The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-08-11
Clever Seattle Hotel Clerk
How Frank Jago Unmasked Swnder Who Had De-
Ceved the Governor of Washington.
Drank Jago in Hotel worId0


the presence of a visitor in the city
than by DR.. HOenOch. civil engineer,
from St Petersburg. Russia Had the
president of the United States arrived
in Seattle incognitO and allowed him
self to be discovered by the alert hotel
reporter, there would have been rev
more prominent callers at the Rainier
Grand hotel than those who FASTENED
TO make DR.. HoenOch welcome He
came ike a star Of promise shortly al
ter New Years day 1896 and the peO-
pie Of Seattle lost no time in embrac-
ing him.
Seattle is not usually so cordial to
strangers. Like the inhabitants of 9th
er thriving western cities, the people of
Seattle are busy making as many gold
en- dollars as possible, and the stranger
within the gates is left pretty much to
himself, unless he can show busy citi-
zens how to make other dollars. That
is just what DIT. HoenOch, civil en-
gineer, proposed to do, and in him the
people Of Seattle Immediately saw the
possibility of the realization of a COM
merciaI greatness of Seattle, of which
before they had only dreamed, and
dared not hope.
'HOenoch. St. Petersburg" was the
simple way he registered at the Rain
ier-GTand, but when he saw the in
curing glance Of the chief clerk, he
and said;
L am d ceeveI engineer in re employ
of re Russian government. I am in
charge Of re construction of $500 miles
of re Siberian railway-3,500 miles at
Re eastern end of re line. 800 miles on
re branch line into Manchuria, and 1,500
miles OF re western end of re road. /
have just run across to Zeeatell for a
leetle rest. I may be here two days.
maybe two veaks, maybe longare-I
cannot say. Geeve me re best rooms
you hat I care not for re price. 1
want comfort; want re best"
All this was said with a refined for
eign accent which bore out the foreign
er's claim to education, position and
wealth. His baggage was another proof
OF his claims, and DR.. Hoenoch was
Immediately assigned to good quarters
and his baggage ordered UP. The doc
tor, however, was in no hurry to fol-
low the baggage. His immaculate con-
ditiOn showed that he had already re-
moved the stains of travel. He was a
dapper gentleman, rear middle life.
about five feet five inches tall and
weighing not more than 120 pounds
His dark beard was close cropped
Ia FRANCHISE Premier; his blue eyes
partly concealed by eyeglasses. and
sallow complexion denoting good liv-
were another indication of good birth
and breeding. He was the typical for
eign aristocrat.
IT finishing his conversation with the
clerk. the doctor reached in his pocket
and pulled out mileage book.
Here ezz some mileage Eat cannot
use. Take eet," he said to the clerk
The book contained about 81 worth
OF unused mileage in DR.. Hoenoch's
name
I win not accept it as a gift" re-
piled the clerk. but I viii sell it for
you and give you the money"
"Oh, varee veil: you need not mind
SAID the doctor. with evident chagrin
that his generosity was not appreci-
ated, and he went to his room.
The reporter of the Seattle Post
was not long in seeing the
for Seattle which lay inert
in the person of the suave civil en-
gineer. The clerk gave him the tip,
as is usually the case in good stories.
He followed il industriOuSly. On the
following DR.. Hoenoch's ar
rival a three-column interview with
him appeared in the Post-Intelligencer I
In it were glowingly described the ad-
vantages which might accrue to Seattle
If business connections could be ar
ranged between the thriving city and
government was pushing with all its
mighty power across the plains and
boundless forests of Siberia The
riches of those plains and forests were
told IN detail The possibilities of trade
which the railroad would open up were
The fact that Seattle might
be the eastern beneficiary of this great
task was not obscured- When Seattle
merchants read that interview, visions
Of a new life opened before them. They
pictured Seattle as eclipsing the me-
Iropolis OF. the Golden Gate, and they
felt already the stream Of multiplied
wealth flowing into their pockets
1t was only a short time after that
paper had been read that the stream of
callers began to flow into the Rainier
Grand. DR.. HoenOch had hardly fin
shed his breakfast in his room when
the cards began to go up. but the doc
tor was not in the least disturbed. He !
accepted the attention as his due and /
resigned himself to it.
The governor of Washington was one
Of the first callers. He recognized the /
Importance to his state of treating this /
stranger well, and he /
came in person to see that no courtesy 1
y as omitted. The mayor of the city /
was a close second on the calling list, /
and was quickly followed by the comp /
-roller and other city officials. Then /,
,ame a list Of judges, comprising the /
and district. The receiver of the /
Northern Pacific road recognized the I
Importance of an arrangement with /
he Siberian railway and FASTENED to /
seek out the doctor. Among those in /
he also called list were bank presi- (
tents, prominent club men and others I
who considered their business or social /
connections exalted enough to entitle /
hem TO the honor of calling on the 4
distinguished foreigner.
DR.. Hoenoch received all with the /
same affability. He accepted invita- /
ions to dinners, to clubs. to excursions /
70 points of interest, with a courtesy /
lot at all condescendjug. The COVER
Tor. the mayor and the other leading /
officials and citizens were charmed with /
1lm- and on leaving SWOre that he 4
would know what American hospitality I
vas before he returned to Siberia.
And they kept their word. No one /
vas ever more entertained and feted in /
seattle than Dr. HoenOch- He was the 4
5oe Sc that laid the golden egg, and the 4
5anders Of commerce fOcked around 4
llm. He was a social lion in the swell /
st homes; d center of interest in the /
most exclusive clubs; young women ad- 4
nired his dapper form. his immacu- 1
ate dress and his polished manners.
md DR.. HoenOch admired the young
women.
d.. Hoenoch himself was not behind 1
land as an entertainer. His callers at
he hotel were invited 10 take their
,hoice of drinks and TO smoke the besE I
IgarS in the house The accommodating /
ize of his bar bill did not seem to /
rouble him IN the least. He came OF
he race of men who cannot bear to
,ay out money in driblets. There was
me drink, however. Of which the doc
or often spoke, that the bartenders
Gould not brew. It was a Swedish