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TIIB OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: SEPTEMBER 27, 1008.
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During ttSio IPall Fiesta vlties, when oof capac
ity is ftaedL to itis ottrmost, it Is important ttliat
passengers on cars, as well as pedestrians
on tlie streets, sfioold exercise more tlian or
dinary care to avoid' accidents.
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Do not attempt to get on or off moving cars, (St
when crossing streets, Look out for the cars.
ASSIST US IN PREVENTING ACCIDENTS
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Den of Ak-Sar-Ben Hallowed by Many Memories of Great Events
WHAT Samson needs la a new home. We ought to try
to make enough money to rebuild the Den."
Thus spoke a member to one of the board of gov
ernors one evening, when the general prosperity of
the order of Ak-Sar-Ben was under discussion, and
the great crowd of prominent citizens that filled the arena gave am
ple evidence of the popularity of the king and his active chamberlain.
And the member of the board of governors looked thoughtful and
said:
"No; we do not need a new Den."
One morning in the early spring Ous and myself sat together in
the big arena. It was as empty as It ever gets. He was sitting on
a box, while I occupied an upturned empty keg, and we were plan
ning for the summer campaign. A few marks on the' floor, some
notes on a scrap of paper and a general, hazy vision of what was to
come filled our minds, and the talk was pleasantly reminiscent and
equally pleasantly anticipated. The fun of the proposition was be
ginning to creep In on us as we planned and thought of how the plans
would work out. Various "stunts." as Gus calls the maneuvers,
were discussed and discarded and order was coming out of a gener
ally nebulous state of mind. Then Gus was called to the 'phone, and
for a few moments I was left alone. Cigar and surroundings were
conducive to reflection and the reverie into which my thoughts wan
dered seemed as natural as the act of breathing. The cool depths
of the great building were lighted by vagrant rays from the spring
sun, sifting in through the dust-covered skylights; soft airs stirred
now and again through the vast recesses, the rafters and great truss
beams were bare, save for here and there a fluttering shred of last
year's decoration. It was like a seat in a cathedral, whose mystic
tlllness has inspired great poems. x Presently my thoughts began to
take on other shapes and a procession of events flitted through my
mind. It was an irresistible tide of recollections and the emptiness
of the Den vanished and I saw it people with great throngs.
telling of the excitement that would follow the contest between the
dogs and the wolf, which animal was described as being especially
fierce and eager for a fight. On Saturday night the accustomed
crowd was assembled at the Coliseum, some 4,000 odd people having
paid a quarter each to secure admission to the arena. Out In the
center of the track a strong barricade of barb wire had been built,
Inclosing a considerable space in which the deadly encounter was to
occur. AH precautions had been taken to insure the safety of the
spectators and any fears that may have been folt were quieted by the
"senator's" announcement that strong guards bad been posted about
the arena, so it would not be possible for the maddened wolf to get
among the people and devour any of them. In the center of the en
closure was a cago strong enough to hold a Numldlan lion, and in
this cage was ensconced the man-eater, who was soon to be turned
loose on the dogs, held in leash by Charley Jackson and Bill Mardis.
Finally the signal was given. The dogs were unchained and their
keepers scurried for the gate that let them out to safety. One brave
man alone remained In the enclosure that was soon to be the scene
of carnage. He stealthily crept up to the cage, unfastened and
opened the door and fled to the gate, which was quickly opened and
closed, with the man on the outside. Then the fierce and ravenous
wolf came forth a miserable, mangy coyote that would'nt have
fought with a prairie dog. The dogs looked at the wolf and the wolf
at the dogs, and then they smelled one another and proceded to
fraternize. No amount of urging or "sic 'em" could start a fight
among that happy assemblage of curs of low degree, and finally it.
came over the crowd that the wolf fight was like a good many of the
so-called bicycle races and the assemblage melted away.
My first visit to the Coliseum was when sent there to get a "story"
about the bicycle race in progress between Jack Prince and "Soldier"
Ned Reading. I found the huge building full, while Twentieth
street in front was blocked as it had rever been before or since.
Each of that multitude was waiting for news from within and each
announcement of the progress of the riders was greeted with cheers.
Omaha was bicycle-mad at the time and the racing man was king.
How many can now name over the list Ashlnger, Eck, Reading.
Prince, Morgan, Martin a veritable host of lusty young men, who
made the riding of the "high" wheel a business and earned an un
certain livelihood by grinding through soul-trying days and nights of
unceasing effort to cover more miles in three days, or six days, or
some other number, than had ever been covered before in the same
time. What acclaim would welcome them, or any one of them,
bow? And at that time he was indeed a prince among his fellows
who strode the wheel and pushed along his weary way, keeping in
with the bunch, no matter how desperate his chances or Bore his
need. And with these were the "ladles" of the game. Cannot
some of you recall the cheers that echoed in the tingling ears of
Lillie Williams, when she finished ahead of Louise Armaindo and won
her right to a place among the "professionals?" Lillie laid down her
printer's stick and rule in The Bee office and went forth to conquer,
and conquered. Then came "Beauty" Baldwin and others, who
created some slight havoc among the more impressionable and won
a brief period of conquest. But the flame was sputtering low in the
lamp of the indoor racing erase and the "safety" was driving the or
dinary out of the field. And. must it be said? the sporting public
was beginning to question the probity of the proceedings at the
Coliseum, and some even had the effrontery to remark that the races
were not exactly contested on the track. So a change came over the
spirit of the dream.
Only a few months later the arena at the Coliseum presented a
contrast as sharp, and probably as violent, as possible. lustead of
the eage thousands, In whose veins flowed blood stirred at the sight
of men or women wearily pushing their way around the track on
bicycles or gaping fixedly at a group of animals, waiting to see them
rend each othet the softer side of man's nature had drawn thither
an entirely different class of people. Under the lights were gathered
the cultnre and intellect, the wealth and beauty and fashion of the
territory of which Omaha Is the center. Jewels flashed and shoul
ders gleamed, and handsome men In black and white stood around
or moved quietly about, while the swish of silk and lace was the only
sound. It was as brilliant an audience, probably, as any Omaha has
ever Been out, and at that time equaled, if it did not excel, any that
had ever gathered in the city. And it had a wonderful occasion to
observe, for the air of the Coliseum thrilled that night with some of
the sweetest sounds it had ever vibrated to. It was grand opera,
and for three performances the rough building housed one of the
most remarkable groups of "song birds" Pattl, Nordica, Scalchi,
Tamagno and others whose names are writ high in the Temple of
Music sang there and there received the plaudits of the people, who
rejoiced that the Coliseum made It possible that so great an opera
troupe might be accommodated in Omaha and tickets be set at a
price something lower than a king's ransom.
In other days that followed other musicians were heard there.
"Paddy" Gllmore's band, led by the popular Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore
In his own proper person, there played his programs that were as
much his own as was that beatific smile he sent like a benison over
the wildly applauding throng who cheered him at the end of each
number. And his arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner," with
artillery accompaniment that audience didn't need the example of
the military men present to rise and stand while that number was
played. The latent patriotism in each breats was fanned into flame
by the strains of the great national air, and the assemblage was on
its feet, ready to cheer its approval of song and rendition, long before
the salvo of artillery had punctuated the second bar of the refrain:
Tis the Star Spangled Banner (Boom! Boom!)
Oh, long may It wave (Boom! Boom! Boom!)
O'er the land of the free (Boom! Boom!)
And the home of the brave (Boom! Boom! Crash! Boom!)
That was Paddy Gllmore's own Idea, and he made it "go" with
the rest of his countrymen. . Of course, he played other pieces, and
a great chorus, directed by B. B. Young, and led by Madame Maz
zacuto Young, sang, and the festival was a tremendous success. And
after Gilmore came Theodore Thomas, with his wonderful orchestra,
and another feast was furnished whose savor is still sweet in mem
ory. Thomas played for us that afternoon Beethoven's "Unfinished
Symphony," and it was probably never better played. And, still an
other year Edward Strauss, fresh from the imperial palace at Vienna,
played for us Strauss waltzes and bowed his funny little bow, a ner
vous jerk of the head that was not a bow and hardly came up to the
requirements of a nod, and by his unbending attitude 'chilled a warm
western welcome Into a coldly formal afternoon for a fine gathering
of cultured people, who listened almost in silence to the strains of a
band of musicians whose individuality had been entirely subjugated
by the leader's stiffness and unamlable personality. But no such
waltz muBic has been heard elsewhere in Omaha. Other music has
been heard there May festivals, local choral efforts" and noted or
chestras, and the notes of the birds are still beard among the beams
of the roof.
and their duty to mankind requires that they form a new political
party and publish Its platform of principles to the world. And there,
on July 4, 1892, the people's independent party was born, and, with
General James B. Weaver as Its candidate for president of the United
States, went before the world to champion principles of government
and reforms in administration It deemed essential to the good of
mankind, the perpetuation of our Institutions. It was not all accom
plished in one day, nor without great travail. For days Omaha had
been corwded with the earnest farmers who came to give their aid
and advice In forming the new party. And among the workers were
men of might, like Ignatius Donnelley of Minnesota, the "Sage of
Nlnlnger," General Weaver, and many others who have been ever In
the very front of the fight for certain ideas. It was thought for
some time that Walter Q. Gresham would be the nominee for presi
dent, and only at the very last moment did he decline and allow the
honor of heading the new party to go to General Weaver.
McKlnley spoke at the Coliseum and Thurston and Bryan and a
host of others needless to recount here. It was there that Henry D.
Estabrook delivered his wonderfully telling denunciation of the
A. P. A. movement, when the citizens were up in revolt against that
organization. And it was there the first "dollar dinner" of the Bryan
campaign in 1896 was held. On one occasion Mr. Bryan acted as
ringmaster for a society circus at the Coliseum.
Again and again did the Coliseum revert to its original uses and
witness a renewal of bicycle racing. Six-day races and shorter races
were held from time to time, and wrestling matches, tug-of-war con
tests and other similar sporting events were held at intervals. About
every form of indoor sport has been indulged in there but prize fight
ing. If ever a boxing. match was held at the Coliseum it was done
so quietly that no record of Jt has been kept.
Another scene flits across the mind. A gathering of earnest,
thoughtful men Is assembled at the Coliseum. Grave projects occupy
them. It is their Arm belief that the time has come when patriotism
Between bicycla races various sorts of entertainment were pot
on to enliven tha routin of life and keep folks interested in the
Coliseum. One of thesa will live forever in the memory of those
whp saw Its denouement. "Senator" Morgan was the Instigator of
th "grand sacred" wolf fight that occurred there one Saturday night
la tha spring I 1889. AUurinj advertisements had ben circulate
Royal Genealogical Tree of Ak-Sar-Ben
King. Reign. Quoen.
E. M. Bartlett I Miss Meloria Woolworth
Casper E. Yost II Miss Mae Dundy
Edward P. Peek III.. Miss Gertrude Kountze
R. S. Wilcox ...IV Miss (J race Allen
W. D. McIIugh V U . .Miss Ethel Morse
F. A. Nash VI Miss Mildred Loinax
II. J. Penfold VII Miss Edith Smith
T. A. Fry VIII Miss Ella Cotton
Fred Metz IX Miss Bessie Brady
Charles II. Pickens X Miss Ada Kirkendall
Gurdon W. Wattles. XI Miss Mary Lee McShane
Gould Dietz XII Miss Margaret Wood
Victor B. Caldwell .., XIII.... Miss Nathalie Merriman
XIV .
In one of his stories of the southland Harry Stlllwell Edwards
tells of an old elm tree that grew beside a cabin. One of Its limbs
reached out over the roof of the cabin and at times, when the wind
was swaying the branches of the tree, this limb would touch the
shingles and tap gently on them. An "elbow" In the limb formed a
cup, and to this cup would come a bird, with a mulberry In the
season, and pound It in the cup until it gave up its Juice, and then
he would drink the juice and in the ecstacy of bis intoxication would
pour forth the most wonderful of bird songs. And the man who
lived in that cabin would He awake at night listening to the tapping
of the branch on the shingles, and it was music to him. And, one
summer he lay sick for many weeks, and while he was stretched on
his bed weak and helpless the bird came with the mulberry and
pounded it to a pulp In the cup of the limb, and then sang its won
derful song. And day after day, and night after night, the man
listened to the music of the elm tree and the curled-up shingle on the
roof, and the pounding of the mulberry in the cu, and the bird's
full-throated, joyous song of thankful exultation for life and mul
berry juice, and the music In his soul awakened. So that when he
was well again and a storm tore the branch from the tree and tossed
it to the ground he fashioned from It a musical instrument that was
neither a fiddle or a banjo, but a combination; and the cup, stained
with the mulberry Juice, and the shingle on which It had been
pounded by wind and bird, were made parts of the Instrument. And
through all that section of the country its music was famous.
Doesn't it seem that something of tradition, or at least associa
tion, clusters around the old Coliseum, now the Den of Ak-Sar-Ben?
In this nothing has been said of' the fourteen years It has been the
scene each summer of the most remarkable gatherings of business
men and professional men of all grades and ranks, In the moBt per
fect of good fellowship and unanimity of purpose to push forward
for Nebraska and the went; nor has anything been said of the social
magnificence of the splendid balls that have marked the annual cere
mony of coronation of King and Queen of Ak-Sar-Ben. The Den
may need a new floor, but It ought to be reverently preserved for its
past. It Isn't so old as to be venerable only twtnty years but it
has more of real tradition, perhaps, than any other building now
standing in Omaha, and so deserves to be preserved as long as Us
timbers will safely stand together McO,
