The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-02-13
THE WHITECHAPEL CLUB.
The Story of a Famous Bohemian
Club in Chicago.

cences in the February American
Magazine, gives the following ac-
count of the "Whitechapel Club
famous Bohemian club of Chicago.
"The Whitechapel Club of Chi
cago, although founded twenty-five
years ago and lasting only six or
seven years, still remains in the
minds of newspaper and literary men
as one of the most remarkable of
Bohemian clubs. 1t was founded in
1887 and first had rooms back of
Henry Coster's saloon in an alley
near the Chicago News building. 1t
soon gathered unto itself all the
clever men of Chicago who were
writing for newspapers, and few of
their intimate comrades in other lines
of work, but of sympathetic spirit.
The membership included:
Finley Peter Dunno, who had not
as yet created MIR. Dooley.'
George Ade, who was reporter
on the Chicago Record, just starting
his Streets of the Town. the be-
ginning of his famous Fables in
Slang
Ben King, who was writing anus
ing verses, such as If I Should Die
Tonight and Nothing To Do But
Work They have preserved his
fame, though he died many years
since.
"Opie Read, of the Arkansas Trav-
eler
"Alfred Henry Lewis, who was
Washington correspondent and, be-
lieve, was even then writing the
'Wolfville' stories.
civilian E. Lewis, who has for
some years been editor of the New
York Morning Telegraph.
"Fredrick Upham Adams, the nov
elist, who was writing president
John Smith.
Thomas E. Powers, caricaturist
illustrator, who had not then enter
ed the field which has made him so
we'll known.
Horace Taylor, the artist.
"Wallace Wright, reporter and
poet, one of the most learned and
scholarly Chicago journalists.
Arthur Henry, who has since
written The House in the Woods
and The Island Cabin
"W. A. Taylor, now editor of the
Associated Sunday Magazine.
'W. w. Denslow, artist and illus
traitor, of Wizard of o. fame.
''The club was nameless at first.
But one afternoon group were sit
ting in one of the rooms when a
newsboy passed through the alley and
cried: All about the last White
chapel murder.' Seymour paused
with stein of beer lifted, and said:
Well call the new club "Whitechap-
ell Club
THE members of the club at it's
start made a practice of collecting
relics of tragedies which they report
ed. Shortly after it was reported
the Sioux war broke out and Sey-
mour and others brought back from
the battles a large number of skulls
of Indians, and drums and blankets
drenched in blood, which were hung
on the walls of the club. From that
time on it became the practice of
sheriffs and newspaper men every
where to send anything of that kind
to the Whitechapel Club. The re-
suit was that within a few years it
had the largest collection of criminal
skulls in the country. DR.. G. Frank
Lydston afterwards wrote book on
the skulls of criminals, using the
Whitechapel collection as the basis.
The club also had about fifty hang
mems ropes. There was in the club
a famous coffin-shaped table, and
each member had a silver screw in it
bearing his number.
"Admission was obtained in a pc
culiar way. An applicant for men,
bership had his name proposed, and
it was then posted on bulletin
board. He was on probation for 80
days. during which he had to be at
the club at least five days in the
week, in order to become acquainted
with the members. Within that
time any member could go and tear
his name down, and that ended his
candidacy. When his name finally
came up for voting it required the
full vote of the club to get him in.
1.-The fame of the club led to its
end. Rich and important men of
Chicago pressed for membership.
Some were admitted, then more. AS
result the club lost its Bohemian