Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-02-04
An AMERICAN PRINCE.
Yarns About Coal Oil Johnny rs
- Minstrel TIvupist,
ITrom the 81. Paul Globe.1

THIS was remarked 10y William Gaylord,
the contoriionist. t. the writer in Min
rcapolis the other evening. "And I've
had many queer experiences" he re
sumed. ..Doyou know, Coal Oil Johnny
was my particular friend in his palmies'
days. Well, he was. Indeed, l was hls
room mate when he cut his antics which
made him celebrated as the most ecccn
trio millio'.i lire on earth. 1t wa from
1868 to 1879. You see | was Win the
Skitf Il Gaylord minstrcls. Johnny,
whose real name is John w. Steele, saw
our performance in Philadelphia AND lie
got stuck on the business and bought
third interest in TIE show. His first
move was to get 5000 worth OF wood
cuts Mt his oWi.cXI-nse. They ere all
the way from y oncshcct to II twenty
four sheet siz,, and tho largest amount
any concern had ever owned. The car
toon, which attracted So much attention,
of Bring the SkiifOVcr Here WAS i'll the
lot. We went ON The road, did IL mon
ster business everywhere, turned away
people, and were prosperous.
Reaching Utica, y. Y, johnny
treated us to n supper for the company,
which cost 81 900. lie then conceived
tt idea of travelling by his own train,
and purchased an engine, sleeper, and
IL baggage ear mt al enormous expense.
All dates for two weeks were cancelled,
and We went iunkc.ing, Johnny footing
all bills. In Erie v had Il 5000 supper.
and so it went. 1t was here that Johnny
bought his first hack. After II short
ride he presented i to the drive Onr
dates being cane, He'd. Johnny insisted
upp; indemnifyiug IL ir thel oftime.
He Uaid I'll ei,arics aut then estimated
ne probable sllsinrss receipts upon the
basis Of packed houses and paid that
over To Sci. 6io,Gm, orr treasurer.
''ln Chiraeo job " gave another ~
hih.tion of III eccentric traits. lie
leased the Alchemy oi Music for the
season. and Nc liz Il big business. Ii
lally he proposed Il benefit for Ski x
Gaylord, and sent over to ret tie Iros-
by Opera Houen, ;iien the iisst il the
country. The manager sent back The
insolel.; reply to ihe overture, we
won't rent our house for - Niger
show johnny got warm Ia the collar.
lie and ! went down to his Office in
Root z Cadys .Ausic store.
"'What viii yoI take fur your house,
and sell it outright asked Johnny Of
Mr.. Root.
81 don't want - SELL said he.
"' I'll give you Il liberal price. Non
ey is no object
Johnny then pulled ont his roll from
his valisn and counted ont 5000. 600, AID
asked Iyot if that was an object. Root
was thunder-struc,. III yoJ are that
kind f man, you can have the opera
house for benefit free Of charge We,
the benefit was the biggest success ever
known in ,linstrelsy. The rernints
were $500, AMI sfGro were turned
away tan cou.L be Given admission.
Next day Johnny huu.ed II, one of the
finest carriage horses in the city al pre-
scented ii TO Mr.. Root i'll recognition Of
the courtesy.
ooh, johnny Wa prince with his
money. His income at that time was
1000 q day, but L have seen him
spend as high a. Sl60,000 n one day.
That was the t.ale he hired the Cont
mental Hotel i'll Philadclrhia and
bought the Girard House. You have
doubtless heard of the circumstances.
1t came about in this way: We went to
the Continental, and Johnny very po
litcly said to the clerk: 'Will you please
tell the proprietor that !. W. Steele
wishes to see himl' NO, SIR said the
cl TX: the landlord is buoy Johnny
suggested that he could IIake it an OBJ
jcct in financial way for the clerk to
accommodate the whim, At this the
Jerk became disdainful, and Johnny
tossed bell boy a $40 gold piece with q
like request. Tho result was an inter
view IL the Office with the landlord
forthwith. Johnny claimed he had been
i'll treated, and requested the summary
dismissal of the clerk. The proprietor
refused, and then Johnny asked for the
price of the hotci, offering to huy it.
The man said lie could not sell. because
ne WAS not the nitro owner.
"Will you lease it 70, to-day, thcn2'
asked Johnny.
"No."
Surprising 1 give you $1,000 for the
privilege"
"Well, tn alters matters somcV-hat.
ga bargain was made, The IS, 900 was
paid over and johnny was installed as
landlord. He made ne hell hoy, while
Slocum officiated rs clerk. The doors
were thrown open, and every guest il
the hotel had his fill of wines and edi-
bles free of cost. In fact, huge pla
card was posted in front of the hotel
Open house to-day; everything free; III
are welcomed Oh, it was merry lark
The whole city appeared to catch on
and the house was fall. When Johnn,
thought he had fun enough he turned
the hostelry over to the Landlord, who
Mt once Translated the odious clerk
Here was howdelO. Johnny was
frantic with rage. lie went over to the
Girard and quickly concluded bargain
for it, the consideration being $4,000
1t was placed i'll the charge of the ole
proprietor. with the instructions to bucl
the Continental by making the prices Sc
low that everybody would come there
This was done, and the Continental die
no business SO long rs he arrange
ments continued.
The day Of the hotel transaction We
We're up on Arch street \ rain set il
and Johnny appro4 he'd hack standing
in front of fashionable ore, and triet
to engage it 10 carry us TO the Grand
The driver said it was impossible, rs ht
had party in the store. Johnny tosset
him n 800 bill, and the driver said h,
would .chance it. When we arrived a
the hotel Johnny said: '.Scc here cabby
you're likely fellow. How would yor
like to own that rig" The driver
thought he was joking, but johnny
handed him g, coo, and a half hour late1
the delighted driver returned with tn,
statement that the purchass had beer
cffnctnl fur thc q Ana lnLn..-- tln.