The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-04

STORY is TOLD
Burning of Kingfsher Frame
Building Recalls a Tale
OLD TIMER RELATES II
Eccentric Citizens of That City
Had Careers.
OLD TIMER RELATES II

Guthrie, o. T., Oct. 3.-The recent burn
ing in Kingfisher Of the old frame build
in known to early residents OF that coun-
ty as Democratic Hail. has brought
out the history of that structure and the
exact cause of its being erected num-
Der of years ago. The story, when re-
called by one of the old timers" has in
it such characters as Jim Dent, bill
Dalton, Al Jennings and others, the
names of two of these persons at least
are familiar to the majority of residents
of Oklahoma.
The history Of Kingfisher's Democratic
Hall" as told by one of the 'old timers
to the correspondent of the Eagle is as
follows:
After the opening in 1889, when people
began to become acquainted with each
other it was discovered that Kingfisher
has rather an eccentric person in one
Jim" Dent. Dent was a hustler and
took an active interest in politics. A
meeting of the territorial Democratic
committee was held in Oklahoma City
to arrange for the second congressional
nominating convention. Jim" Dent was
there He promised the committee that
in consideration of the convention being
held in Kingfisher, he would go home
and have a building erected large enough
to accommodate delegates and visitors
TO that city The members of the COM
mittee took Jim" at his word and he
returned to Kingfsher with the conven-
ton lin his pocket" so to speak. He in
formed the citizens of the situation and
Republicans and Democrats alike donated
funds for the erection of the Democratic
Hail.
In time it was completed and the con-
vention held and Travis nominated for
delegate About that time there was
some trouble in securing funds for vari-
Gus purposes and it was decided to hold
an old fashioned dance. Tickets were
sold for 81 each and, of course, the citi-
zens purchased them, and the result was
that every one had a big time. d. Fat
ty" Smith took charge of the money de-
rived from the sale of tickets, and Al
Jennings. who was recently released from
prison took them up at the door. When
ever Jennings became thirsty he went to
smith and cashed in a ticket for 81 and
then took his friends out for the refresh
ments. Later in the evening, some one
approached smith and said that there
had been some trouble about paying the
band and suggested that smith tell no
one how much had been taken in at the
door, Smiths reply was, Never mind,
not a son-of-a-gun will ever know how
much was taken in"
Bill Dalton, who was a. resident OF
Kingfsher county in the early days was
the first speaker in the old hall and it is
down in the annals of the county that
he made a rip-rcaring speech. Bill
turned into an outlaw later and his ball
of yarn was finally wound up in Kansas.
Republicans used the hall about as
ofte mas the Democrats and one of the
first speakers for the Republicans was
Old Pizen' Murphy of Oklahoma City.
He reused the natives. and by the way,
If you never heard Old PiZen' make a
speech you missed something
Jim Dent, who was instrumental in
the erection Of the building was a char
acter one will never forget He was an
applicant for the postmastershop. He
Hlduo d Trip LC NdSninSlOil, puL ldilcu
to be appointed. A little later. one of
Dents friends wanted a place in the land
office and Dent was asked to go TO Wash
ington in his behalf. Dent said he would
go and when he left Kingfisher ne was
wearing a very light summer suit and a
silk hat. 1t was warm weather in Ok
lahoma, but when Dent reached WASH
ington. it was cold enough to cause any
man TO wear heavy clothing. Dent had
nothing with him. but that suit and
whenever he appeared on the street, he
was followed by a crowd of boys who
'guyed him. but then Dent did not care.
Dent left Oklahoma and went south
TO his old home. When the new country
opened he came back 10 the territory. but
did not stay long. He saw some of the
boys and talked over old times. 1t is too
bad that the old building is gone for as
long as 1t existed it stood as a monument
TO what Jim Dent did when he and fell
lows of his makeup were doing things
in Oklahoma. Some of the fellows say
to this day that Smith never told any
one how much money was taken In on
the might of the dance, but OF course
that is merely story on Smith, as all
Will appreciate who know him"