Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-23
STORM THEATRE
Continues from Page one)

the opinion he might die.
The Tioting continued for several
hours. A crowd breaking into . milk
store secured a supply Of ammuni-
ton In the form Of bottles and Ga.
gagged In . vicious fight with the 20.
ice. The police were pressed SO hard
that they were forced to draw their
revolvers and Ore several shots IN
the air to drive back the rioters. :.
: The sailor taken to the hospital
said his name was William Reil
chief cook On the u. 8. 8. Granite
State. He gave his home address ~
30 Call street. Jamaica Plain. Mass,
Hospital physicians said that Reid
vas suffering from severe contu-
sions Of the body and probably had
a fractured skull His condition Is
serious.
William Bittner, attached to the
military police at Camp Merritt also
vas taken to the hospital He had =
fractured hip. Bittner said he was
dubbed by the police.
More than 500 ex-ssrviee msn
marched to Army Transport Cores
garage at Fifty-Seventh street. an
Eleventh avenue to obtain two mo-
tor trucks which htey had tele-
phoned for with the hope of breaking
through the police lines and making
raid on the Opera house They were
frustrated when q number of armed
guards with fixed hayonets COLI
fronted them at the entrance to the
building. Thee rowd then marched
back toward the theatre. They We're
dispersed at Fifty First street and
Madison avenue by police with drawn
revolvers.
During the disorder some one in the
crowd turned in a fire alarm. Fire
apparatus and a number Of reserve
police wee rushed to the scene.
Shortly before l1.45 o'clock when
the opera performance was closed.
the police lines were moved several
blocks further out from all sides #
the theatre. Several Thousand per-
sons who surged in the 8 treets
"booed" and Missed the mounted po-
lice who forced the crowd back with
great difficulty. Several missiles
were thrown at the officers, who
charged the crowd in all directions.
No one was injured
No attempt was made by the Gro I'd
to interfere with patrons of the
opera, as they left the theatre By
midnight the nsighborheod was quiet
and the police lines we're Withdrawn.
The opera was sung in a shower
Of eggs.
The singers had hardly appeared
on the stage when an occupant of
an upper box, rising. laid down a
barrase. Theatre employees COM
planned to detectives afterwards
that he had hurled his eggs lin the
same fashion that hand grenades
are thrown"
A young man in civilian clothes.
who gave his name as John Doe"
and who said that his vocation was
saiesmansaip. and not soldering,
was arrested. AT the police station
an egg was found in his pocket.
American Legion officials in
Greater New York were besieged all
day by hundreds Of persons asking
whatc ould be done to prevent to-
nights performance. Among those
were mothers Of former service
men. who wanted to send their sons
to help break up the performance.
according to Major George Brokaw
Compton. chairman of the New
York county organization.
To combat the impression that
the legion endorsed rioting. Major
Compton sent a telegram to all
posts, which read as follows:
'RumoTs just received that posts
have been asked to take part in.
violent Opposition to the German
opera are without foundation and
must have been circulated by en-
emies. The American Legien stands
for law and order. You are asked
to stay away from the Lexington
Opera House."