San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
Corpus Christi Man, Who
Directed independence,
Kan, Bond Back in 1893,
Says Oil Magnate Was Un-
able to Learn Chromatic
Scale on Trombone.
Corpus Christi. Tex. March 90

Corpus Christi. Tex. March 29.--
Harry +. Sinclair, central figure in
the senatorial investigation of the
Teapot Dome lease activities, former
~ Il valve trombone player in the
independence, Kan. brass band, lis
Just a kid who couldn't learn the
chromatic scale" said o. A. Peterson.
member of an orchestra playing at a
local theater. To the veteran musician.
Sinclair is not a vague figure of SEN
ate Investigations. the race tracks. or
the oil world. Peterson says he knew
him so well that he is able to say
without qualification that Sinclair
was the most backward boy in the
band back in Independence. Kan, 81
vars ago. Mr.. Peterson was director
of the band at the time.
He never learned the chrOmatic
scale" said the local orchestra man.
III recalling the days back in the lit
tie Kansas village when the band was
the central attraction. The musical or
gaIization at that time was known as
the Young America brass band, and
Sinclair played n valve trombone. Pet
crson displayed copy of band pro-
gram given in independence. Kan, on
New Years day. 1922. and in addi-
ton to the members of the band ut
that time, the names of the original
Young American brass band were
given, and Sinclair's name leads all
the rest. The band is now known as
the Mid-COntincnt band. "The band
is now fine organizat ton of more
than 40 men," said Peterson.
Thought Great Deal.
As the veteran musician recalled
the days when the oil magnate sought
TO coax harmony. out of his instru
ment. he told of Sinclair's rise to
wealth. story no doubt told often,
but probably from a different angle.
Sinclair WAS just as poor MS any
boy at that time. He was not a lead
err of the boys in his home town of
Independence. where he was born and
reared. He was sort of dreamer and
kept away from other people. He
never said much but did lot Of
thinking. In those days he didn't mix
much with other people. But now
since his rise to wealth he frequently
goes back to the old home town. and
quite often makes large gifts to the
band organization. Sometimes it is a
NV phtlib VI . NOllltllll'S llt
buys new instruments. or maybe he
builds a new band stand. He keeps in
touch with the old gang"
Could Not Learn Scale.
Mr.. Peterson said he first heard of
Mr.. Sinclair's rise to oil fame and
wealth a few years ago when he re-
turned tC independence for visit.
A plunge in oil leases in the Drum
right, Okla, field started Sinclair on
his road to oil wealth, said the local
man. 'Harry's father owned a small
drug store, and upon his fathers
death the young man inherited few
thousand dollars. He invested all Of
his money in oil leases. and the first
well drilled came in a gusher. Every
thing around Drumright had been
leased by Sinclair. and all the acreage
proved to be good oil land. With this
start he soon enlarged his activities
and became millionaire in few
years.
But he never was able to learn
the chrOmatic scale. But maybe he
would have had more success with a
slide instrument. Oiling may have
helped said the music man.