The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-01
THE CAPTAIN Is GONE.
A Graceful Equestrian Leaves
Mourners in Portland.
REMEMBERED IN SEATTLE, roo.
Capt. DfIhan, Fence- and Rfdi1g-N
ter, snA IT'S Fiery Spouse, whom
Many Cannot Forget.

Capt Joseph DsEhau. the hiehiy ac-
cornpisshed equestrian ard fencer VINO
cut such swafh In this city about
fs3r years ago and who has been the
urdixpsffed authority OF such gnatiers
in The old city OF Portland for the past
fsree years, has suddenly disappeared.
leaving many creditors 20 mourn his
Arab-liks flight There would not he
anything specially interesting 70 the
people OF this city aboat the captains
dolnxs only that after ne ingrasiafed
himself In this city with the swell"
lovers Of horseback riding and the uays-
ferse= Of guard and parry" and
thrust ne packed up his trunk and
with his fascinating hut uncertain
tempered spouse migrated 10 new pas
lures. Az Portland nsourus now, 80 Se-
attic did in the times gone By. for TO
bose such a polite suave. Esolisned
knight Of the saddle and rarser -
something terrible.
There Is as much mystery about the
antecessents OF Capt. and Madame Dill
han as there Is about ntne-tenths OF
the so-caiEed titled foreigners who come
to the wild and woody West" In
search Of adventure Some time in 1883
they appeared in Tacoma. but as Scat
tie was iiveIier they evidently concluded
the field In the latter place offered bet
ter advantages for their abilities. They
simply came and the first thing Seattle
people knew Capt. Joseph Diihan and
his charming wife appeared on the
streets nspunted on finely trained
horses. One Of the animals was a
snedlum-sizesi gray horse called Rats. +"
The captain usually rode him. although
Madame Diitan once I'm while claim
ed that homer. The captain did not do
things by halves. lie took elegant
apartments on Ninth. near Madison
street. rented what was known as the
Club stables ON the alley between
Spring and Seneca and Third and
Fourth streets as an exclusively sad
die horse establishment. Then ne Sc
cured a hall in the Maydenbauer build
Ing on Columbia, between Third and
Fourth streets. and announced that
Capt. Diihan. late OF the French army.
was prepared 10 give Instructions In
re use OF re rap;er'' and In horsenian-
ship
The condition OF the streets prevented
the city from going horse mad" but
many fashionable people became Inn
pressed with the graceful riding of the
captain and his wife and became the
formers psIpils. There are several
young men connected with the militia
who could tell how we'll or how poorly
the captain fenced. Ii was the same
ms In all else, some said he was sn ex-
ceilent master OF the napier while 9TH
efs shook Their heads In doaht. Snnle
thought the captain was the nlsst
graceful person on horseback they ever
saw. while others thought that Col
James Hamilton Lewis or T. p. Taylor
for instance. could give him point
ers"
Those who saw Prof Gleason. the
horse trainer, during his recent en-
gagement here can get good idea af
how the captain locked. only che cap
tain had black hair and heavy. long
black moastaehe, The captain had
other attributes than personal beauty
and grace Of manner . help him along.
AS a New England grandma would re-
mark. Ills bump OF seif-esteem WAS
developed To an extraordinary degree"
If he was not the best rider I'm the
country. he believed he was and took
good pains 10 Impress this belief on
his a.aua.ntanees, Rats" was we'll
trained, and While he was not as ex-
pert a prancer as CO. James Hamilton
Lewis horse. he could pat on style In
a more polished manner In this way
the beast helped his master out. A
year or more passed ard suddenly the
truth became known. The captain and
his beautiful wife had left the city
and their creditors sorrowcd greatly.
There IS very ittGe doubt that the
creditors suffered more than the CAV
explain. for he soon appeared In Port
land. wislleat funds. bat as gay ari
hiltheSaa9e as lark. liz made frien Is
on all s'ses and socn heeame the eQues-
triau authority of the city The Port
land oreganlan In speaking of his sud
den and uncermonsous departure from
Portland few days ggo SAYS
About The ti0e Capt Diihan came IN
Portland, SEINE " the leaders Of the
best society were very anxious % learn
Ia ride properly, and they eagerly ac-
ceptea q proposition frcn the suaye
txenchmsn - star. a schea,, The Port
land Riding academy Was then incos-
PARTED, and a fine riding ring and
Stables rsit up 81 Nineteenth and
Nof,har streets Capt. nllhan was in
stalled IS the dlrs,nar Of the acaaeeny
- long as he confined his attention TO
the affairs 81 the riding ring. he gave
satisfaction. and many of the most
graceful riders In the city today. both
ladies' sad gentlemen. owe their entire
kaaw'e3ge az the equestrian art 20 the
captain, Rut business ability Capt. d.
han seemed % have none He seemed
- have no knowlcdEe * the value II
an American dollar. and she result was
that the academy under his manage
fnent, dis not prosper. and a few
months aSo ne wa relieved of his posi-
tson. sstt retained as rtilne master an
q salary The captain lived weN dur
INK his stay sn the city and always en-
tertainsSi his friends ia styte.
Last Tuesday morning Capt Dtlhaa
cassae - the stable a: yhe uSuai hour.
and asked thar his hoFse--the only ere
he ownssi--te Sa6aiesi sic had Sesne
words With the present director. MIR
N'Cssls. ever blil ef $40 he owc,l for
the bard q his Horse. and Shcn rode
away, lie never came hack l; was
awsertasaea slsa; he disposed of his
horse ara saddle tbs; ssay for $50. ana
than pTssaahsy teak the train for san
Fsanctsce. Madame nl,aan vas miss
iss the ALLOWING dsv. both leave
creditors - aaossru thrt- -f~sacr. hut
&C. how large an Anouat IN the agrrs-
gate cannot aew hc sses>rta acsi They
owed the academy nothing. and thaS
Institution ,S osat 90 aebs - sAeu.
'ot Naasns, nisssn. or The madame. :