The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-11
STIRRING FIGHT OF A THEATRE MANAGER How He Made Stockyard BuIIies
 Keep Quiet . PRESENT LIFE IS TOO DULL Man Who Whipped Leader of Rowdy Gang and Abolished Nuisance
 In Early Years Longs for
 Some Excitement.

From the Washington Times.
 "The manager of theatre hasn't much to do these days. compared with the way it used to be. I've seen times when you had to qualify for the prize ring before you dared to undertake the bossing of show house. I'm getting soft with in- activity"
 He is the manager of one of the new theatres in New York, and about all he is required to do is to wear evening clothes and once in a while discharge a janitor. But he has shoulders under his evening coat that are good for ''roughing It." and his arm is like a turned bar of oak.
 T got into the theatrical business in curious way he went on. 'Td led mis- cellaneous kind of life-freight brake man, superintendent of a rolling mill. pat ent medicine faker, private detective and a number of other diversified vacations and had developed a good deal of muscle and some general knowledge of human nature. One winter about ten years ago, being out of job and rather indifferent about getting one. l loafed a good deal around a certain theatre in one of the outside districts of Chicago.
 Had Eventfu History.
 Tt was house with an eventful his tory, and just then 1t was deep in trouble The management was disposed to run the place on the family plan. with attractions suitable to the respectable people of the neighborhood-rural melo- drama and that sort of thing. But the theater was near the stockyards district, and a lot of rowdies from that center of industry had chosen to make this house their particular own. Almost every night there was row. Some of these young rufflans would buy seats. witness an act or two and then start trouble. They guyed the actors, sometimes insult ed the audience and now and then actual ly broke up the performance.
 "The usual procedure was to call the police, interrupt the show for half an hour and haul the rowdies off to the po- lice station. It was slow and intellectual method, and when I'd seen it happen half a dozen times l was thoroughly dis gusted.
 You are making a big mistake, John, I said to my friend Reddinger. who was manager of the house.
 :" 'How's thatp said he
 You ought to dispense with the ser vices of the police and teach these fel- lows to behave, 1 answered.
 " 'Impossible' said John
 T could do it., I calmly continued.
 " Nonsense! was his reply
 ' You take a vacation and let me run the house for two weeks and I'll show you" I retorted
 He was doubtful about that proposi- tion. but I prevailed upon him to give me a trial. So the announcement was duly made that there was to be new manager. l made myself as conspicu- ous as possible and waited for my oppor- tunity It came the third night of my managerial term. Seven of the stock yards bullies had seats together in the middle of the house. They kept quiet through two acts, and then began their rough house. They advised the leading lady to go and get some pads they took the words of her best song out of the soubrette's mouth and they hurled a dead rat at the comedian. People near them began to get up and leave the the- atre. and then I acted.
 Picked Out the Leader.
 'I walked quietly down the aisle. and when l came to the row occupied by the roughs picked out the leader of the gang. He was a big, red-faced, raw boned fellow, with broken nose and the general look of a scared veteran of many fight I didn't hesitate, however, but reached and grabbed him by the upper arm. Now, if you care to test it, you'll find I've got remarkable grip. l dug my fingers Into that fellows biceps until could see him vince. Then l held him