The Wichita daily eagle., 1898-01-02

Color at the Auditorium Last Night to
Who Know How to Walk aud Walk For
Cake and waILings sake-Parties From
Several Outside Towns Attend I'm State
Two Wichita Couples are Awarded
Cash Prizes.
The great interstate cake walk, the
first in the history Of Wichita, and one
of the most widely advertised events
that has occurred for years. was a sue
cess. It was a decided success, both
from the standpoint OF attendance and
entertainment and in the language of
the gang, it most certainly was "hot
stuff
Long before O'Clock the Auditorium
was comfortably filed, but the rush con-
tinued until after $50. Never before
has the Auditorium seen a crowd like
the one last night. Every seat in the
house was sold and the usual sealing
capacity was supplemented by several
hundred chairs. 1t was the original in
tention to have the walkers perform on
the lower floor, but over a week ago the
gentlemen il charge of the affair saw
by the way tickets sold that the de-
mand for admission was such that the
additional seating capacity would be re-
quired and is was decided 10 enlarge the
stage and 10 have the performance on
the stage. As It was, the seating capac-
itV was barely aGeQuate.
The event proved to be, as was pre-
dicted, the great society event OF the
season. All the flower of Wichita's
beauty ard fashion were present It was
one OF the most stylish audiences WiCh-
ita has seen for years. Hundreds came
from elsewhere and Oklahoma Territory
was well represented.
The entertainment proved a great sue
cess. The novelty of the thing, and the
manner in which the program was pre-
scented, proved to be highly entertaining.
Probably a very small percentage Of
those present had ever seen cake walk
and to the vast majority Of the audience
regular true and real cake walk was
a most novel as wei as interesting sight.
From point Of entertainment the cake
for or expected The original promoters
Of the enterprise, Mr.. Delaney and B. L.
Eaton, therefore have reason TO feel well
satisfied in every manner at the success
ful termination Of one of the best man.
aged affairs that has ever occurred in
Wichita.
The performance opened with selec-
ton by Shaw's orchestra. Music by the
Morrow Trio, mandolin club, followed.
This was followed by wing dances in
true darkey style by various dancers,
male and female and livened up mat
tens in good shape. The cake walk fol-
bowed. During the evening, Prof Blue
bird, OF Chicago, entertained the audi
ence with some excellent solos. The
well known colored quartette, the Nick
ePson Brothers as they style themselves,
sang a number of selections that were
warmly received.
The cake walk opened with a walk by
all the contestants. Those who appeared
We're w. G. Gray and Mrs. Gray Of
Guthrie, J. D. Summerville and frankie
Turner of Denver, Pink Johnson Of St.
Louis, Miss Viola Lee of Kansas City,
and H. Bramlet AMI wife. A H. Hender-
son and Mrs. Mabel Wilson. Robert
Hammond and Miss Mary Henry, Tom
Laws and Miss Nellie North, Pink John
son and Lutte Morris. Arthur Wood and
Viola Lee, John Brown and Blanche
James, George Silvers and Miss Addie
Silvers.
Prof. Frank Johnson acted as chief
Judge Of the cake walk and in a highly
dignifed manner introduced each couple
as they walked. The prize WINNERS
were all excellent walkers and Walter
Gray of Guthrie and John Brown OF
Wichita proved themselves the real thing
as cake walkers. The air Of dignity,
grace and the unique manner OF the
walkers were highly entertaining and
furnished more genuine amusement than
could be seen at the best minstrel show.
1t was a great thing.
All the walkers were good and some ot
them ran SO nearly even that a number
were required TO walk a second time in
order that the judges might arrive at
a conclusion. The very important duty
of judging and awarding the great cake
which occupied a prominent position on
the stage. devolved upon Messrs. Don
Porter, Chief Of Police Campbell. Captain
John H. Shields, \ G. Walden. \. T
Payne and L. @. Niblack of Guthrie.
Thase gentlemen are connoisseurs in the
matter Of caks walks, and performed
their duty with great impartiality, b.
coming dignity and good grace. The
prizes were as follows:
First Prize-Cash So. and cake.
Second Prize-Cash $15.
Third Prize-Cash SO.
The Next TeH-Each s. cash.
The Next Three Ladies After First
Each s. cash.
The Next Eight Ladies-Each s. cash.
The prize winners were Walter Gray
ana wife OF Guthrie, first prize
John Brown and Blanch Jones Of
Wichita, second prize, while Arthur
Wood and Viola Lee received third
prize.
The ladies' who received prizes were
Addie Silvers. Viola Lee ana Blanch
James.
Al the walkers were atjired in the
most approved cake walk style and for
swell lockers would be hard II excel.
John Brown and Blanch James were
probably the SWEETEST looking couple on
the stage.
During the performance the manage
ment received kilograms from Parson
G!dday Of Kansas City. saying that he
had missed the train or he should have
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