Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-20
IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

Richard Jose, who is billed as Amer
ica's greatest singer" stepped from
blacksmith's forge in Reno. New. in 1887.
into a popularity that has never waned.
For years he had sang at church socials
and several times appeared in concert in
Carson and Virginia. but 1t was not until
possession OF him in earnest. In those days
worked at the forge. as the assistant Of hi.
anvil was blended with the rich tones of his
voice and many a song was learned by
him in the heat Of the blast.
manager passing the. shop one day heard
toned e him ntd tand offered him trial W engage gage
he made his debut at the Baldwin theater
and made q hit. Six weeks later he ap-
peared as a burnt cork singer in the Nc
a reception that is still memorable in the
amusement annals Of the sagebrush state.
Since that time he has been leading fig
ure in the minstrel world and his fame Is as
co-extensive as the country.
Perhaps the grandest triumph ever scored
by Dick was in Reno on July 4. 1883. He
had returned home" on vacation and
who later was for several years q promi-
nent member Of the Bostonians, and at that
time was attending the Boston Conserva-
tory Of Music, and whose home was also In
Reno. was also there on a vacation and
there was music in the old town from
morn until eve. On the Fourth the people
celebrated in the usual bucolic style and the
entertainment dragged. 1t was an outdoor
meeting and the orator was failure. Flo
Finlayson and Dick" were interested spec
carriage. An inspiration seized "Dick'
and in bell like tones he began to sing "The
Star Spansled Banner" Miss Ffnlayson's
beautiful contralto followed and the sew.
eral thousand spectators were entranced by
the wondrous flow Of melody. All Joined in
the chorus and. impelled by the spirit Of
farmers, rough miners and staid profes-
sional men uncovered their heads and re-
peated the stirring chorus time and time
again.
Since that time Flo Finlayson has made
her bow before the footlights, become a
pubic favorite and sang her last song. Only
room in the California hotel in San Fran
cisco and. when the clods echoed on her
coffin they marked the close Of career
ha. sas sopnTad
be q favorite Of the footlights; he is now
in the zenith Of his fame as a singer. for.
has smiled him but to his
friends Of his childhood are still dear.
The otises in the Philippines are making
great records as military commanders. but
mixed up" Major General Elwell s. Otis
is getting the name while Brigadier Gem
game. The former is the latter's superior
in rank but not as fighter The decisive
and sanguinary battle of Caloocan was
fought and won by General Harrison Gray
Otis. but the bulletin to the war depart-
General ElwelI S. Otis. Caioocan was
one charge. "The iOwer Of the Filipino ar.
my" was intrenched there, but General
Harrison Gray Otis led the charge and
with the Twentieth Kansas infantry. First
Montana infantry, the Third artillery, First
Idaho infantry and the Fourth cavalry,
yet recorded in the Philippines.
The hero OF Coloocan Is a newspaper
man. He Is the principal owner of the Los
Angeles (CalJ Times. and when at home
wields the most vigorous and trenchant pen
In Southern California. In 1882 he arrived
in the City of the Angels poor man and,
by the sheer force Of his brains and ex-
which soon became one of the leading pa
pers of the Pacific coast and made of him a
wealthy man. It was an uphill fight. but
Otis is a born fighter and II delighted him
to meet and overcome obstacles. His e1-
perience In the Philippines is not his first
sortie into the realms Of war. In the civil
war he distinguished himself in a score of
a private in the Twelfth regiment of Ohio
volunteers and was promoted step by step
until he was brevetted major and lieuten-
ant colonel for gallant and meritorious
services during the war; II given the OPP
portunity in the Philippines he will carve
for himself name that will forever re-
main on the memory tablets of the Filipi-
nos and their descendants He is an Ohio
man and personal friend Of the president.
but II is on record that he never has sought
political preferment. He prefers fighting
TO omcial lie and can prepare an editorial