The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-23
A STRANGE EPISODE.
THE REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE OF
A WEALTHY AMERICAN.

Among the frequenters of the canteel
behind the scenes there figured an Ameri
can, who, judging by the lavish way h
spent his money, might well have beer
taken for millionaire. This man gener
ally had on his fingers no fewer than sil
magnificent diamond rings, and not one o.
these rings could have cost less than $500
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
like lord'' at the Langham hotel. He
had Jewelry enough to stock shop, and
many OF the girls received some very costly
trinkets from his hands. He used to hand
away these valuables with a 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 ''silver king" from Nevada,
others great ranch owner from Texas,
while others were sure that he was a pig
sticker in big way in Chicago.
Mr.. Silas W. Steggs himself said nothing
about his antecedents. He left the 'al"
| 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 familiar one at the Alham-
bra.
IMPORTING A BIG COMPANY.
With the manager, the late Mr. Frederick
Strange, Mr.. Steggs maintained 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 a good pay
ing concern if conducted On the same lines
as the London establishment.
He (Nr. Steggs) had made it his business
to study the management. In so doing he
matter 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 a large and palatial building, to
be called the New York Alhambra. A large
sum of money would be required. He had
enough and to spare. One favor he begged
of the Alhambra directors-permission to
recruit his staff among the minor mem bers
of the ALEXANDRIA company.
No objection was raised to this proposal,
and when it was noised abroad those of US
who desired to better our positions were
greatly excited. Mr.. Steggs lost no time
in making his arrangements, and negotia-
tions were at once opened with all manner
of people connected with the Alhanbra.
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. I was one of the
officials Mr.. Steggs had engaged, and of
course l had to give up the place held I'M
der the Alhambra directors. I did so, as 1
was promised much better place in New
York. Before we set out the American
gave us sumptuous breakfast at the Cafe
de PEurope. The next day we went to
Liverpool to embark. Mr.. Steggs had
taken berths for all on board Cunard
screw steamer, and heh had spared no money
in making us all comfortable.
Everything went on all right during the
voyage, though / 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 a 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 no
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 a pressing cues /
ton. 1t was well for Mr.. Steggs he could |
not be found, for the ballet ladies were in |
especially so the fine young wom- |
an who was to have been the premiere /
danseuse."
The greater part of these women were /
sent back to England by the consul. Some |
Of the men also returned. Some of Us, in !
GLIDING Nile. Blank, determined to stay in /
New York. This lady at once obtained an
engagement at Niblo's Garden in the spec
tacle of 1.-The Black Crook" (afterward |
produced at the AlhambraJ. The writer |
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 the
painful s2ectacle-alasl as common now in
New YORK as in London-of number of |
ramps waiting outside the police station
Tor a nights shelter. do not believe
,ver seen such mob OF wretched objects
Is was gathered there that night.
One man in particular was most pitia-
Die object He was dressed in filthy rags
held together by a number OF pieces Of
string. This mans face seemed familiar
% me, but when and where L had seen
aim l could not remember. l looked at
lin few moments before / recognized
lin; he was none other than the quondan
millionaire. Silas ". Stegg. l called him
,ut of the rank and asked him how he had
ONE down 50 low. His story was strange
me.
He had two years before inherited ESQ.,
90, bequeathed by an uncle who had been
merchant in San Francisco. Unused to
he control of money, he had placed his
ortune in hank and began a round Of
dissipation in New York. From the En-
ire city he passed over to Paris, and after
yard came 70 London. In these three cap
tails this mailman had actually accom-
'lished the feat Of squantering $4,000 I