The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-05
Smallest of Leaders.

Banks Creiger of Chicago Is the
smallest orchestra leader in the United
States. and possibly in the world. He
is four feet tall and weighs less than
so pounds, but he yields the baton
with the skill and address of a mas
ter.
Hopelessly crippled, he, like the
woman of old, has suffered many
things of many physicians. Every time
he faces an audience he is harnessed
in steel from his neck to his heels, and
the weight of the apparatus would
make strong man ache. And yet for
years he has worn 1t from the time he
rises in the morning until he lies down
at night.
1t is his habit to stand while play
ing. With the aid of canes he moves
to his place and carefully balances
himself by means of his braces. Re-
ceiving his instrument from an attend
ant, he draws the bow across the
strings, and from that moment until
the last throbbing note dies away, the
audience is spell-bound and the player
Is like one entranced. AS far as pos
sible he ignores his infirmities. Indeed,
1t is no infrequent sight in Chicago to
see thoughtless friend swinging
along at a brisk trot, with the little
orchestra leader vibrating with his
canes like an Industrious pendulum,
painting, out of breath, yet keeping
in step with his inconsiderate pace
maker.
Suffering has given his face a pecu-
liarly pathetic expression; but his Bo-
hemian spirit endears him to merry
makers. Personally he is popular
with the sporting fraternity, and his
orchestra is always in demand at the
races. He has led the orchestras at the
Columbia and Schiller theaters and is
favorite with clubs and social organ
izations.
One night he was held up by three
stalwart fellows. The men were going
through his pockets when they came in
contact with his steel braces, and,
touched with pity by his attenuated
figure, they restored his watch and
money with this injunction: Run
home, my lad, you are too little TO be
out this time Of night!'
He is natural genius and his ex-
periments with electrical forces are
singularly ingenious. Experts claim
that his model of a slot machine is the
most perfect ever manufactured.
But music climaxes every other tall
ent The natural flexibility of his
wrist gives him a skill rarely acquired
by violinists, even with years OF train
ing. Under his touch the instrument
as If II Were giving expression to the
torture he himself has suffered. When
he was a lad and a coveted privilege
was denied, he would pick up his Vio-
lin and the pleading music. more elo-
quent than words, would invaria bly,
secure the desired boon. His wife is a
niece of Judge Sheppard of Chicago.
and is a strilSingly beautiful woman,
with violet eyes and golden hair She
is tall and slender and her husband
easily stands under her arm. Their
only child, a son years old, strongly
resembles his mother, both physically
and in temperament.
Recently Mr.. Cregier had a birthday
and the little fellow was asked what
he thought would make an accepta bic
present for his father. After several
minutes of serious consideration, he
replied:
Il think he would like a good slice
of sirloin steakr' This certainly be-
speaks a healthy appetite for the tall
ented orchestra leader. who, by the
way, is the son of ex-Mayor Cregier of
Chicago.