The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1895-04-27
STOOD az OLD DAN ROE.
Odiciais Helped Elm on Hts Last rri
Through Upper Wabash Valley.

osacisis Helped Elm on Hts Last rrir
Through Upper wabash Valley.
II was the county auditor the last
time Dan Rice came through Hunting,
ton. in the early 70's, said Bob Simon.
ton to q writer for the Huntington
tlnd.) Herald. Dan made a trip
south. coming money. and giving il
away almost as fast AS he gained it,
when his show was completely wrecked
In the floods ON the Mississippi. Dan
got back to st. Louis with the remnan,
OF his circus, and there some old friends
loaned him second hand tent and he
started east ON the Wabash with only
three cars Of stuff. Bad luck followed
him persistently, and when Bill Brad
ley, the Wabash engineer switched his
train into the sidetracks here Dan
hadn't enough cash to meet the cost of
transportation. There was a county
license to get, and Rice was in anything
but a jocular frame of mind when he
called at the auditors Office He gave
me an honest statement of his finances,
and as l knew Dan Rice was a man
VINO had given away fortune in char.
ity, concluded it would be right and
proper to waive the county license in
his day Of adversely, especially as to
insist upon it was to shut him out Of
giving an exhibition in the city. |
also called with him upon the city of.
hcials, and they consented to do the
same thing.
Inc AFTERNOON performance was "A
dead failure SO far as attendance WAS
concerned, and Dan was in the dumps
dreadfully. talked the matter over
with Leopold Levy and two or three
other good fellows, and we interviewed
Dam requesting him to appear in the
ring himself that night as clown the
appeared III the afternoon only with
his trick horse), in consideration of
which We would try and drum him up
crowd. Dan agreed, and we did our
best to get him good audience, sue.
ceeding fairly we'll, as the tent "a small
one, was nearly full when the perform
ance began. Old Dan was ON deck As
agreed, and gave US good show. The
net proceeds of the performance paid
on the matured bills, and when Dan
had matters fully adjusted he had 81. so
surplus funds on hand.
Our success as promoters OF the en-
terprise commanded some little rscoe-
milton, and that night between the close
OF the performance and the departure
OF the circus train, with Dan as the
guest OF honor, some hours were spent
IN congratulation, not to say hilarity.
Dan had lost all his personal effects and
hadn pair of pants to appear in.
we all went round to Leopold's store
to help him buy a new pair. Dan was
hard mt, and was compelled to buy
close on account Of his finances. Leo
pold worked with him an hour, making
prices that would do credit to fire
and water damage sale, and at last
Dan was suited. He got the pants
cheaper than he expected, however. for
Leopold just turned his weather eve
upon him and said: Mr.. Rice, dem
are great pair of pants, worth more
as ask for 'em, but give 'em to YOU
complimentary-mitout a dollar
The show was billed at Fort WAYNE
The next two days, and wrote to Audi.
Tor Rudlcil letter telling what we had
lone for Rice here. The Allen county
We're in session and Ru-
Hell laid the letter before the board,
when the president said: Give him
his license, Huntington couns can't
inord to be any more generous than
Allen county The Fort Wayne city
'fhcials also related the license. but
aice had to sell horse before he left
he city to pay expenses. How he Jared
urther east l do not know, but that
vas his last trip through the upper
Wabash valley"