Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-01-14
Coal Oil johnny.

Coal Oil Johnny.
Travelled Oh. yes :, I've travelled
quite bit in my time. In fact, I've been
around the world three timesr This was
remarked by William Gaylord, the contor
ZIONIST, to the writer in Minneapolis the
other evening. "And I've had many queer
experiences" be resumed. "Do you know,
Coal Oil Johnny was ny 0y tz paftuzcliai fl: friend eli d
in MS palmiest days? Well DO was. In
deed, was his room mate when be cut his
antics which made him celebrated as the
most eccentric millionaire on earth. 1t was
from 1868 to 1869. You see, was with the
Skiff q Gaylord minstrsls. Johnny, whose
real name is John w. Steele, saw our per-
formance in Philadelphia, and he got struck
on the business and bought q third interest
in the show. His first move was to get
s. 900 worth Of wood cuts at the his own eX-
pense. They were all the way from q one
sheet 20 q tWepty-four sheet size, and the
! largest amount auy concern had ever owned.
| The cartoon, which attracted so much at
teation, of Bring that Skiff Over Here" was
in the lot We went on the road, did mon.
ster business everywhere, turned away peo-
pie, and were prosperous.
Reaching Utica, n. Y, Johnny treated
to supper for the company, which cost
| 81 900. He then conceived the idea of tray
elling by his own train, and purchased an
engine, sleeper and a baggage car at an
enormous expense. Ill dates for two weeks
were cancelled, and we went junketing,
Johnny footing all the bills In Erie we
| had a $500 supper, and SO it went. 1t
was here that Johnny bought bis first hack
After short ride he presented it to the
driver. Our dates being cancelled, Johnny
insisted upon indemnifying us for the loss
of time. He paid all salaries and then esti
mated the probable business receipts upon
| the basis of packed houses and paid that over
to Seth Slocum, our treasurer.
! 'In Chicago Johnny gave another eXhibi
tion of his eccentric traits. He leased the
Academy of Music for the season, and we
did big business. Finally he proposed a
benefit for Skiff & Gaylord, and sent over to
rent the Crosby Opera House, then the first
10 the country. The management back the
insoient reply to the overture, we wont
rent our house for Niger show
Johnny got warm in the collar. He and
went down to his Office in Root & Cady's
music store.
"'What will you take for your house, and
sell it Outright?' asked Johnny Of Mr.. Root.
| "'I don't want TO sell said he.
'' pil give you liberal price. Money is
TO object
Then Johnny pulled out his roll from mis-
vG!isa and counted cut 100000, and asked
Root if that wss an object. Root was thun-
der airuck. If you arc that kind of q man,
you can have the Opera House for the bene-
fit free of charge Well, the benefit was
the biggest success ever known in minstrel
sy. The receipts were $1,000, and more
turned away than could be given admission.
Next dag Johnny hunted up one of the
finest carriage horses in the city and pre-
sented it 10 Mr.. Root in recognition of the
courtesy.
"Oh, Johnny was prince with his money.
Els income at that time was $4,000 day,
but l have seen him spend as high as S160, 900
ia one day. That was the time he hired the
Continental Hotel in Philadelphia and
bought the Girard House. You have doubt
less heard OF the circumstances. 1t came
about in this way We went to the Conti-
mental, and Johnny very politely said to the
clerk, Will you please tell the proprietor
that J. w. Steele wishes to see him?' No.
sir, said the clerk, the landlord is busy
Johnny suggested that ne could make it an
object in . financial way for the clerk to ac-
commodate the whm. At this the clerk be-
came disdainful, and Johnny tossed O bell
boy $50 gold piece with like request. The
result was an interview in the Office with
the landlord forthwith. Johnny claimed he
had been ii!-.reated, and requested the sum-
mary dismissal of the clerk. The proprie-
Tor refused, and then Johnny asked for the
price Of the hotel, offering to buy it. The
man said be could not sell. because he was
not the entire owner.
will you lease it for to-day, then p ask
ed Johnny.
No
'supposipg give you $1,000 for the priv
ilege?'
Well, that alters matters somewhat"
"a bargain wes made, the 1000 was paid
over and Johnny was installed as landlord
He made me bell boy, while Slocum offici
ated as clerk. The doors were thrown open
and every guest in the house had his fiji of
wines and edibles free of cost. In fact,
huge placard was posted in frcnt of
The botel, Open house to day; every
thing free; all are welcomed Oh !;
it was merry LARK. The whole city ap
2eared to catch on, and the house was full.
| When Johnny thought he had had fun
enough ne turned the hostelry over to the
! landlord, who at once reinstated the odious
| clerk. Here was howdedo. johnny was
frantic with rage. He went over to the
Girard and quickly concluded bargain for
it, the consideration being $4,000. 1t was
placed in the charge of the old proprietor,
with the instructions to buck tue Contin-
entail by making the prices SO low that
everybody would come there. This was
done, and the Continental did no business
SO long as the arrangements continued.
1.-THE dag of the hotel transaction we we're
up on Arch street. s. rain set in and John
ny approached hack standing in front OF