Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-01
Eastlake Park Is Full of
People Who Want
That $1,000
Man Of Mystery Hears Band Play,
Talks to Many and StrolIs
Through the Pleasant
Grounds
BY THE MYSTERIOUS MIR. RAFFLES
George Harris DOnOhue


1t is up to me-the man of mystery
to apologize TO the good people of Los
Angeles for insinuating yesterday that
the great majority OF those on my trail
were troubled with that tired feeling to
such an extent that they would not
exert themselves sufficient to carry
copy of the Los Angeles Herald with
them while searching for me.
All this comes as a due matter of
fact, after my observations at East
lake park yesterday afternoon, when 1
discovered, much to my surprise, that
about every man, woman and child
within the beautiful parkway was pro-
vided with a copy Of the Los Angeles
Herald, and those who had failed to
properly equip themselves for the chase
lost no time in getting in the proper
limelight by purchasing a copy of the
Los Angeles Herald from one of the
three newsboys stationed at the main
entrance.
Finds Caution Necessary
1 have been through many gather
ings since the commencement of this
remarkable experiment, but never be-
fore in the history of the game have
been compelled to exercise such an ele-
ment of caution, so early in the game as
/ was compelled to exercise yester-
day
My announcement that 1 would put
in a couple Of hours at Eastlake park
was the signal for nearly 10000 people
of all ages, sizes and descriptions, to
hasten to the meeting place, with the
7 fhn nrly at
8 o'clock 1 found myself in one of the
liveliest bunch of sleuths 1 have ever
gone against
Should this element of persistency
continue to develop during the next
few days 1 can begin writing my own
swan song right now, as 1 am aware
it will be impossible for me to hold out
here for any extended time against
such gigantic odds as / was forced to
contend with during three-quarters of
an hour | was at Eastlake park yes
terday afternoon.
In every place where have presented
this experiment it has been my custom
to give the crowd a chance to become
familiar with themselves after 1 have
been in their midst a few days. There
has never anything more serious hap
pened at any of these initial gatherings
than a slight element of confusion
among those who insisted on picking
up the wrong men, all of which gave
me the opportunity of working in and
out without the slightest difficulty.
Crowd Searches Eagerly
Note the difference yesterday. The
very moment 1 stepped into Eastlake
park L discovered myself in precisely
the same sort of a crowd it has been
my custom to find when 1 had been
among the people for period of fif-
teen or twenty days. There was none
of that rough house element in evil
dence. The people were there, thou
sands of them, all had copies of the
Los Angeles Herald and all went
about the search in an orderly, sys-
tematic manner which rapidly be-
tokened to me that if 1 even succeeded
in getting through the park without de-
lection on my first appearance 1 would
be more thar lucky
AS long as the sleuths in cities go af-
ter me on the rough and tumble order,
just so long am I abso ely safe from
capture. 1t Is when they eliminate the
rowdyisms and buckle down to a sys-
tematic search for me that am COM
relied to exercise any cne Of the several
Bubterfuges 1 have ct command to
avoid detection.
In making the appointment for East
lake park yesterday L did not have the
SllSn sGol lucl 4 WOaAh hdNS elHy Qilll-
Guilty in maintaining my identity, and
that 1 am now still at liberty, after
working in that crowd H. the costume
I accepted chances in, is more of a
mystery to me than to any other person
al this time in this town.
Fears Capture Any Minute
Should the same element of system
prevail at any of the down town meet
ing places which 1 had arranged for
this coming week. I see right now
where 1 am apt to slip up at the most
unexpected moment. / am telling you
this because / want 1t understood right
now that in the event of capture it will
be due entirely to the i~diyidGal clev-
erness of the people of this town, .
whom l now stand pat to take my hat
off 10 after watching their efforts to
land me yesterday.
! had intended making an appoint
ment for the noon hour Of Tuesday IN
the down town section, but after think