The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-20
Part

hlshly popular theatrical stars, and
the parents of the eminent actress, Miss
BIanche Bates, together with the
Wfller~ or these lines were filing a
steAar engagement at the theatre in
SAT- lake city, then as now called the
salt Lake theatre. While our original
engagement WAS limited to few
weeks, the contract was renewed for
some months for the very good reason,
me business Of the theatre was excel
rent, Mrs Bates being a particularly
slrong popular attraction in those days,
and great social success every where
however, as We had but a limited
number of plays, and there is such a
IhlDg even in theatrical appearances as
wearing ont ones welcome" we be-
gan to look around FOR fresh fields
and pastures new"
At this very time Salt Lake was en-
Toying one OF the most prosperous
epochs IN its history Alta, Cottonwood
ana Bingham canyon mining districts
We're being developed on every side.
Inc richness of every mining camp was
daily eXtolled by those most interested
IN either locality. There was, however,
unanimity of consent by all that the
III Dorado was Phoebe.
Piochei Phoebe! was the universal
cry.
Picturesque indeed was the city of
salt Lake during that exciting period.
Each day brought in a contingent of
Idaho. Washington, Wyoming and
eastern Nevada-the bulk of the Com
StockerS,. and CalifOrnians, however,
going to the new camp by way of
Eureka. Daily Gilmer & Salisbury's
stage coaches were loaded to the
guards with passengers. Hundreds of
others walked, carrying their swag"
or blankets on their backs. Many more
rode cayuses, while every conceivable
vehicle on wheels was brought into
service, for this hegira to the promised
land Varied indeed was the makeup
OF these Adventures. Miners young and
old, prOSpectOrs and transfers, gen.
orally clad in the old typical western
miners suit of homespuns, red, blue, or
grey shirts, whichever fancy selected
the broad brimmed hat jauntily turIHed
up over the right eyebrow, while 9TH
ers affected the buckskin of the trap
per, with its pendant fringes, and por-
cupine embroidery. Others again, a
decided minority, were there dressed in
loudly civilized attire, whose get-uD Of
spotless linen, neatly fitting clothes, Of
fine material high-heeIed boots Cnot
galIerS or low cut ShOeS), natty fat
crowned hat. with perfectly fiat leaf
clean shaved, except the pOmatum
Waxed mustache, the same being
tondlingly strOked by long. attenuated
we'll maniCured 6ngers-aH of which
proclaimed in no uncertain tone, that
the gentleman was ready "to open the
game" Gentleman. did I say? Yesi
and repeat that the sporting men of
those days were in all that went to-
wards giving a square deal in their
business relations broad. big hearted.
generous, and whose word was guaran-
tee enough, that when given it would
with honor be maintained.
At this time-in no other part of the
country, where indeed humanity is fire.
Quently to be seen in many curious
and unusual phases, was there a pCpu-
lation so marked in its general char
acter. and at the same time divided into
such distinct classes as Salt Lake
Dating as it does it's foundation from
yesterday-fOr what are two genera
tionS in the growth of this endless
metrOpOlis2-some of it's founders are
now scarcely past middle life re-
garding with establishment, the grow
ing work OF their hands, and whilst
gazing upon the huge volume OF bust
ne IS, made by the different railroads
tributary TO il. the daily arrivals of in
Vulnerable freight trains its thous-
ands of passenger arrivals from every
part of the habitable -globe-its well
stocked warehouses, its magnificent
stores, its splendid hotels. and all the
concomitants of great commercial de-
pot, they can scarcely realize the
memory OF a few short years when on
the same spot nothing was to be found
but a few weather bound and log build
ings of a frontier town Where now
intelligent and wealthy merchants walk
purse and credit and direct the com
merce of vast and numerousIy popu-
lated region. but the other day. stalked
in dress OF buckskin, the trapper. the
Indian trader of the west the miner.
the ever hopeful prOSpeCtOr, and all the
evidences of commercial life consisted
OF the eccentric vagaries Of the hardy
mOuntaineers.
These nevertheless were the men
whose hardy enterprise opened to com
MI 10
fertile valleys Of Utah. for after all it
was the mineral riches wrenched from
the womb of her mountains that gave
the impetus to the prosperous settle
ment OF her magnificent agricultural
districts. Rough and uncOuth though
they were, they alone were THE pioneers
of that extraordinary tide of civiliza-
ton which has poured its resistless cur
rent through tracts large enough for
kings TO govern, now teeming with
cultivation, where as It seems to me
but yesterday the bands of coyotes
. abOunded, and where the Navajo or the
Piute skulked through the mountains
and prairies. lord of the unappropriated
soil which now yields its prolific treas
ures 30 the pick, the spade and pillow of
civilized man.
One afternoon. the Phoebe excite
meut then at it's height, Mr.. Frank
Bates and myself INDUCING in our
usual daily walk. were passing by a
corral in the suburbs Oflthe city. Close
by was an encampment of about forty
wagons Of stout build. covered with
white tits ranged in semi-circle their
long tongues pointing OutWards with
the necessary Harvesting for four pairs
of mules. or eight yoke of oxen, lying
on the ground beside them. spread in
ready order for hitching. Round the
wagons, groups of teamsters. tall. stall
wart young MormOns, were engaged in
busy preparation for the start greasing
the wheels, fitting or repairing the har-
ness. The wagons were already heavily
loaded, and this place was evidently
their rendezvous before an immediate
start. All were bound for Phoebe
Frank said /. turning abruptly to
Bates. III leave for Phoebe at once.
III get a release from the management
In three weeks from now viii have a
theatre in Pioche with a good company
headed by yourself and Mrs Bates as
stock stars"
Three weeks after that date Mr. and
Mrs. F.M. Bates opened Maguire's opera
house in Robertson's play Caste" Civ
Ing splendid performance. supported
by one of the best companies il has
been my fortune to manage.
Phoebe lies. about $50 miles south of
Salt Lake. 1t took an entire seven
6avS and seven NIGHTS RI r,,ol~a tt,o