The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-11-26
HAMMERSTE|N
GREAT OBJECT
OF CURIOSITY
WE AMERICAN IMPREsARIo IS
LOOKED UPON IN LONDON AS
A SORT OF FREAK, DUE TO HIS
ATTEMPT TO COMPETE WITH
OTHERS.
Special to The Journal

son of grand opera in his ornate new
building which he calls the London
Opera House, Is an object OF vast Gu
riosity to the English theatre-g going
public.
Covent Garden has been for decades
the home of grand opera in London,
and opera here is primarily society
affair; but Hamme stein comes into
the field without associates, with no
wealthy syndicate enlisting the In
fluence Of prominent names, with al
most no signers of great reputation
and calmly announces that he pro-
poses to compete with Covent Garden
merely by giving good opera.
Among all the big cities Of Europe
London is Indifferent to opera, and
even the Covent Garden syndicate.
with p long roll OF tire rich and tittec
persons subscribing for boxes, has not
been able to afford the prominent
stars who sing in New York. Caruso
has been beyond Londons means Tor
several years. notwithstanding these
conditions Mr.. Hammcrstein built an
immense house in a summer, adver-
tised a season of twenty weeks, and
although the only names among his
singers that would attract attention In
America are Cavalieri and Renaud. he
says he is confident of success. He
claims to have invested million dol
lars of his own money in the venture
the Covent Garden syndicate eventu-
ally will buy his new house, as the
Metropolitan bought him out in New
York.
The Covent Garden opera house is
on land owned by the Duke OF Bed
ford. Adjoining 1t are several squares
occupied by the Covent Garden mark
cts. so that romantic opera is satu-
rated with the odor Of cabbages and
potetoes. 1t is a din:y od tuildins.
although q comfortable and substan-
-tial one, but 1t is said that the duke
would find it profitable to buy the
remaining term of the lease and rent
the land for the sale of pigs and tur-
nips. Mr.. Hammerstein may have in
side knowledge of these conditions.
He maintains an outward calm says
little and works all day and most Of
the night.
Expedition Hats.
The expedition of Lieutenant Paul
Gratz of Berlin, to the mysterious lake
Of Bangwelo In Africa, had Just reach
ed its objective when the leader was
almost fatally wounded and NJ. Octave
Friere a moving picture operator. was
Tdortally injured by herd of gigantic
wild buffaloes. The tragedy occurred
in September, but the news has just
reached here.
Gratz will be remembered as the
young German army officer who drove
a motor car through the wilds of At
RIGA two years ago. He left Berlin on
the present expedition in February.
The expedition was QUILTED in Portu-
guese, East Africa, and ascended the
Zambesi river in a motor boat. Elab-
crate preparations were made for the
plunge into the almost unknown re-
gions of Central Africa and twenty
supply stations were established on
the way. Besides food and other ne
cessities. a plentiful supply Of fire.
works and conjuring tricks with which
the simple natives were to be over
awed were also carried.
The explorer heard first Of the Ban
Ruelo lake on his motor car expedi-
ton. 1t was said to be an inland sea
upon which no white man had ever
sailed and from which no native canoe
had ever returned after venturing upon
it's surface. Members of the Awemba
tribe told wonderful tales about the
lake, some maintaining that it was the
entrance to Hades; others that it was
the approach of Paradise. The ex-
plorer smiled at these stories, but
hoped to find there unknown species Of
land and aquatic life. This was the
chief aim of his ill starred trip.
On their arrival at the lake, Gratz
and his only white companion saw
there enormous wild buffaloes stand
ing near a riverside. n The two men
fired and wounded the animals, but in
stead of retreating, the buffaloes
charged suddenly and savagely. Both
men were caught and tossed by the
beasts; F'riere was so badly gored that
he died within a few hours. The ma
tive servants sent runners for aid
to Kasama in Northeastern Rhodesia,
and after two days of forced march
ing, DIR. Randall, the district surgeon.
and Mr.. Cookson the magistrate Of
Kasama, arrived on the scene.
Gratz was taken to Kasama, and he
is recovering so rapidly that he hopes
20 complete his trip by reaching the
mouth of the Congo at the end Of the
year.
Pipe That Raleigh Smoked.
The pipe which Sir Walter Raleigh
smoked as he walked to the gallows
will soon be offered for sale by a Lon
don dealer in antiquities. The last
smoke of the man who introduced to-
bacco into Europe was enjoyed in q
pipe which plainly shows its American
origin. Ornamented in savage style,
1t is made of Virginia maple wood,
which has been carved into a number
of heads representing dos and IN
dams. In its stem Is a whistle which
the knight was supposed to have used
in sumoning his servants.
According to the history of this in
teresting relic, Raleigh smoked it on
the scafTold, and at the last moment
handed it to Bishop Andrews as a me.
mento. To those who claimed descent
from the Bishop the pipe belonged for
many years. 1t has been in the hands
Of the family of its present owne~ co.
the past two hundred years. Fifty
years ago it was exhibited at the
GuildhaI by the Archaeological So
eiety.
Avert Gasoline Famine.
To avert. the ever-recurring danger
d motor gasoline famine in London,
Parliamentary sanction will be sought
Tor a pipe line to convey petrol from
The Thames Estuary to various parts
Of the Metropolis. The determination
30 seek this permission is the out
come of the recent statement of Sir
Marcus Samuel, that three days fog
pm the river would interrupt seriously
1t did not stop the supply of motor
Ipirits for London. Such stoppage
would seriously affect traffic, as all