The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-10
Stanley's Omaha Love.

with staunch ship an living souls.
SANKEY'S Omaha Love.
The reporter of the Omaha Bee has
just had an interview with some of the
old settlers who knew Stanley when he
was in that city, and especially from Gen.
Experience Estabrook, he gets some in
formation upon the matter that may be
Of interest to your readers. and have
gathered some other material, which,
combined with his | give you.
Stanley came to Omaha in 1867 as the
correspondent Of the New York Tribune,
and some other eastern papers, and the
Missouri Democrat. He occupied desk
in the Office of the Omaha Republican,
though in no wise connected with that
paper. About this time CARR opened the
present Academy of Music there and
brought on the first stock company Of
theatrical performers. Among them was
young woman known as Annie Ward,
who is described as Of surprising beauty
of form, feature and complexion, and
great belle in her line. Her company
was much sought after by the young
bloods of the city. Mr.. Estabrook at
that time kept the Avenue hotel. and a
portion of the theatrical company
stopped there, Annie Ward among the
rest. Her favorite companion was lit
tie girl who played the child characters.
The conduct of Annie was in every res
pect correct, and she appeared to be
pure woman; with, perhaps, a little OF
the brass that women of the stage are
bound to pick up in very short time
spent before the footlights.
Stanley also boarded with Mr.. Esta-
brook, and Immediately proceeded, with
all precipitancy, to fall in love with the
beautiful actress the first time
that he saw her. Estabrook in
addition to running hotel, was dabbling
considerably in politics, as he has since
continued to do, more or less, and wrote
daily article for the Republican. In
this way he was thrown into intimate
professional intercourse with Stanley,
who, soon after the arrival Of the theatri-
cal party, informed Mr.. Estabrook that
he was head over heels in love with the
beautiful and lady.like Annie Ward. He
said that life would be burden to him
without her; that he must possess her,
| and wound up his fervent declaration by
Offering Estabrook $50 If he would bring
about marriage between himself and the
pretty actress. Estabrook laughed at
him, and informed him that he was not
in the marriage brokerage business. He,
however, introduced Stanley to. Annie,
and the former went deeper into love
toward her. He was nightly visitor at
| the theatre, and much of the time in the
IT, k1
from the theatre, but was SO modest that
he never offered her his arm, or took
hold of hers. He thought her too pure
to come in close contact with him.
Annie used to tell her friends that she
rather liked the. little chap, but she
! laughed at him great deal, and SAID he
was not her style Of man. She wanted
them to come up close to her at least
within arms length.
Stanley also offered other parties a
bonus Of $50 if shey would bring about
marriage between Annie and himself, and
for time there was much gossip in Ger.
tain circles about SANKEY'S great love
manifested toward the beautiful actress,
and her seeming Indifference for him.
And yet she was heard to acknowledge
several times that she did li.e the little
correspondent, only he was SO terribly
green He was brassy enough in his
profession, but in her presence was as
bashful as could be, from which it might
be argued that he was really and traly
ip love with her.
Stanley was afterward sent out as
correspondent of the Missouri Democrat,
to accompany the military expedition on
the Kansas Pacific line, against the In.
dams, and he then returned to st. Louis.
Annie was still in Omaha, and Stanley
wrote to friends there that he could not
live away from her, but must come to
Omaha. This he soon did and recon-
mended his correspondence and his vir-
tuous, bashful love making at one and
the same time.
While at Omaha the last time he was
attacked by ''Little Mack, - F. NJ. Nc
Donough, now editor of the Plattsmouth
Herald, for something he had said about
him. The two had fist fight, and Stan.
ley came cut first best. The affair Gre
:ated no little stir among the public.
He finally screwed up his courage t"
the sticking point and proposed marriage
to Annie Ward, and she rejected him.
He was almost despairing, and made
confidant of nearly everybody who would
listen to the tale of his woes. q He then
offered her $4,000 if she would marry
him, though it was not apparent to the
naked eye where he was to get that sum-
but she rejected the offer. He then