The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-01
MOLD MAKES START
SILENT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES STARTS
.0UT ON HIS TRIP.

to the Balls Where He is Received With
Great Enthusiasn,-Mi Missouri Pacific Ex-
tends Its Courtesies-He is Interviewed
With an Eagle Reporter,
: George Mold the silent circumnavi-
gator started out at midnight last night
on his four years trip around the world.
He was accompanied by Bob Kinnaird
his press agent.
When the clock struck twelve there
was great crowd around Cash Hen
derson's store and Bob Kinnaird dress
ed Mr.. Mold in his clown suit. After
this Mr. George Bergman presented
him with a box of chewing gum which
Mr. Mold will sell this morning to make
his start in the circumnavigation of the
globe. Mr.. Cash Henderson and a
great crowd of enthusiasts filled his
store and everything Mr.. Mold did was
cheered 10 the echo. Harry Hagney,
editor Of the Beacon presented him
with a suit of clothes and the other
presents given to him amounted TO over
800.
At II o'clock today Mr.. Mold and his
press agent Will leave Wichita. The
Missouri Pacific railway will give him
the courtesy of the road and stop over
privileges.
After the start last night Mr.. Mold
went to Redmens hall where he was
rendered a great ovation and from there
he went to the Columbia club maSquer-
ade ball with like results.
He was highly gratified over the re-
ception rendered him at both places
MIR. MOLD Is INTERVIEWED.
Last night at the entertainment given
by the Columbian club in their hall. Mr..
George Mold, the silent circumnaviga-
tor, gave his first public exhibition Of
his powers of ventriloquism, by means
of which he expects to win the $4,000
wager, and through which he is to
carry on all Intercourse with the world
for the next four years. The hall was
filled to its utmost capacity, and the
interest manifested by every one during
his performance was most intense.
He made his appearance in a costume
OF black silk trimmed with old gold ruff
fles and spots. The style is the regula-
ton clown costume and with his comic
ally designed makeup he appears as
though he had trod the saWdust ring
for a lifetime, instead of it being his
first attempt.
In each hand he carried Ventriloqui-
al figure, one representing a diminutive
1rishman and the other a negro, named
Danny and joe" respectively. He
began carrying on conversation with
the figures and when they apparently
answered him it was impossible to dis
cover a muscle in Mods face moving,
nor was there any straining Of the facal
muscles to hid the effort The figures
cracked jokes with each other, sang
songs, entered into disputes and discus
sions and in every was acted as though
they were endowed with the power Of
speech.
In response to an encore he executed
several of the most difficult feats known
in ventriloquism, notably the singing
of a song while holding coin between
the teeth This. according to men skill
ed in the profession, is among the hard
est of all acts. During it the face was
remarkably passive and the coin held
without any apparent effort, yet the
singing was clear and distinct and to
the observers came from the mouth Of
the figure. He also gave an exhibition
of advancing and retrea ting voices,
throwing at will his voice into any part
OF the room.
After the entertainment he was seen
by an Eagle reporter at his rooms in
the Sedgwick block and told many in
teresting facts and stories about his
past and future. When intruded upon
he was admiring gold medal just re-
the Manhattan club of New York City,
to be worn on his trip around the world.
He was asked about his undertaking
and for long time pleasantly cOnvers-
ed on matters pertaining TO it and him
self
Naturally" he said. 1.-The future is
very Indefinite and | will be unable 10
give you very clear idea of what 1
intend to do. 1 am going to start to-
morrow morning, preceded by brass
band as an escort to the train. We,
Mr.. Kinnaird and myself, wifi leave for
st. Louis that morning and from there
on through the east. We viii strike
nearly every town Of any Importance
east of the Mississippi. Two years of
our time will be spent in this way. We
have already received an invitation to
accompany one of Cooks excursions,
which will leave New York on Jan. l.
1898 This excursion we viii probably
accompany and with 1t visit the foreign
lands. returning over the Pacific to San
Francisco. From there we will visit
every prominent western city, and re-
turn here by Jan. 1. 1900"
When asked TO tell of his early life,
he began by speaking of his father. lie
said:
My father was newspaper man
for years. He was a native of Vienna,
Austria, and was a student at the uni
VerSity there when the revolution
against taxation broke out in 1SiS, and
took an active part To avoid death
he fed TO this country. After d short
stay at Pittsburg. pa. he went to Chi
cago 10 take charge of an editorial de-
partment of the Illinois Staats-Zeitung'
which he held for a number Of years.
He then went to Alton, Ill, where he
founded the Alton Banner and pub
1iShed IL for long time. i was in
Alton that / was born and raised. 1
remember the first time l ever heard a
ventriloquist and ] knew then that 1
could speak in the same way. I prac-
ticed and had a great lot Of pleasure by
means Of it. When l was 10 years of
age. five Alton boys and myself went
10 Denver 10 form a band. All the
musicians of that place had gone 10
the gold fields and after we arrived
there we got the fever and followed the
South Park railroad, which was then
building. We would play for the min
ers and railroad men every night and
get our pay in gold dust At Lead
willie I'VE joined Fishbac & Costello's
circus with which we came east, and
finally landed at Alton.
II stayed there until 1887, when re-
-ceived a letter from here 10 come and
manage the Wichita bah club, which
wanted to enter the league. This l