The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-24

When Fortescue walked into the Ma
tional and leaned his 285 pounds
against the desk the clerk looked at
him in amazement. The clerk might
weigh an even hundred, but it is
doubtful. If the desk gave way IN
der the weight the clerk would not be
able to hold UP his end of the polished
mahogany board. FOrtescue asked no
questions. He took hold of a pen. Half
a dozen people tried to look around
him. over him and between, but all to
no use Room. bed, supper and
the clerk was afraid he was going to
say bath. He knew there was no bath
tub that would hold him and water at
the same time. The tank on the roof
would have to be put into service. For
tescue is The jolly big Yen How, the
at the Crawford tonight. In the play
he has six little wives Two of the lit
tie wives wanted a double bed at the
National. They drew single bed.
Let them have my double bed. I'll
take the single one" said the gracious
mo, you don't" said the clerk You
don't want a crib
7 don't mind" said Fortescue.
But I do. we can't trust that bed to
hold you
Fortescue is not at all touchy about
his size. He is a kindly looking elderly
gentleman, about As perhaps His hair
is tinged with gray. A dozen people
$1,000 about anu lJOhcQ dL 4 t1S-A
they inquired of the clerk if there Were
any tickets left for tonight. Fortescue
is walking advertisement.
Fortescue was mighty popular in To
peka 20 years ago He is stlll populaf
with those who remember him He was
here in 1882 as Catherine" in Rics's
"Elvangeline" and to this day thai is the
funniest role of man burlesquelng a
female part in the history of Topeka.
The only thing next to it was Nose
Sarhach's playing a colored belle in the
EIks' rninstre1s at the Grand and doing
cake walk. When Fortescue played
that part the performance was given IN
the abandoned tabernacle used while the
CONGREGATIONAL church was being built.
It was then that Costa's opera house
burned and Crawford used the tabernacle
until he rebuilt the theater under the
name of the Crawford. The old taber-
nacIe was situated at the southwest
corner of Seventh and Van Buren,
streets. across from the old skating
rink.
in speak liking of his first Topeka exper-
fence. That was a good many years
ago. I was quite popular here then, "
he said with a sigh and reminiscent
look I was here after that at both the
Crawford and the Grand. weighed
nearly as much then as l do now. Now
[ weigh 2S5 pounds
The understudy to Fortescue is named
Gerdes, and like a good many under
ETIQlGS. ne Is MUIR lulkJA Luits A4E t44&tEATs
and a bigger gun in @the comic epera
business than the man whose part he
takes when the real man is sick, and II
he admits it himself that ought to settle
it. Two big men could not stay at the
same hotel. so Gerdes went to the
ThroOp. He is shorter than FOrteseue
and weighs fifteen or twenty
pounds more and looks like an over
grown trick elephant. When he marched
or rather waddled, into the hotel the
colored bell boys and porters began
chorus of smokers and filters When
they saw the broad view of his back
they let loose in a roar of ha has. A
good description of his back is to say
that his overcoat from the rear looks
like a blanket hung on barb wire
fence to dry.
When the head waiter spied Gerdes IN
through the door of the dining room he
dispatched a couple of walters to a near
by sample room to bring IN an extra table.
When Gerdes saw it going in on the din
ing room and heard the laughter the
thoughtfulness Of the head waiter ere
ated he looked mad as a hornet stuck in
a bed Of mortar
But all the people in san Toy are not