Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-11-27

rode Conterno and the two newspa-
per partners.
Sidewalks along the route from
Market Square up to Sixth and Ma
clay streets were packed with people
and II was the common remark dur
ing the ride to the grounds that
there would probably not be enough
seats for the crowd. Alas, the crowd
remained on the sidewalks and the
concerts from Il financial point repre-
sented large failure because the
weather was too cold. Artistically,
they were all that could be expected.
A prominent trolley magnate was al
lowed to come in on the financial
end and to this day he enjoys talk
ing about that great financial oppor-
tunity.
Another similar enterprise was the
bringing of Gilmore's famous band
on one occasion when there was to
be great spectacle at Island Park
Again excursion trains were run and
everything in sight as to seats and
concessions and carriage privileges
had been sold. The prospects were
bright for a brilliant success. Gill
more was at the height of his glory
and he was then giving patriotic per-
formances which involved cannon
and other features. Too late to head
off the excursion trains and the
crowds, Gilmore's manager wired
from a city in Ohio that intense
heat had prostrated the leader and
half the band and the Harrisburg
engagement would have to be can
celed. This was not such a joke
at the time, but 1t always furnished
Mr.. Jones and his partner an inter
esting bit OF reminlscence in later
years.
Brought Many Artists Here
But these occasional backsets did
not discourage the local impresarios.
They continued for q period of yen rs
to bring the most famous bandmast-
ers, singers and lecturers to the city.
These included among the band lead
ers, Strauss. Gilmore, Soura, Confer
no and the Royal Hungarian organi-
zation. Nellie BLY,. fresh from her
flying trip around the world. was
brought here soon after her return
and made a hit. BIZ Nye ani James
Whitcomb Riley also appeared un-
der the auspices of the two Harris
burg newspapermen and for the first
time in their lives the two humo;-
lists made a record for the first
graphophone brought to the city by
the executive clerk of Governor Bea-
yer. Colonel Henry Waterson was
among the distinguished lecturers
and other men equally famous.
Mr.. Jones and his newspaper as
sociate, both on the Telegraph STAFF,
were so well known through their
various band and other engagements
that more than once they were euI-
ployed to conduct the publicity work
of other enterprises. They were
both identified with the first and
only tobosgan slide in Harrisburg
which was located at Third and
Reilly streets. They soon found, how
ever, that the temperature of this
section was not conducive to a cor
tinuous toboggan slide success, al
belt the slide was popular between
thaws. IT was quite common eX-
perience with the toboggan slide to
have the schutes nicely filled with
ice and inviting to all tobogganists
only to discover that warm zephyr
from the south had destroyed the
chances for reimbursement of pre-
vious losses.
Had Many Interests
AS already suggested. Mr.. Jones
was interested in sports and fire.
quently told of those baseball play
ers with whom he was associated IN
the early days, John Montgomery
Ward being one of the number.
Some of his friends have not for
gotten his interesting experience
with a certain quack doctor who
once entered the editorial room of
the Telegraph with the intention of
more or less disfiguring Mr.. Jones.
The latter. small in stature but
plucky, walked to the door of the
room, threw it open and sad to the
doctor in his best voice. Now YOU
get out of this or I'll throw YOU OUT"
Notwithstanding the disparity in size
of the two men the helligerent quack
lost no time in leaving the room.
TON" always had pleasure in
telling of his most famous scoop"
An important political caucus was
being held in one of the rooms at
the old Capitol and the newspaper
men of that day were extremely anX-
ious to get the story. Securing a long
ladder and placing it against the
side of the building. they sent TON"
up the ladder to the edge of the win
dow, which was slightly open. His