The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-06-13

PnlldQelpQla tudt Jouuuy UOuSuI LIS
first hack. After a short drive he
presented it to the driver. Our dates
being Cancelled, Johnny indemnified
US for the loss, estimating the prob
able business receipts on the basis
of packed houses.
"In Chicago he gave another exhi-
bition of his eccentric traits. He
leased the Academy of Music for the
season, and we did big business.
Finally he proposed a benefit for
Skiff and Gaylord and sent over to
rent the Crosby opera house, then
the finest in the country. The man
ager sent back this insolent reply:
"'We don't rent our house for an
internal negro show
Johnny got warm under the col
lar. He went down to the Office in
Root & Cady's music store.
What will you take for your
house to sell it outright?' he asked
Mr.. Root.
"I don't want to SELL was the
reply.
"I'n give you a liberal price.
Money is no object flashed back
Steele.
Then Johnny pulled out a roll
from his valise, counted out 100000
and asked Mr.. Root if that was an
object. Mr.. Root was thunderstruck.
"'Oh, if you're that kind of man
you can have the house for a benefit
free of charge
This benefit was a big success.
The receipts were $4,000, and more
were turned away than could gain
admission.
Johnny was a prince with his
money. I've seen him spend as high
as $4,000 in a day. That was the
time he rented the Continental hotel
in Philadelphia and wanted to buy
the Girard house. He sent to the Con-
tinental and politely said to the
clerk: Will you kindly tell the pro-
prietor that Mr.. Steele wishes to see
him.
"'No, SIR said the clerk, the
landlord is busy.
Johnny suggested that he could
make it pay the clerk to accomnlo-
date the whim. The clerk became
disdainful and Johnny tossed the
bellboy a twenty-dollar gold piece
with the request. The result was an
interview with the landlord. Johnny
claimed that he had been ill-treated
and requested the summary dismissal
of the clerk. The proprietor refus-
ed, and Johnny offered to buy the
hotel. The man said he couldn't sell
because he wasn't the entire owner.
A bargain was made to lease it for
one day for $4,000. The cash was
paid over, and Johnny installed him
self as landlord. He made me bell
boy, while Slocum oficiated as
clerk
'sThe doors were thrown open and
every guest in the house had his ill
of wine and edibles free of charge.
A huge placard was posted in front
of the hotel: open house to-day;
everything free. All are welcome
1t was merry lark. The whole city
seemed to catch on, and the house
was full. When Johnny thought he
had enough fun he turned the house
over to the landlord, who reinstated
the odious clerk. Johnny was fran
tic with rage. He went over to the
Girard house and tried to buy it. He
arranged with the proprietor to
buck the Continental, by making
prices so low that everybody would
come there. The Continental did
mighty little business as the result
of the fight made by Steele. Finally
he had enough of this sort OF fun
and offered to sell out and quit, but
Mr.. Wickham declined to purchase
it, then Johnny came to himself.
When he hurried home he had very
little money left. While he was
away from the oil farm it dwindled
in production. In 1857 he was sold
under the sheriff's hammer to Geo.
w. Hinckle, of Philadelphia, for
$4,000. It was at this time that
Steele shook Slocum."
Steele's wild career had bereft him
of every ounce of pride he ever had
and he became wanderer on the
face of the earth, with only few
hundred dollars in his pockets. Wife
and child he left behind. Try as he
would he could not get away from his
past, and he was heart-sick, but he
says he never once thought of sui
eide.