Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-11-30

nounces the tragic death Of Oscar Ella.
son, the famous Utah magician. The
tldngs Of the sad event came at an
early hour this morning TO Paul Ham
mer chief clerk Of the Kenyon hotel
The message was sent by Mrs. Elason
who Is Mr. Hammers sister. The fate
full dispatch consisted Of but three
words. They were as follows:
OSCAR SHOT DEAD"
The shock Mr. Hammer received on
reading them was very great even be-
fore reading them as the envelope was
profusely covered with the words
Death and "Rush."R
The cablegram was Sent from Dubbo,
Australia, via sydney under date Of
yesterday, and conveys no particulars
beyond the mere announcement Of
death with the Implication that It was
Of violent character
There are several theories as to his
death. But the fun truth will probably
not be known before the arrival OF the
next Sydney mail steamer from Sydney
at San Francisco, which is not due to
arrive there before about January 18th.
TROUBLE WITH CURTIS.
1T is well known" said Mr. Ham
mer to a News man, that Oscar had
trouble Of a serious character with his
manager, NJ. b. Curtis. Those troubles
We're fully aired In the Australian press
and were supposed TO have been settled
by Oscar paying Curtis 5000 in spot
cash, which he actually did. He did
this, not because he was compelled to
but 10 prevent harrassment by Curtis,
whom he met while on his northwest
ern tour before embarklng FOR Honolulu.
Curtis Will be best remembered in Salt
Lake as sam1 Of Posen. He was very
clever actor, and successful
manager, but at the same time
was recognized as desperate
man. 1t viii be readily recalled that he
killed policeman in San Francisco one
night and that he made hard legal
fight with the result that he was ac-
quilted by the jury. For a time oscar
had no difficulty with him. But finally
we received letters from oscar which
stated that he was not getting his
share Of the box receipts and that he
had thrown Curtis overheard Curtis
sued him for breach OF contract, alleg-
ing that Ellason was under his manage
ment for a period Of three years; and
that is how the $1,000 came to be paid.
WAS MAKING BIG MONEY.
oscar was meeting with phenomenal
success" continued Mr. Hammer. he
did very well at Portland, Seattle and
Tacoma before taking steamer for
Honolulu. He played at the latter place
for three weeks and then went to New
Zealand where he gave a series Of per-
formances, playing In the southermost !
theater In the world, AT sydney he |
played one hundred and one nights. |
which broke the record for one man en- !
gagements at the Palace. He also gave |
slxty.fve consecutive performances az
Melbourne: and so Il went everywhere |
OF late he made more money than ever
HE receipts over and above all expenses
exceeding 5000 In a single month. He
has probably pu, aside $4,000 since leay-
Ing home a year ago last March only
1 couple Of weeks ago he wrote home,
asking about government bonds In
which he Intended to invest.
GOING AROUND THE WORLD.
He was doing one.nlght stands en-
lrely the last few weeks. and wrote
o US that he would like TO come home.
,ut said that as long as dollars were
merely lying around FOR him to pick up
le felt that II was his duty to pick them
I'D. From Australia he was golng to In
Ia, and from India 20 China and Japan
md from there 60 Europe and then
lome. His wife and seven-year-old
laughter and brother Frank were with
i'm. His company consisted OF twelve
eople,
Eyes we shall bring his body home. ]
m certain my sister, who was his wife
sill do that She will probably arrive
ERE about the middle OF January. In
he meantime our hearts go out 10 her
\ her hour OF great sorrow"
SAW GOVERNOR WELLS.
Mfr. Hammer saw Governor Wells To-
az. with a view to enllstlng the ser
ices Of the American consul at sgd
ey IN giving Mrs. Eliason any assist
nee she might require,
THE DEATH THEORIES.
There are several theories as to the Z
muse Of death. There is the trouble
nat | have spoken OF" said Mr.. Ham
,er; then there Is his wonderful bull {
4 catthlns feat from which the fatal '
y might have resulted; and then some !.
ne may have attempted TO rob him. !
ut these are spcculations, ! can tell {
othlng whatever about them. And We
lust patiently await the truth. b,
THE BULLET TRICK. t
4
The bullet trick was marvellous =
ID thrilling one, dangerous In the ex- U
eme. Many Salt Lakers viii recall
,w Er.ason performed It here to the 5.
rmplete mystihestlon Of his spectators. q
x soldiers from Fort Douglas loaded q