd 80 that the patrons OF the
'house might enter most conveniently.
Capt. Cottreli telephoned all over
town and finally decided that he had no
authority. lie appeared 10 be waiting
sNf vi! hifhk iIuHi ~ bdth <tItlS
TO a bsttleship. Before he had made up
his mind as to how FAR his authority
extended. the excellent performance
was concluded and the audience was
drifting away from Twenty-third street
and Eighth avenue.
COMMISSIONER Darlington, of the Board
~ Health, said to-day that he was much
surprised at the defiance OF Manager
springer. He hough that the ORDERS
issued were explicit. but he did mot
know what could be done.
VIII Act slowly.
II don't want to make an, .ts.
noyes,'' he said, so / Will tai 40
sG.ion IN the matter of diseiplinin, ar.
apfiiignr nntl have consulted with
ips corporation Counsel. That amy OF
Inc managers would see tit TO DEFY tho
3Irders pi the city did not anticipate.
shall proceed along whatever lines
MI; Delnny may map out"
Ihe COMMISSIONS was told that some
ma are accusing him OF discrim.
mating in favor Of theatres owned or
Sontroiled ~. 2 prominent ,Tammany
responded that !be.d!M .not-In until
last night that the politician in question
was II any way interested in the the
Last week lie said. 1--WE divided
The theatres Of the city. into three
qlasses-those that are safe according
" law thgee THAT are DtlnR improved
these In which no effort at compliance
aad been made, The latter class VIC de-
tsrmined to close. and there were six
The work OF repairing the Vaudeville
and Hurtig q Seamon's Is being rushed
night and day. and the managers ex-
pect 10 reopen tomorrow night. The
Nandeyiile entertainment. Arnold DAILY
and his company IL George Bernard
Bhnws Candida" was given last
night at Carnegie Lyceuni and will be
repeated there Tonight.
Madison Square and Princess Theatres
are In the hands OF the workmen, and
tho same condition prevails at Huber's,
Manager Springer. OF tha Grand, says
that he opened last night on the advice
~ his attorney, Ebert crandall. and
III willing to enter any sort OF "A fight
fhAf the city wants to PM up. lie
claims that his house Is the safest thea
ire m thu city and that he has made
eysfy reas1ndbie change demanded by
IA AE..4tanfff taHr