The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23
LOLA MONTEZ OUT WEST.
HER LIFE IN RETIREMENT IN A
LITTLE MINING TOWN.

ner nousehospinE and 1aer observation-disclosures
Nhippiag an Editor--CaiIinE in Bailet Cos
sumo on n N~tinister - nHer Dousesticnted
Benrs - In the Fart or pErs. Pat Hall.
Ios ANGELES, Gal. May lathe two stories
about the beautiful Lola Montez and her mol
encholy death in New York In January, 1851.
recently published in THE Sun, have been read
with interest by a host Of old Californians, who
remeinber the young woman whom she lived in q
PAW mining town in central California.
IL have always wondered what truth there
was in the stories that Lola Montez died alone
ard in poverty in New York saiS John John
atom. An old time Californian here tho other day,
'and that long quotation in Tnn Sun from tho
diary of a responsible clergyman tho Rev. DR..
Francis L. Hawksl, who was with tho woman in
- last days. is intensely Interesting to many of
Ms who we're neighbors and associates OF the
fascinating Montcz at Grass Valley forty-odd
years ago.
Lola Montez cRmo TO San Francisco in June,
1853. by way Of the Isthmus Of Panama. Tho
miues in California were pouring out millions
IN these days, and an army Of mon had grown
from poverty to wealth In q few years. San
francisco was a city OF some SO, 900 people, and
II was probably tho gayest, liveliest, and most
extravagant city OF its size in tho world. Lola
Montcx had heard of the golden dollars in tho
new FL Dorado and had sent her manager to San
Francisco to arrange n series OF dancing per
fortnances for her in the large towns Of Califor-
mia No theatrical or operatic star ever had the
reception in this State that Lola Montez had in
fan Francisco. For weeks previous the popula-
ton was at fever heat to see tho famous beauty
who had set the c%ourtiers and some of the roy
atty OF continental Europe wild with enthusiasm
by her grace and artful naughtiness. Any ono
with the reputation of Extravaganza and beauty
OF Montcz was much In demand in San Francisco
in those days. When the steamer bearing the
dancer and her party reached the wharf at San
francisco, over 5000 persons were gathered to
greet her. For days there had been little talked
OF except the coming OF the most fascinating
woman OF Europe. When Montez descended
che gansplank from the steamer and was helped
into an open carriage. the multitude cheered
as II going crazy. Hundreds OF men ran
along with the carriage when Lola Mon
tez was driven to her hotel. For days
there werc throngs of mon constantly
In The streets about tho hotel. waiting n chance
10 see the celebrated beauty. Seats ut tho old
American Theatre, on the corner of Sansomo
and IIalleck streets, where she appeared. were
sold at prices ranging from 81 to $50 each. The
whole house at the first performance sold for
about "a. 500. When the dancer appeared to
perform her spider dance the audience rose as
one person, and shook the building with ap-
plausc. Many old men. who have since been all
over the world, and have seen enthusiastic re
ccrt'ons OF actors and opera singers. say they
never saw anything that equalled that given
Leila Montez that night.
Lola Montez was the star in a melodrama
written in New York for her with a view to Civ
ing her opportunities to perform her spider and
butterfly dances. The plot was a part Of her own
life in Bavaria. There were six performers in
the drama. Lola Montez was gorgeously attired
that night and in excellent humor, but when the
echoes of the first extravagant applause had
died away the audience was disenchanted The
dancing was given twice, and there were no fur
thcr encores. Lola Montez saw that she had
tcen over advertised. Six more performances to
fair audiences were given. and then. there being
no further demand for seats, the engagement
closed. While she denounced the San Francisco
people generally for their fcklencss in giving
her n rousing welcome and then turning their
backs upon her, she had q dozen intimate friends
among the wits and moneyed men in the city of
the Golden Gate. She gave costly suppers, or
dered champagne from Paris purposely for her
tatle. and kept a retinue Of servants.
Every one admitted that Montez was a fas-
cirating and beautiful young woman who had
had wonderful opportunities to become the bril-
liant talker she was, but the public looked upon
her Us an adventures who cared only to har-
vest a lot of California dollars and then sail
away to other chimes. Among the champions Of
o. San Francisco. He and she Became FAST
friends. She said HUH was tho best story teller
in Ohio and Pennsyivania in the CAMPAIGN Of
1s4s, and President Taylor appointed him to
S SPse the 5S the ssn rsrri, 81 1885, e SalifY Hnh r IKEA suP ,Sc
f fGantry and He S s:S'T the p Sn ssisGr rri IL s sfn
bis dress Irsessss; So when It was announced in Noyem.
was a sen sation in the city. Hull and Mon.ez
went to Monterey on their wedding tour. and q
few weeks later to Sacramento. 1t seems that
BY King Louis OF Bavaria bearing a request for
admirers, and after a war Of words his personal
window q the Golden Eagle I Hotel siI IN sssra-
nento and his wife babe him begone. Hull re
turned to san Francisco ana obtained a divorce
At about that time Lola Montez met in sacra-
Knapp, whom she had known nv in New YORK
with whom she came to California. They were
away way up in mt the rs sie %rasAE! II New! Nevada a county counts they Thesy;
invited her to visit them there: The young
WIZ the rude Wiid town at once There % We're sSTe
but few well-built houses, there then, and not
over half q dozen of them had more than three
rooms each. Most OF the houses and stores were
built Of rough redwood boards. There we're over
Women VSonS there newer sVer was sam more o"s democratic HGnoe ATTIC
Community. Every one made money and spent
Il The IS Sss see A%R SRHilsa'0n and T'r Rus sSps of f s1%s St
They had come there to dig, riches IN the
mountains. There were TWO nepheWS or Victor
Hugo. a son of Senator FOote OF Mississippi, a
son of Moses Grinnell of New York. and a
nephew of Charles Sumner. Graduates from
Oxford and Harvard associated with ignorant
Mexicans and .~fugitives from Justice. This
phase of life had interest for Lola MOntez. She
established a home there that is still pointed out
to visitors in the town: Mrs. Dora Knapp. who
s%seeatiy died at Ontario, Cal; was nearer Lola
before her death Mrs. Knapp had a talk with tho
writer concerning the life Of the famous beauty
and dancer In Grass Valley. She said:
We knew Lola Montez as the Countess of
hansfeldt; the title was conferred on her by tho
King of Bavaria. She was angry II any one re-
ferred TO her az Lola Montez In her home, and
she said she did not want to be known as
Mrs. Pat Hull. The Countess was q marvel
l9usly beautiful woman. She had swapping
black, eyes, q wealth OF brown hair, an olive
complexion. a graceful, plump figure. and the
most shapely neck and arms ! have ever seen.
her vivacity was infectious. She was quick to
anger, and her devotion was as extreme as her
hate. The very day the Countess arrived In the