Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-06-25
K STRANGE EPISODE.
THE REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE OF
A WEALTHN AMERICAN.

of LOndon's Leading Concert Halls-A
Colossal Idea That Brought a Hundred
Ballet Girls to This Country.
Among the frequenters of the canteen
behind the scenes there figured an Ameri
can, who, Judging by the lavish way he
spent his money, might we'll have been
taken for a millionaire. This man gener-
ally had on his fingers no fewer than six
magnificent diamond rings, and not one of
these rings could have cost less than e3OO.
He used to make his appearance almost
every night at the time the corps de ballet
trooped off the stage after the spectacle,
and many of these dancers were constantly
RECALLED by him with the best champagne
at 81 the bottle.
The way that American threw his money
about was-to use one of the ballet girls
language "a caution. He gave costly
breakfasts at public gardens, and lived
"ike a lord" at the Langham hotel. He
had jcwelry enough to stock a shop, and
many Of the girls received some very costly
trinkets from his hands. He used to hand
away these valuables with princely air,
and spent his money freely; every one in
the place received something from his
hands.
All this sort of thing Tailed exactly with
popular notions of American nouveaux
riches so all sorts of rumors fioated about
the hall respecting the position and riches
of the American Prince" as the ballet
girls termed the stranger. Some averred
that he was Il "silver king" from Nevada.
others Il great ranch owner from Texas,
while Others were sure that he was a pig
sticker in a big way i'll Chicago.
Mr.. Silas w. Steggs himself said nothing
about his antecedents. He left the cal
mighty dollar to tell it's own tale. No one
was seen more lavish with his money in the
Alhambra canteen; and as time passed,
and this man kept coming and going, his
face became a familiar one at the Alham
bra.
IMPORTING BIG COMPANY.
With the manager, the late Mr.. Frederick
Strange, Mr.. Steggs maintained a close in
timacy, and one night he opened his mind
to him. The London Alhambra was, he
assured Mr.. Strange, the most splendid
place of amusement to be seen anywhere,
and. as an American citizen, he was sorry
they had no place to equal it in the Empire
city. A New York Alhambra he went on
to say, would certainly prove good pay
ing concern if conducted on the same lines
as the London establishment.
He (Mr. Stcggs) had made it his business
to study the management In SO doing he
had spent his money freely: that did not
matter Il cent; he had an object in view
which would repay him every dollar. He
proposed to himself to erect in the city of
New York large and palatial building, to
be called the New York Alhambra. Alarge
sum OF money would be required He had
oh ny,1 Pow hoh
of the Alhambra directors permission to
recruit his staff among the minor members
of the Alhambra company
No objection was raised to this proposal,
and when it was noised abroad those of us
greatly excited Mr.. Steggs lost no time
In making his arrangements, and negotia-
tfons were at once opened with all manner
of people connected with the Alhambra.
All these people were to cross the Atlantic
in the same vessel. What 100 ballet girls
and number of barmaids were to do dur
ing the time the place was building never
seemed to be thought of.
However, we all believed we should be
paid up, work or not. 1 was one of the
officials Mr.. Steggs had engaged, and of
course had to give up the place l held un-
der the Alhambra directors. did SO, as
was promised much better place in New
York. Before we set out the American
gave us sumptuous breakfast at the CATO
de rEurope The next day we went to
Liverpool to embark Mr.. Steggs had
taken berths for all on board Cunard
screw steamer, and he had spared no money
in making US all comfortable.
Everything went on all right during the
voyage, thou5h noted with surprise that
the American had parted with all his cost
ly jewelry.
MR.. sTEGGs DISAPPEARS.
When we arrived at Sandy Hook Steggs
went ON shore to secure, SO he said, lodgings
for us all at the Metropolitan and other no.
tells. All that day we waited for message
from him, but none came. The next morn
ing several of us landed and made our way
to the Metropolitan hotel, and, to our aston
ishment and dismay, we learned that nc
person of the name of Steggs was staying
there, nor did the hotel people know any
one of that name.
We returned to the vessel in hopes Mr.
Steggs would return, but he never came
back. Here we were in a strange country.
and what to do became pressing queS
ton. 1t was we'll for Mr.. Steggs he could
not be found, for the ballet ladies were in.
furiated, especially so the fine young won,-
an who was to have been the "premiere
danseuse."
The greater part of these women VIEW
sent back to England by the consul. Some
of the mel also returned. Some of us, in
Guiding Mile. Blank, determined to stay in
New York. This lady at once obtained an
engagement ut Niblos Garden in the spec
tacle of 1.-THE Black Crook" ,afterward
produced at the AlhambraI The writer
obtained employment on the press.
One bitter cold night in the succeeding
winter l was passing through one of the
streets at no great distance from the Bow:
cry when my attention was drawn to tho
painful spectacle-alas! as common now in
New York as in London-of a number OF
tramps waiting outside the police station
for nights shelter. do not believe
ever seen such mob of wretched objects
as was gathered there that night. O..
Que man in particular was most pitiar
BILE object. He was dressed in filthy rags
held together by number of pieces Of
string. This mans face seemed familiar