The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-01-06
castieton opera Go.


Among the announcements of the
Castleton Opera Company which
comes to the Opera House next Sat
urday night in a new version of "a
Trip TO India" are number of guns
which will arouse more than passing
interest They are guns made espe-
cially by the U. S. Government to be
used in the Civil War. The hands that
fashioned these unwieldy weapons
intended that they should be used in
grim war, for the purpose of
bringing sorrow and tears to count
less widows and orphans and death to
men who were fighting for the thing
they believed to be right. They were
meant to play part in the grim traS-
edy OF war, instead they play small
part in a mirth provoking comic OPP
era. Lieutenant Colonel w. a.
Thornton was officer in command of
the Lightfoot Arsenal at Newark, n.
J. when war was declared between
the North and South. Instantly the
Government telegraphed rush order
for large supply of arms. President
Lincoln visited the arsenal in person
and inspected the plans for the new
guns of which these are part. Night
and day men toiled to complete them
and as fast as they We're ready they
were packed and shipped to central
points. These were forwarded TO
Richmond, the North being confident
that the war would only be matter
of week. Before they reached Rich
Mud word was sent that that city
was being held by the Confederates.
The shipment of guns was intercept
ed at Cumberland, Maryland, and re-
turned to the arsenal. From there
they were forwarded to the govern
ment store houses in Philadelphia.
They We're never reshipped and there
tl!ey lay at their original ease until
fire destroyed the storage house in
1881. Most of the cases of guns were
saved BY that time the style of
weapons had been changed and the
guns were shipped to Newark and
there they laid until year aga, when
in sale of odds and ends they were
advertised for sale. Mr.. Higgins saw
the advertisement and in don quix-
otto moment purchased them and sent
them 10 his summer home at Benson
hurst, L. |. They remained there
until this season when he produced
Said Pasha" and a novel idea of
using the old guns struck him. They
are used nightly by the ''Pasha's"
guards. The polished brass cleaning
like gold, the FURNISHED steel barrels
and nickle plate trimmings making a
pleasing picture with the background
u Oriental color.
This is Mr.. Castleton's largest com
pany and the tour is being made I'M
der his personal supervision which in
sures a promise of worthy attrac-
ton This will probably be the last
season that the smaller cities will
Higgins production. This summer
Mr. Higgins completed arrangements
for the purchase "a the site of the old
Brooklyn Theatre, which burned with
an enormous loss CT life many years
ago. In the spring he will begin the
erection of magnificent theatre to
house the Castietn Opera Stock
Company and the present company
win compose the sto.R company which
he proposes establishing in the East
ern city They are, Daise Thorne.
Louise Moore, prima donnas. Sylvesta
Cornis. character contralto: Joseph
Smith and j. c. Abdn1, tenors; Will
liam II. Browne and John Eberly,
Bassos; David Yost and Robert E
Clark, bassos, and Edward F1aveile.
character comedian.