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December 1, 1908

MRS. JOHN L. COATES IS DEAD.

Wife of Former Kansas City Hotel

Keeper Dies in Chicago.

CHICAGO, Nov. 30 -- Mary Jane Coates, wife of John L. Coates, died today at the Hyde Park hotel of myocarditis at the age of 43 years. Mrs. Coates, who was married ten years ago, formerly was Mary Jane Pugh of Racine, Wis. She was a member of the Arch Club and the Travel class and had lived with her husband in this city for the past eight years. Mr. Coates formerly was proprietor of the Coates house in Kansas City.

Labels: Chicago, Coates house, death

November 26, 1908

CITY WAS GIVEN OVER

TO THE COLLEGE BOYS.

BY THOUSANDS THEY THRONGED

STREETS LAST NIGHT.

Roaring Their Songs and Cries, They

Made Their Presence Generally

Known -- Good Feeling Pre-

vailed Above All.

College life with the college left out; that's what several thousand Missouri and Kansas students and graduated enjoyed to the limit in Kansas City last night. Such life is interesting even in a college town, but in Kansas City it is real exciting, and the somber goddess of sleep had little work in the downtown districts after nightfall. Then it was that the real fun of the day before began. Hordes of enthusiastic students gathered in the lobbies of the various hotels. Instinct guided them more than anything else, and so it happened that the boys from K. U. assembled in one hostelry and Missouri fans joined hands and voices in another. The noise -- well, it wasn't just exactly noise, it was more like a human roar -- continued in hotels and on the streets until after midnight, and everybody was good natured.

It would be almost impossible to describe the thousands which went to make up the vast crowd of enthusiastic youths. They came to Kansas City, every one of them out of their own world, dressed in the fantastic garb which inhabitants of college walls and college atmosphere are wont to affect. There was the slouch hat with the brim cut closely around the crown; the heavy tan shoes, buckled for extra weight; trousers rolled up two or three times at the bottom, just why no one can guess' the inevitable cigarette and pipe. It was all of a different line than the Kansas Cityan is accustomed to, and he started and wondered and remembered, perhaps, that once he dressed the same way. Then there was that self-bred enthusiasm which gave vent in lusty roars; roars which showed the joy of life for the college man on the day before the great game.

IT WAS COLLEGE SPIRIT.

Before leaving their colleges the thousands of students had assembled in mass meeting to engender just such enthusiasm. They heard talks from members of their teams; from the old guard and from heads of the universities, and upon each one of them seemed to rest a certain responsibility for the success of his team in the only real football game of the season. That is college spirit, and that is why the regular boarder couldn't sleep in his usually quiet room at the hotel last night.

At the Savoy the Missouri aggregation of imported college men and yells held full sway. Nothing else was considered and nothing else could have made itself heard. True, there were three or four police officers on duty, but what were they when confronted with a mo b of a thousand husky young men? First there came the Missouri "Tiger," and then, with uncovered heads, the throng sang the grand Missouri song, "Old Missouri." Oh, they were sure of victory, were those fellows, and they were mightily proud of their alma mater. Somehow their songs of victory and triumph and allegiance to "Old Missouri" made the outsider think of the times when the ironclad soldiers of Cromwell went into battle singing, and he couldn't help understanding that the same spirit possessed those seemingly frenzied youths that steeled the heart of soldiers of the commonwealth. Over at the Coates house were the Kansas boys, and they were not to be outdone by their natural rivals, so far as noise and college spirit are concerned. "Rock-chalk; jawhawk; K-a-a-a U-u-u-u" made the second floor of the building seem to tremble from the vast noise sent up from a thousand throats. Pennants and banners of crimson and blue were waved frantically in the air between yells, and it was a pretty sight. Confidence there was in abundance; Kansas could not lose the Thanksgiving game because, well, because she was Kansas. It was knowledge of certain victory that added zest to those ferocious yells and gave them the utmost sincerity. No thought of loss entered the heads of enthusiastic rooters. They had put their faith and their money on Kansas, their alma mater, and she couldn't fail them. And so the songs and yells were songs and yells of the victor, and the Kansans were even more confident than their rivals.

GIRLS MADE NOISE, TOO.

Girls; there were lots of them, and they joined in the singing and noisemaking, too. Of course, they stood a little way off from the surging crowd of youths, chiefly on the stairways of the lobbies, but if one got close enough to them they could hear their shouts of general exuberance. But the girls could not stand the strain on the vocal chords as well as the men, and they began to hunt their rooms after an hour of jubilation on the stairways. In their rooms they could talk with each other of the coming game and the heroes thereof. Anyhow, they were girls, and it wasn't their part to make themselves so very obvious.

Early in the evening the old graduate was in his glory. He made the rounds of all the hotels and met the sons of his college chums. He forgot that he was a prominent lawyer and dignified; he remembered only the outlines of the old university hall; how he and his classmates used to hold jubilees on similar occasions; he forgot the numerous flunks in math and history and remembered only the great game "we played when your father and I were on the team." And did he yell and sing those college songs and yells? There were some of the songs that he had forgotten partly, but his lips moved just the same and his eyes were just as bright as those of his younger college mates. Off came his hat when the university hymn was sung and then when the "locomotive yell" was started he kept time with his headcovering and his arms.

WHEN OLD BOYS MET.

But when "old grad met old grad" then it was interesting. The hearty shake of the hand; the resounding slap on the back and the many, many questions of "where have you been all these years, and what have you been doing?" It was the revival of the good old days when they were young and boys; and the joyousness of the approaching game permeated their systems as it did those more active students of the present class.

Then there were banquets of the secret and Greek letter fraternities. The frat yells and songs filled the banquet rooms during the meals and it was all one big jubilee. But the yells were confined to frat yells for both universities were represented in the gatherings. Nothing really discordant could be allowed to enter into the rejoicing of the night.

Late in the evening, after the too mellow wine and overabundance of beer had begun to get in its work, a group of Kansas students left the Coates house and marched with arms locked to the Savoy hotel, where the Missouri bunch was holding forth. Just after a resounding "Tiger" had risen from the Missouri men, it was answered by a "Rock chalk; Jayhawk; K-a-a-a-a U-u-u-u-u" from the meandering Kansas. Some surprise was occasioned by the yell of the enemy and muttered threats of rushing them were heard. But the Kansas men were standing near the doorway, where they could make a hasty exit in case it was necessary, so the M. S. U. fans contented themselves with overshouting their would-be usurpers.

The theaters were heavily patronized by the "fussers" of the college boys. Many of them h ad chosen to spend the evening with the quieter, but equally fascinating, charm of feminine companionship. That was all right; they could do their yelling at the game and after.

All hotels in the city were crowded to overflowing and many of the boys were willing to sleep four and five in a room in order to get accommodations. The college boys literally took the town last night and they were given preference over all other persons.

Labels: Coates house, hotels, Savoy, sports, universities

November 22, 1908

WHEN GREENWOOD

GREW BIG SQUASHES.

HE DESERTED THE FARM TO

TEACH SCHOOL.

It Was Then That He Bid Farewell

to Fame and Name as

the Great "Squash

King."

The opportunities for a truck gardener to become immensely wealthy are more numerous than in any other line of business. This fact was clearly demonstrated yesterday afternoon at the Coates house, where members of the Missouri Valley Horticultural Society devoted their time to an explanation of nature and her wonderful productions.

"There are men in this city today who would be wealthy had they devoted their time and energy to a cultivation of the soil instead of following business careers," said one of the members.

"Professor J. M. Greenwood, superintendent of the public schools, would have undoubtedly become famous as the "squash king," had he persisted in his experiments with squash.. The professor did not deign to waste his time with the ordinary brand of squash known to the general public. His squashes were full grown."

There was a dreamy, far away expression in the professor's eyes yesterday, as he told of seven squash seeds, planted in earth, which had been dug from a well and which produced a sufficient number of squashes to supply the wants of the entire surrounding country. These squashes, according to Professor Greenwood, ranged in size from sixty pounds to the size of a large washtub.

But it must not be supposed that Professor Greenwood was permitted to carry off the honors of the occasion without a contest. As a matter of fact there was a strong faction among those present, who still insist that the squash story was surpassed by the feat of Major Frank Holsinger, who upon one occasion, neglected to prune his grape vines. Thinking they had been destroyed by the severe cold, they were permitted to remain as they were. Behold his surprise, then, as the grape season approached to observe his grape vines loaded with fruit. The fact that Major Holsinger placed a chair under one vine and picked a bushel of grapes without moving the chair, is ample evidence of his success as a grower of grapes.

Although there was some discussion as to the nature study in the schools and the advisability of teaching the children more of plant and insect life, it could be plainly seen that the minds of the majority of those present were busily engaged in mathematical computation as the money to be made on a ten-acre tract of land if the soil be devoted to grapes and squashes

Labels: Coates house, farmers, food, organizations, Superintendent Greenwood

October 13, 1908

WILLIAM TAFT HERE AGAIN.

Not the Big Noise, but a Meek Sales-

man From New York.

Minus the cheers of crowds and blare of brass bands, William Taft is again in Kansas City.

When seen yesterday at the Coates house, where he is stopping, he didn't care to express his opinion of the political situation, but was perfectly willing to talk about the troubles of a traveling salesman, for that is his vocation. He wrote New York after his name on the register.

A carpenter bearing the same distinguished name lives at 715 Central street.

Labels: Central street, Coates house, New York, salesmen, visitors

October 1, 1908

AUTO CLUB TAKES ACTION.

Members Will Aid in Prosecuting

Reckless Chauffeur.

The Automobile Club at a meeting at the Coates house last night discountenanced such recklessness as was exhibited by the occupants of a motor car which was driven into a spring wagon Tuesday night, resulting in the death of Pearl Gochenour and the injury of four others. Several members of the club spoke with feeling against men who would be guilty of such recklessness and apparent cruelty and the sentiment of the club was to offer a reward for the capture and conviction of the miscreants. As a matter of fact, the club did take such action, but it was recalled owing to insufficient funds, the treasury having been depleted earlier in the evening through the purchase of property which the club has had in contemplation for two years.

A resolution was adopted pledging every member of the club to aid in the arrest and conviction of the men responsible for Tuesday night's accident. The resolution represents the unanimous sentiment of the club. Jerome Twitchell, as sponsor of the resolution, said that it was the duty of every member of the club to lend his assistance, in so far as he could, in aiding the authorities to capture and convict these criminals.

"While the club is not in a position to offer financial assistance at this time," he said, "we should by all means offer our moral support."

Labels: automobiles, Coates house, organizations

September 2, 1908

WILL LECTURE FOR ZOO.

George O. Shields Has Agreed to

Come Here September 15.

Great interest is being shown by Kansas City people in the Kansas City zoo which is to be located at Swope park. At a meeting of the Kansas City Zoological Society at the Coates house last night final arrangements were made to have G. O. Shields, president of the League of American Sportsmen, speak in Convention hall on September 15. He will speak in the afternoon and evening, and the Kansas City society expects large crowds to be present at both meetings. Mr. Shields is probably the best known sportsman and hunter in this country. He has been invited to speak in Kansas City in the interest of the new zoo.

Labels: Coates house, Convention Hall, organizations, Swope park, visitors

July 14, 1908

IT'S ALWAYS "IN LINE."

Ex-Governor of Mississippi Talks of

His Own State.

"Mississippi is not only one of the 'solid South,' but it has a greater distinction," said Ex-Governor A. H. Longino at the Coates house last night. "Mississippi not only gave Judge Parker its electoral vote in 1904, but every precinct in the state was carried for the Democratic candidate for president."

The ex-governor was on the way from the Democratic convention in Denver to his home in Jackson, Miss., last night. He stopped off here yesterday to visit some friends and to get a more extensive view of the city than he has ever had before. He comes here frequently to trade at the Kansas City mule market and was a delegate to the convention here in 1900. He was also a delegate to the convention at Denver last week.

Labels: Coates house, Denver, politics, visitors

June 28, 1908

HE BELIEVES

IN BATTLESHIPS.

Senator Warner Is Cheered by Bat-

tery B When He Voices Sentiment.

"I was foolish enough to vote for four new bttleships and I would vote for sixteen more if I thought they were needed to preserve the peace of this country."

Senator William Warner made this statement last night at the banquet of Battery B of the Third regiment at the Coate house, and the boys of Battery B gave him cheer after cheer. Senator Warner's eminent standing with the militia was further evidenced when he said that he believed in the army and the navy, but peace above all.

"But I would fight for peace," he said, and that pleased the embryonic soldiers more than ever.

The state and the nation is doing right in contibuting to the militia, according to the senator, and he assured the young men that he stood ready and willing to co-operate with them in anything that would obtain for the good of the service.

This was the third annual banquet of Batery B of the Kansas City list artillery. Dr. J. Thomas Pittman was the toastmaster and Senator William Warner one of the guests. Warren E. Comstock paid a poetic tribute to the late Col. R. H. Hunt.

These were the other speakers: The Rev. Herbert E. Waters, invocation; Captain George R. Collins, "The Battery"; Fred A. Boxley, "Power of the New Gun"; W. P. Borland, "The Citizen Soldier"; T. T. Crittenden, Sr., "Civic Benefits From the Guard"; Herbert E. Waters, "An Empire and Its Builder."

Labels: Coates house, military, Senator Warner

May 27, 1908

IT'S ON THE MAP, ALL RIGHT.

Coates House Guests Interrogate

Guest from Coatesville.

When George Gillespie of Pennsylvania wrote "Coatesville" after his name on the register at the Coates house last night, old residents of the house crowded around to question him. Mr. Gillespie said he did not know of the existence of the Coates house when he left his home in Coatesville, and was only attracted to the hostelry by the sign. It developed that Coatesville, Pa., was named after the father of Kersey Coates, founder of the hotel.

Labels: Coates house, hotels, visitors

February 21, 1908

IN HONOR OF NEW POTENTATE.

Ararat Temple Holds Reception for

Judge E. E. Porterfield.

A reception in honor of E. E. Porterfield, the newly elected illustrious potentate, and his divan was given at the Coates house last night by ararat Temple of the Mystic Shrine. There was dancing and music by a male quartette.

Labels: Coates house, dancing, Judges, organizations

January 16, 1908

BOGUS NOBLEMAN

ARRESTED HERE.

POLICE MAY HAVE MAN WHO

SCANDALIZED PITTSBURG.

SOLD ENTREES TO SOCIETY.

POSED AS A TITLED ENGLISHMAN

AND REAPED A HARVEST.

Many Smoky City Millionaires Paid

Him Large Sums in Hope of

Gaining Admission to the

Court of St. James.

The police believe they had a foreign nobleman for a guest last night. If they are not mistaken their prisoner is none other than the person who recently set Pittsburg ablaze by collecting money from those funny Pittsburg millionaires on promises to introduce them into real British society.

For two weeks, the police say, this supposed nobleman has been in Kansas City part of the time visiting an East Twelfth street hotel. Ostensibly he was here to seek a profitable business investment, and was negociating for the purchase of property on Troost avenue. For some reason the suspicions of the police were aroused, and he was watched by detectives. Among others, Detective Ghent was working upon the case and he came to the conclusion that the man was none other than the Pittsburg celebrity. Tuesday night the detective traced the suspect to the Coates house, where, with a woman, he registered as from St. Joseph.

NO CHARGE AGAINST HIM.

Yesterday Detectives Boyle and Oldham were put upon the case. They traced the man and woman from the Coates house yesterday evening about dinnertime to the Morton Restaurant on Main street, and from there to McClintock's restaurant in Walnut street. As the two were entering McClintock's, the detectives placed the man under arrest. He was taken at once to police headquarters, booked for "investigation" and locked up in the holdover. Before he was locked up, he is said to have admitted that he was J. R. Spaulding, and that he was the man concerned in the Pittsburg scandals of last December. "Investigation" prisoners cannot be interviewed by reporters.

It is said no charges will be placed against the man. He will be presented at "show up" this morning and if he is the Pittsburg nobleman, will be ordered to leave town at once. The woman was not held.

MILLIONAIRES HIS MARK.

Reginald Spaulding, alias George Frederick Spate, alias Oscar F. Spate, by all of which names he was known, created a sensational scandal in Pittsburg last fall, when it was discovered he was an imposter, masquerading under pretenses of noble English birth. One of the most picturesque adventures of modern times, he readily won his way into the confidence of Pittsburg's millionaires by pretensions that were, to say the least, romantic. He offered, for a monetary consideration, to use his "social position" to obtain the introduction into the court of St. James of Pittsburgers who were able to pay the price. When it was discovered he was an ex-convict, a high-class confidence man and a bogus nobleman, Pittsburg was scandalized as much as it is possible for Pittsburg to be scandalized.

Investigation of his record disclosed some remarkable enterprises. Once as a representative of a fake South African trading company, he appointed a number of "agents" who were required to deposit $100 with him to secure their commissions in a promising get-rich-quick scheme. For this he was convicted and served two years in an English prison. That was 1903.

In 1902, he was married to Muriel, daughter of Lord and Lady Suffield, who had left her home because of a difference with her parents, and gone to South Africa as a Red Cross hospital nurse. Her name was removed from the records of the British nobility.

Spate, who is said to be of a younger son of a noble English family, had served as a subaltern in the British South African army. It was then he met and married the Lady Muriel. Later he is said to have interested his wife in a "salted" diamond mine, by which he realized a neat profit. Then he is said to decoyed the lady into the heart of Zululand, where he "lost" her. In order to find her, he made himself chief of a new Zulu kingdom and was starting out to avenge the disappearance of his wife, when she herself appeared in Johannesburg. It was after this he was sent to the British prison.

When the story of these adventures reached Pittsburg, the man was arrested, sat for his picture in the rogues' gallery and was ordered out of that city. Since then he has been lost. If the man arrested last night is really he, the police will be interested to know whether he was contemplating some other business coup in Kansas City.

Labels: Coates house, con artist, detectives, nurses, police headquarters, restaurants, Twelfth street, visitors

November 4, 1907

HEP, HEP, BUT NO TILLMAN.

THE BODYGUARD OF POLICE ARRIVED

AT THE DEPOT TOO LATE.

So the South Carolina Senator Reached

the Hotel Without Escort -- But There

Was No Riot -- In Convention

Hall To-night.

Was it a mob of hotel waiters they feared? Was it a delegation from the hodcarriers' union? Was it -- well, never mind.

The members of the Millinery Traveling Men's association in charge of the Tillman lecture to-night didn't confide the reason to Chief Ahern. They merely called him up yesterday afternoon and asked for a police guard for the senator from South Carolina when he should reach Kansas City to-day. The chief was agreeable.

So, hep, hep at the depot this morning.

A detachment of seven patrolmen from headquarters marched down in good order and debouched on the platform.

HEP, HEP, AGAIN.

Hep, hep, again.

Reinforcements from the St. Louis avenue station. Five more patrolmen and Sergeant O'Neil in eschelon formation wheeled into place.

Martial law for the depot. The ushers retreated in good order. Only the truck pushers were undismayed. Repeatedly they charged the line and battered it to pieces.

But Senator Tillman didn't come. Finally the guard got tired and investigated.

"Shucks," somebody said. "The senator got in an hour ago."

As there was no evidence of excitement and as no mob had been seen, the police marched away. In good order, of course. At the Coates house the senator disclaimed any knowledge of a request for police protection.

DOESN'T NEED A BODYGUARD.

"I just climbed off the train and took a carriage for the Coates house," the senator said this morning. "No, I have never been badly in need of a bodyguard and I don't want any now. I saw what I think and some people don't like it, I reckon, but I am in no danger, thank you."

Senator Tillman has had several disputes with some of his auditors in Western cities where he has lectured recently on the race question. Negroes have made threats against him, but there has been no violence.

HE ENJOYS THE TILTS.

"It isn't out of the ordinary for me to have a few tilts here and there when I speak my mind freely," the senator said. "There ain't any use in getting excited about it, either. I enjoy it too well to think about being guarded. The trouble with so many people is they want to solve the race problem without knowing anything about it. I know what I'm talking about when I talk about negroes."

Senator Tillman is a broad shouldered, stockily built man, with a full face and gray hair, which stands up straight. He will lecture on "The Race Problem" in Convention hall to-night. Tomorrow night he will lecture in Garnett, Kas.

Labels: Coates house, Police Chief Ahern, race, St Louis avenue, Union depot

September 13, 1907

MISTAKEN IN THEIR GRIEF.

Banqueters Misunderstand Toast-

master's Reference to Death.

When Dr. L. A. Merrillat, of Chicago, tostmaster at the banquet given at the Coates house last evening by the American Veterinary Medical Association, paid tribute to the "memory of one well known to us who has departed from our midst," and asked that the banqueters sit in bowed silence as a token of esteem to the departed, word was passed from table to table that Dr. Atvill Byrd, of Kansas City, was dead.

But Dr. Byrd is something more than a memory, despite the fact that he is lying ill at his home suffering from bruises received by the kick of a horse several days ago.

It being generally known among the delegates to the convention that Dr. Byrd had been injured, the natural conclusion was that it was he who had "departed from our midst."

"Well, I'm surprised to learn of Dr. Byrd's death, whispered one veterinarian to another after the banquet, and this was followed by "Let's ask Dr. Merillat for the particulars."

"Why, I didnt' mean Dr. Byrd," was the reply of the toastmaster, "I meant Dr. H. L. Ramacioti, of Omaha, who died today."

But many veterinarians left the banquet room believing that Dr. Byrd had died.

Dr. Byrd was reported convalescent and near complete recovery last night.

Labels: Chicago, Coates house, death, Omaha, veterinarians

February 1, 1907

IT WAS THE LIMIT.

WOMEN SOUVENIR HUNTERS

TOOK COLLINS AT HIS WORD.

LUGGED OFF A HEAVY DOOR.

"YOU DON'T MEAN WE CAN

HAVE IT?" THEY COOED

"Sure, I Do," Said Collins, and His Eyes Nearly Fell Out When

They Carted Off an $8.50 Door That

Weighed Forty-Eight Pounds

R. J. Collins, manager of a sash and door manufacturing company, had an exhibit at the Coates house in the club room durning the Southwestern lumbermen's convention this week. As a souvenir his firm gave away a little door, about eight inches long and five inches wide. After about 3,000 had been given away, the supply ran out yesterday right after the noon hour.

About 2 o'clock two wwomen walked into the room. Mr. Collins greeted them effusively, and gave them each an American Beauty rose. He had a large jar of the flowers for the fair sex visitors.

"Haven't you got some doors that you are giving away as souvenirs?" asked one of the women very sweetly.

"Why -- why --no --yes --yes," said Collin. "We have just those two left," and he pointed to the south wall against which stood two full-sized, regular house doors, with glass panels.

Are you giving them away?" said the other woman, eagerly.

"Yes," said Collins, He thought he was having a little joke, and the women were appreciating it.

"Well," said the first woman, "would you give us one?"

"Certainly," said Collins, The thing looked serious, but he determined to be game.

"And may we take one?" said the other woman.

"Help yourself," he said with a grandiose flourish.

"To his utter amazement and astonishment, the two women grabbed hold of the door, stood it on one side, and then, each taking an end, started out of the room.

"It's heavy," murmured one of the women, "but I guess we can m anage it. Can you carry your end?" The other woman cooed an affirmative.

They pushed out the crowded hall toward teh lobby. The door weighed forty-eight pounds, but was more awkward than heavy. One of the women slipped and almost fell. She exploded mirthfully, took a fresh grip, and they plodded on. They reached the lobby. Several hundred lumbermen stood glued to the marble tiling, speechless. But the women never noticed. They swung out of the north door of the hotel and onto the pavement. There they placed the door against the wall of the building.

They hailed an expressman, had him load the door into his wagon, gave him an address, and away he went. Unruffled, except for a few dislodged locks, they returned to the hotel and quietly went upstairs, pursuing thier quest for souvenirs.

Just as the women were getting throught he outside door w3ith their prizes, E. W. Gardiner spied them. He rang for a porter.

"Go find out at once about that," he said. "Ask the sash and door exhibit in the club house."

The porter ran into Collins.

"It's alright," said the latter. He came out and told it all to Gardiner, and then to L. M. Firey, the manager. Then he bought the cigars.

"It's on me -- it's on me," mumbled Collins weakly. "It's on me. I spotted the womwen as souvenir hunters as soon as they hit the place. I was out of the little doors, so I thought I sould spring a joke and tell them to take a big, real one. And they took it. I'm game, though. The door is theirs. It's worth about $8.50. I'll stand that allright, allright. The way they worked to lug it out of the hotel was worth the money. That's the limit on souvenirs. I've seen all kinds of it -- but that's the best, isn't it?" HE turned to Firey and Gardiner. They nodded their heads.

Give us some more cigars," said Collins. I'll have to steady my nerves."

Labels: cigars, Coates house, conventions, flowers, hotels