The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-16
STORM SCENE IS
THE SENSATION Of
VIA WIRELESS"
Frederic T~hompson's Big Pro-
dnctiOn Scheduled for Week
at Newark Theatre.
GUN=FORGING SCENE ALSO
DESCRIBED AS THRILLER
William HaWtrey and R. q.
Knowles the Rival Vaude=
vile Headliners.
CREDERIc THoMPsoN's massive
production OF the successful
melOdrama "Via WireIess wfll

II production OF the successful
melodrama, Via Wireless" will
be the attraction at the Newark Thea
ire for one week beginning next Mon
day evening. The play closes its New
York run at the Liberty Theatre to-
night.
TIL story of "Via Wireless concerns
a naval lieutenant who has invented a
new type Of marine gun. After a period
of experimenting he is about to have
his gun cast at the Durant Steel Works
in Pittsburg. Mr.. Durant. the pro-
prietor OF the works, is a man of the
Carnegie type, wealthy and honest, who
has a pretty daughter, who, at the
time the curtain rises, has fallen in
owe with the lieutenant.
Pinkney, tile general manager of the
Durant works, aims to advance him
self financially and socially by marry
ing Frances Durant. He dislikes Lieu
tenant Sommers for two reasons. First
because they both wish to marry the
girl, and second because he, Plnkney,
controls the patent of a new gun in
vented by one of his subordinates,
which gun, if the Sommers invention
fails, will be unloaded on the govern
ment at a tremendous profit to him.
tAtCOlQ ll5iys nc RCllCClS d SJllE4lit ~
ruin the Sommers gun in the making,
a scheme which is partially discovered
by the girl who makes a midnight trip
to the forging room with the intention
of notifying the unsuspecting inventor
of the crooked game which is being
worked on him. Arriving at the gun
works, she is discovered by Pinkney,
and, when Sommers finally enters, she
Is in a compromising position which
neither understands, and which results
In the lovers parting without explana-
tion. AS they leave the works the
pverheated Sommers gun is lifted from
the furnace and plunged into the oil
bath in sight of the audience.
While the naval l~ieutenant's inven-
ton stands the preliminary test, it eX-
plodes after being mounted on a battle
ship, killing two men, manning a score
Of others, and binding one seaman for
life. Meanwhile, some time has elapsed,
and the understanding between the
lieutenant n little Miss Durant still
existing, she has pledged her hand to
Pinkney, the general manager. On her
fathers yacht, she, with Pinkney and
her mother, is on a trip to Porto Rico
xhe the curtain rises on the third act.
IN San Juan she meets Lieutenant
somr1ers just as he has been ordered
to return to Washington n show
Why he should not be court martialed
Tor not giving proper care to the cast
ing of his invention. simultaneously,
he lieutenant becomes acquainted with
secret service official who is investi-
eating this strange occurrence, and
Who Is Convinced that some crooked
york has resulted in the guns ex-
pIosion and Sommers's discontinue. At
he invitation of Miss Durant, the lieu
enant and the secret service agent re-
nrn TO the States on the yacht. Dur
ne a tremendous storm this yacht
ANS on a reef and is rapidly going to
ieces with all on board when aid comes