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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1900)
September Hi. moo. TIM: ILH STK ATi:i UK 10. I 1 History of the Den r' ' Many Stirring Scenes J.J. DERIGHT & CO SELLS HALL'B 8AFES. Dou't think of buying a Safe till jou sec Iierlgnt. 1110 Far mini St. Pr1MB J It II U CHAS. D. THOMPSON, (ii:i:it.l, NHW hi I'HH AM) l A; A'.I.M i) i:it risi(i ai;i;.t, ai l AM) :il. ICAllllAt II Hl.(t( K, OJI All A. When wanting uny klnl of newspaper or magazine advertising call, write or tel" phono mo and your orders will have prompt attention, Telephonu No. 3210. u"H--'. TV '" r.itiibllshtd 1H.1H, You are lnrltcU to visit the Oldest CARRIAGE fc REPOSITORY In the State. A. J. SIMPSON & SON, 140911 Dodge St., Omaha, Durum tin- annual visits r the royal pageant to Omaha t lie king and his cour tiers an- entertained at the cn of the prime minister, the mighty and powerful Samson, In which the solemnities of the Ak-Sar-llcn ritual are exempllllod during the .summer hy the grand mufti to the loyal assuls of the realm. It Is here that the preparations are all made for the an nual carnival of splendor and magnificence, even the tloats helm; all manufactured therein, under the supervision of (ins llcnzc. the wizard. This Is the largest building in Omaha and has n history that Is Interesting In Itself It has heen the birthplace of many a sensational fad, as it waa born Itself out of n fad. In 1S88, when the promised to put In enough to wipe out the Indebtedness. I was easy In those days and dually wiote out the check for $:i.nno old and gave It to them. They made me presi dent of the organization, which was known as the Coliseum lliilldlng association, ll was promised that the money necessary to pay the debts of the concern would be paid upon the strength of my subscription and Unit they would have enough over to put in a steam heating plant, as l.ludsoy, who represented a loan company, promised to loan us a considerable sum. 1 remember that for my $3,000 they nave me $ti,(it)0 In stock, Well, wo fixed up a note of the company nnd it was discounted and sold, hut I soon found out that tlio debts were not lie in i,' paid I became uneasy about this, and An unsolicited, tmhnught and unpaid for testimonial from The Omtilui Dalh News, September 10. lt: A. I.. Stoneevpher, one (if Omaha's lil"M progressive prlnterH, has been in the Ihim iicss since be was a wee bit of a chat, when be came to the ease tlrst It was I., standing on a soap box. lie .started in Omaha on a very small scale ami now h.i one of tho best equipped plants at l'.M How u r street In the city, lie is a pr"mssii citizen and alwajs readv id In lp i I t i t terprlses with his time and mmu CONTINENTAL 1 CLOTHING COMPANY ! m: Fine t Clothing WE CARRY NOTHING BUT THE BEST S CLOTHING, FURNISHING GOODS AND HATS We want your business. CONTINENTAL ! " CLOTHIM COMPANY I c, ?s 5? Fifteenth and Douglas Sts. i B1; SI I'KIUNTHN'MHNT HHNJCH AT WOUK IN TIIH DUN Photo by l,ouls It Ilostwick nthletlc world was enwrapt with ocsttUlc raptures over tho hioyclo rldltiK fad, John S. I'rince, n champion, was domiciled In Omaha and was a furious ad vocate of the ureal possibilities of that sport. In those days, not seemingly re mote, bicycle riding was an accomplish ment that iiualilled Its experts as show men. The utility of the vehicle was at that time an unsolved problem, and the commonest feats of riders of today were marvels that Inspired beholders with wonder and admiration. I'rince conceived tho Idea of erecting In Omaha a vast stadium, wherein should be enacted athletic tournaments that would outshine the Olym pic games. Hy dint of persoveranco and enthusiasm he Interested a large number of Omaha gentlemen and capitalists in his project ami a syndicate was formed to carry out his dreams of wealth. W. W. Lowe was president of the corporation that was formed, John M. Thurston vice president, Mllo S. I.lndBoy, an Omaha law yer of that day, was secretary. The com pany of which they were tho olllcers spent $.11,000 in erecting tho present Coliseum, which covers an area of 300x100 feet, practi cally all of It In ono gront hall. Tho oval shaped stadium is surrounded by tiers of seats, like the Plrcus Maximus of ancient Homo, and all is under a great roof resting on central wooden columns. It was n well built structure, and Is today in a re markably good stato of preservation. For a time It served Its purpose as tho resort of athletes and their admirers, and some successful tournaments were held thero during Its early history, In bicycle racing font racing and kindred athletic diversions. When tho great structure was completed Its promoters found themselves something like $8,000 In debt, nnd tho entertainments given there did not seem to produce tho material with which to (111 tho cavity. After It hail heen In operation about a year tho debts began to become pressing anil W. I. Klorstcad, then estimated to bo worth some thing liko $100,000, was appealed to among others to preserve It from Its creditors, "I'rince, Llndsey nnd others camo to mo," says Mr. Klerstrad, "and urged mo to put In $3,000, saying that if I did so others had when I spoke to I.llidsey about It he still Insisted that they would all be paid except some of the claims which he proposed to light, as they were, he said, unjust. At length I got afraid of I.lndsey and applied for a receiver, but he went Into court and showed that he proposed to light some of the claims and my application for a receiver was denied. Then Llndsey started out to fight some of tho claims and dually came to me, saying that we would have to put up a bond or about $!i00 in one of the suits, which ho wanted me to sign. I wiib, as I said before, easy, and signed It, with the result that I had It to pay with all costs. I think my $3,000 subscription to tho concern cost me something like $0,000 In one way and another. ;rcnt MiiMlenl Kiiterliiliiinciil, "It was hi tho winter of IMiv. I bolleve, that through the existence of this structure, tho energy nnd enthusiasm of Kdward Hose water and my own easy circumstances at that time Omaha enjoyed probably tho greatest muslcnl entertainment that ever enmo tills wny. Mr. Hosewnter camo to mo and presented tho fact Hint It would bo pos sible to get tho I'attl operatic aggregation In Omaha for two entertainments nt tho Coliseum. It wns then In Mexico and wnH reining north by way of California and Salt Lake. In the company at that time were, In addition to I'attl, Nordlca. Alblnl and Tomngno, then tho greatest tenor in tho world. Wo communlcnted with the com pany and tho manager, Marcus Mayer, camo to Omnhn to nrrango for the event. Wo found that thr only way to secure an ap pearance here was to put up a guaranty of j $13.ri00 for two entertainments, a matinee and evening concert. Wo did not havo time then to do ns they do now In getting up an entertainment that costs less money, go out nnd solicit subscriptions for a, guaranty. Wo had to act, and the result of tho negotiations wns that I went to tho Nntlonnl Hank of Commo.ce and gavo Marcus Mayor my note for $13,r,00 nnd hacked It up with n certified check for thnt amount, to be delivered upon tho comple Hon of tho contract. "Well, wo opened tho salo.nf tlrkots In (Continued on Twelfth Page) ffl. E. Smith & Co. Wholesale Dry Goods Notions and Furnishing Goods We tire the Makers of the Celebrated "IDEAL BRAND" Negligee Shirts, Pants, Lined Duck Clothing, Etc. 1101-1109 Howard St., Omaha fhe Dodge St. Luncheon. 1508 DODGE STREET, UP STAIRS. Ladles' and Gentlemen's Parlor. Home Cooking Served to Order. Special Kates on Meal Tickets. Kntranco through McOaguo Ilulldlng, N, W, Cor. 16th nnd Dodo Bin. MISSUS GILES & OCUMPAUCill.