The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-21
A GOOD ONE ON DAN RICE.


This morning an ARGUS scribe was intro
duced to one of the old land marks of
Rock Island, gentleman whose name is
| as familiar to all as that of the city itself
In the course of the chat the old gentleman
| told little story, with the well-known
| circus man Dan Rice. as the hero. which
though old to many of our citizens, will be
| new to great many.
| Along back in 1S43, or Whereabouts. Dan
Rice, who was stopping at the old Rock
Island House, then kept by man named
| Barrett, became completely strapped. In
short if houses were selling for a nickel
apiece he couldn't have mustered enough
cash to purchase pane of glass. In this
dilemma Dan concluded to give sleight-of-
hand performance, the hotel dining room
being rendered him for that purpose.
Having heard that Dan proposed to give
an entertainmentwithout havingfrst obtain
ed the necessary license papers were issued
and given to our informant, who was then
deputy sheriff, to serve. Repairing to
the hotel on the evening in question the
officer found Dan at the door taking cash.
and making known his business the officer
was slapped Familiarity on the shoulder by
the Snowman who said: 90, yes. that's all
night. Just go in and sit down till the
show is over, it shant cost you anything"
In the deputy went and in short time fair
sized audience had assembled. Time went
along for nearly an hour but no Dan ap-
peared and finally Barrett entered the
hall and aston;shed the audience by re-
marking that Dan would and probably
appear that night and that it
was his belief that he had gone out of
town. Then ensued a mad scramble for
Dams show paraphe1nalia on the table in
the hall, each apparently for himself and
the old Harry for them all, and each de-
termined, apparently, to get something for
his door money.
Meantime we will return to Dan who
waited at the door till about everybody
had gone in who could be persuaded to
buy a ticket, and then he |'lit out" jumping
from window to roof, and from one roof to
another till the ground was reached and he
sloped for the river as if the whole town
was after him. Unfortunately for Dan
Landlord Barrett had that day removed a
necessary outbuilding and Dan in his haste
to get out of town tumhled into
the rather disagreeably laden excavation |
heels over head, but finally got out,
reached the river and induced old man
Wilson to row him across for quarter,
and the old riverman had to row the whole |
distance with one hand, while he held his |
nose with the other, and thus Dan made
good his escape.
Returning to the Rock Island House we
find an angry and tumultuous crowd Gin
GLIDING the sold deputy and when they
had made away with Dams sleight-o hand
traps, rush was made for the door in Or
der to capture the Snowman. On their
way out they met Hale Wilson, the boat
man, who told them that he had just rowe |
Dan across the river, AID that when you
talk about smells Dan jest took the cake. e
This ended that nights entertainment,
but to "a late day Dan had t tired of telling
about his ''show in the Rock Island House
in 1S43,' and how he tumbled into that
fearful pit in the rear of the hotel, in his |
anxiety to get away from a lot Of mad |