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

their guns In the presence Of the au'
dience and then fired them as they
thought point blank at the young
wizard When the sharp crack OF the
rifles was over and the smoke from
their muzzles had cleared away Ella
son held the bullets In his hand. How
he received them was a mystery to all
but himself.
KILLED A NEW YORK MAGICIAN
Recently a New York magician az
tempted the same feat and was killed.
An extended account Of II reached this
city and was clipped from a newspaper
by Eliason's father, who intended to
send Il to his son In his next letter and
implore him not TO attempt Il again.
Al the Salt Lake Theater this after
noon Ellason's old associates were dis
cussng his lamentable death, and 1t Is
a noteworthy fact that they unlnimous-
~ agree on the bullet catching feat the
Dry
A TALENTED SON or UTAH.
Oscar Elason was-if indeed he must
be written Of in the pasI--one Of the
most notable instances Of Utah talent.
From his very early years he showed a
taste for slight OF hand performances
and while other boys Of his age made
actors their heroes, no one equalled In
his eyes such men as Herman and Kel-
Ter. He practlced constantly at home
experimenting on tricks he had seen
performed and inventing many OF his
own, and before he had any public repu-
tatlon, he gave many private exhibit
lions at the houses Of his friends. His
skin then became 60 generally rec0g'
nized that he was encouraged to appear
In more public way, in ward halls,
and from thence Il was but a short step
. to the stage. He made one or two trial
tours Of the State. and meeting with
steady encouragement, decided on resu-
iarly entering the profession He then
went east and made lone tour cover
Ing points as FAR remote as Cuba, and
everywhere being recognized as one Of
the foremost exponenls Of the
meromayeen art. He left Salt Lake In
company with his wife for long orlen-
tai tour, under the management Of W. |
b. Curtis. but they separated in Austria
liza, and that Ellason pushed on 10 the |
Orient alone. He Is said to have been |
enormously successful and 10 have |
made great deal OF money since leay- |
ine Honolulu. BE was playing under the |
name OF Dante Che Great his wife, |
the eister OF Paul Hammer, Jr.,and Of T. |
;. Hammer Of this city wac profession,
ally known as Mademoiselle Edmunda. |
oscar Eliason was a most popular and |
genial young man. sunny In his DISPOSE
ton, bright and Witty In his CONVERSE
ton, ana with natural polish and hu.
NOR about him which fitted him FOR
the role Of a public entertainer; his
handsome and pleasant address, zoo,
fought half his battle for him when he
faced q strange audience. His loss win
not only be keenly felt by his relatives
and vide circle OF friends, but by all
who had regarded him as one Of the
most shining ornaments In our States
iotable list OF professional people.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Oscar Ellason. who gained world.
wide fame as a magician under the
stage name OF Dante the Great" was
born In salt Lake city on July 5. 1859.
His inclination towards magic was
early displayed, and when but a school
boy at st. Marks he spent not little
time in initiating the simpler feats he
had seen at the Theatre, or IN original.
Ing little feats Of slight Of hand for the
Of his mates
On leaving school, he entered the
store Of his father, the well known |
ieweler and matchmaker, where he |
worked asisduously at the watch
makers trade, and In few years be-
anne proficient However, he found
line 10 apply himself 10 his hvOrite
and the mechanical knowl-
.dge he had gained stood him in good
stead, In originating new tricks. By
his time his reputation had spread
md he was In demand at entertain
nents given by his friends. His first
Dublic appearance was at the Twcntl-
IN ward school house on March %.
$50, where he figured as the star at an
given by the Maltese &
hammer MINISTRIES, an amateur organi- !
alton.
In the following May he appeared O.. !
he Walker opera House with another 4.
.mateur organization, the Black BIRD |
ninsirels, and scored a hit.
BY this time, the youths reputation |
'as established locally. but Il was not e
NTH Hermann gave his Performance Z
Iere that Ellas0n really thought Of a
career He saw the great I
magician and could moi rest content IN
u he had duplicated every trick and H. | !
lsion q the kind Of magicians. And
Though Eliason had TO rely upon his p
wn ingenuity In evolving the appara- q
W, II is said that he not only equalled {
ut ecllpsed Hermann In his own feats | q
In February March and April, 1893 q
.llason appeared with a popular home | o
rganizatlon. the Deseret Mnstrels pt II
he Salt Lake Thcater, and his work | b
'as such as 10 at once place him In the | q
anks OF professionals. q
About the same time Anna Eva FAY | q
ave al the theater her exhibition OF | b
D-called spiritual phenomena" and | n
reated q profound sensation. Tllason | o.
'as among the meet interested OF the | (,
pectators and he observed 10 such "
,od effect that Immediately afterwards a
& duplicated every one Of her feats al | Il
le same house and exposed them. q
Hia next venture In this direction was | u
expose DR.. Waite and Harry Waite u
yo noted mediums" from Boston. In | q
Ms, he performed a public service, ana n
aced the faklrs from the East IN such | HI
ridiculous light that they stood not n
bon the order OF their departure. e,
Eliason then made a tour Of the State. N
Iposing the tricks OF these alleged | O.
Mediums" and also played a success n,
i engagement at Saltair. He was now | Al
irly launched on his career, and made | In