ADDENDUM

Oscar Eliason's story is just one small tale within the broad sweep of magic history. With any historical research there will always be some loose ends, supplementary details and peripheral topics of interest which, though fascinating to the researcher, may not be of interest to the casual reader. Here are some of those items!

A letter from Frank Eliason
A letter from Viola Pratt
Details of Frank Eliason's post-1899 travels
Notes about Maurice Bertram Curtis, Dante and Thurston
Jack Angus, the "Australian Dante"

"It is with unspeakable grief that I am compelled to relate a most lamentable accident, an accident that has lost to us one who was not only loved by us but was respected by every one, and has closed a career that in a few years time would have known no bounds.

"It was just a week ago today that Oscar, Verge (Mrs. Eliason), Reeves, Jones, the pianist, and Dr. Tressider and myself made up a party to hunt kangaroos and wallabies. We left our hotel at Dubbo about noon and drove out about six miles. After unhooking the horses and turning them loose we all went out, but returned in a few hours for refreshments.

"We again went out in the evening and had all again returned and fired our last shots at some birds in a tree ahead of us, when Oscar threw up his hands and cried, 'I knew it! I knew it.' I ran to him and caught him as he was falling down. Oscar had been accidentally shot by Jones. He undid his clothes himself and we found the bullet just under the skin in the center of the abdomen. The bullet had entered just behind the hip, from which blood rushed in torrents.

"The boys immediately rushed to hitch up the horses. Verge noticed the excitement, came over and found the wagon and seeing the trouble, nearly went wild. She, however, soon calmed herself and assisted us to put Oscar into the wagon. We drove with all haste into Dubbo. When we arrived in town we summoned the best doctor to be had. He extracted the bullet and thought it would only be a flesh wound.

"Oscar suffered great pain all night, but in the early morning the pain became even more terrible, although morphia was frequently injected. He could not rest. The local doctors now feared that inflammation of the bowels had set in and they started preparations for an operation. He, however, seemed to rally and the operation was postponed.

"The doctor stated that if any entrails were cut, as he felt sure was the case, there was the hope that they would stick to the walls on either side, nature growing a gelatine film over as a substitute. If things were in this condition and an operation were performed no good would result and probably a lot of harm.

"Ten o'clock Sunday, with no improvement, an operation was decided on. There were three doctors, two nurses and myself present. An opening was made just above the groin and a lot of matter taken out. A huge abscess had formed on the entrails, and after carefully examining the track of the bullet the doctors said there was no hope.

"Gauze drains were placed through the abdominal cavity from the wound, and we were advised to send to Sydney for Dr. McCormick, supposed to be the best surgeon in Australia.

"The special train, due in six hours, was delayed on account of hot boxes, and did not arrive till 10 o'clock Monday night with Dr. McCormick.

"After examining Oscar, Dr. McCormick advised to let the operation go over till morning, as Oscar was feeling easier. At 1 o'clock he was worse again and the operation was made Tuesday morning.

"After coming to from the operation, he felt much relieved. It was then we had Oscar make his will, he exclaiming, 'You mean to kill me, don't you! But I am going to live anyway.' The doctors had given him only a few hours to live.

"After this he lived till 12 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. When told there was no hope of his recovery, he said, 'Well, that's too bad,' and would not believe it, talking to the very last of continuing the tour in a week or so.

"We had the will drawn up, turning everything over to his wife. He said it was all right and that he knew she would provide for Ethel, their little girl. When Verge asked him if he had anything to say, he said, 'No, but I think we understand each other perfectly, and that is all that is necessary.' When asked if he desired her to go home, Oscar said he would leave it all to Verge, but thought we ought to continue the show.

"Verge was very hysterical before his death and for some time after, constantly requiring watching. She bore up bravely at the funeral and has done so since.

"Viola Pratt is a constant caller and is a great comfort to Verge.

"Oscar made so many friends in Australia, and they are falling all over themselves to render any help. We have bushel baskets full of condolences from all over Australia. It is said there never was a death so universally regretted. It was necessary for an extra carriage to carry the floral offerings to the grave. The street was blocked with people at the funeral. As the hearse passed, everyone, from the lowest vagabond to royalty in carriages, respectfully raised their hats. Schools were drawn up in bodies along the line of march to pay their last respects to the beloved 'Dante.'

"When we left Dubbo with the remains to go to Sydney, every shop in the town was closed, and it was necessary for us to go out of the hotel the back way to avoid the crush. At the station the crowd was so great the funeral train was delayed fifteen minutes in leaving, and during the whole night's ride every station we passed was crowded to see the train that was taking 'Dante' on his last journey.

"Verge does not feel that she can come home until affairs are straightened out. I wish I could divert her mind from the tragic incident. She has eaten nothing yet, but is feeling a little more cheerful tonight. Ethel wept very bitterly and felt the shock keenly at first.

"Well, Paul, I don't know what the foregoing letter is like, but I have done my best. It is the hardest piece of work I have ever done, and may God grant that there will never be another occasion for writing another such letter. Kindly read the letter to father and tell him that everything science and money could do was done to save Oscar."

"Viola Pratt (Gillette) whose face is here shown, has just made a great success in Australia in the production there of "Robin Hood." ...

Speaking of Oscar Eliason she says: "wasn't it sad about Oscar Eliason? He was making such a big success out here, and everybody liked him so much. His brother Frank, his wife and his little 6-year-old daughter were with him; they all dined with me at Adelaide. As soon as Mrs. Eliason arrived in Sydney with the body I had her with me all the time. I was the only woman she knew, and I can't tell you how pitiful it was when her husband was buried. I held her up on one side and his brother was on the other. The cemetery at Sydney is a way out by the ocean and his grave is overlooking the sea with the waves washing up against it. She has taken a little cottage near Sydney and says she can't bear to go home and leave his grave, so I suppose she will stay in Australia for some time now." ...

[NZ Herald?? ]January 26, 1900 - Frank apppeared at Public Hall, Onehunga.

New Zealand Herald, January 27, 1900 - Review of Frank on the "goldfields & Waikato districts". To appear at New Plymouth on Monday (no date indicated).

New Zealand Herald, March 3, 1900 - Mdle. Edmunda and Mr Frank Dante have returned to Sydney. It is understood that Mdle Edmunda intends to settle there.

I have a note with no date, but sourced from the NZ Mail, saying that Frank planned to go on from Thames to Wanganui, Manawatu, Wellington, and that tour ended in February 1900 due to lack of success.

From September 29, 1900, Frank appeared in Brisbane with the Royal Burlesque and Specialty Co.

Stanyon's Magic, March 1901 - We have received from Mr Chas. Heather, Brisbance, the Evening Programme and Matinee Dodger of Madam Dante, wife of Dante the Great, who was killed recently while out shooting. Madam opened at the Opera House on Boxing Night last with an elaborate stage "set" replete with tables, chairs &c. The tricks performed were not exactly new, perhaps the most novel being the Organ Pipe Production, they were, however, executed with much neatness as were also the illusions "Sans Gene", "The Beggar's Dream" and "The Aerial Cyclist". We wish Madam every success and hope she has not undertaken too much.

Stanyon's Magic, June 1902 - (From G.Anderson, dated April 1, New Zealand) Madam Dante, widow of Dante the Great, started on the road with a conjuring show but could not make it pay. She is now doing the halls with an illusionary dance, and is at present in New Zealand. Frank Dante, styling himself as "Dante the Marvellous", set out with a variety show doing a magic act but has had no luck. He is at present in West Australia.

Stanyon's Magic, November 1902 - (from D'Aveno). Dante, the marvellous brother of the late Dante the Great, is playing to profitable business in the South of Queensland.

The Sphinx, July 1903 - F.Dante, brother of the late Dante the Great is touring N.S.W and is assisted in The Beggar's Dream, the Simla Séance and his many mystifying feats by Madame Camille. Madame Dante (widow of the late D.) is about to return to America, and will proably be tendered a well deserved benefit before she leaves. She has made hosts of friends in the colonies.

The Sphinx, August 1903 - Dante the Marvellous is reported to be doing well in Queensland.

The Sphinx, January 1904 - Dante, the wonderful is still touring Queensland.

The Sphinx, April 1904 - Frank Dante, who has been presenting his entertainment of 'Magic Up To Date' for quite a considerable time in North Queensland, goes to Manila and the East.

Stanyon's Magic, May 1904 - (From Robert Kudarz). Frank Dante (brother to the late Dante the Great)is also bound East after finishing Queensland.

The Sphinx, August 1904 - Dante the Marvellous is still in Queensland, doing fair. He will visit Manila, after finishing there.

The Sphinx, June 1905 - Dante, the American conjurer, is in Auckland with Rowley's wax works and is well spoken of by the press. Abomah, the African giantess, is also with the show, as is also Dr. Rowe.

The Sphinx, January 1906 - Dante, the wonderful, writes me from Shanghai, where he is successfully presenting magic up-to-date and Shadowgraphy at the Lyceum Theatre.

The Sphinx, July 1906 - Dante, the Wonderful, is in India doing well, so much that he was unable to cope with the receipts single-handed, and wisely called in Cupid, who did the tricks. Congratulations, Frank, from Maoriland.

The Sphinx, June 1907 - Frank Dante while in India got laid up in the Sassoon Hospital at Poona, with enteric. Glad to say he all right again and doing business satisfactorily, alike to himself and his audience. After Rangoon he proceeds to Penang and the Malay states.

Magic Mirror (magazine of the Australian Society of Magicians), March 15, 1909 - Frank Dante has left Manila and is touring Southern Islands with a good show.

Magic Mirror, August 15, 1911 - Frank Dante in United States. He styles himself "Cunning" and has some startling billing out. [This needs proof. There were others performing as 'Cunning' and there is no other supporting evidence].

The Sphinx, March 1942, page 15. - article by Eugene Laurant. [referring to a date which appears to be 1898] In Salt Lake City, I met Oscar Eliasson [sic], a young, well-informed magician who had taken "Dante" as his stage name. At that time he was assisted by his brother, Frank, in presenting a so-called Spirit Séance - a feature which aroused much comment. He was enthusiastically preparing for a tour of Australia, where he hoped to make a double reputation for himself as magician and hunter. Not long after our chance meeting, word came from Australia that Eliasson [sic] had been killed in an accident while hunting kangaroos. Years later, I met his brother Frank again; he was performing the Spirit Séance in vaudeville. It was a beautiful act, thoroughly mystifying. Even today I can say I have never seen the Séance more artistically presented.

MAURICE BERTRAM CURTIS

"But there came a day when he [Eliason] fell into company unfortunate for him. M. B. Curtis of "Sam'l of Posen" fame, and who once killed a policeman in San Francisco, met the Utah boy and succeeded in becoming his manager .... There are those who, knowing the disposition of Curtis, suspect that eliason may have had other than legal trouble with him. The part Curtis played in the San Francisco tragedy is still fresh in the minds of many."

HOWARD THURSTON ON CURTIS

So early in February I packed my baggage in a freight car and consigned it to C----, who had gone to San Francisco to make arrangements for sailing. He was to pay freight charges and send us transportation to San Francisco.

We waited three weeks, each day expecting a letter that never came. After much telegraphing, which brough no response from my new manager, I bought tickets for myself and George [White] and arrived in San Francisco only to discover that C---- had put my baggage in pawn with the management of Fisher's Theatre, a vaudeville house, and had signed contracts for me, as my manager, for five weeks at Fisher's at three hundred and fifty dollars a week. He had drawn a large amount of money on the contract, leaving my baggage as security.

C---- met me on arrival and. Flattering and threatening in turn, sought to induce me to accept the terms he had arranged, explaining that he expected to pay back the money he had borrowed on my contract. But from what I had been told about C---- in San Francisco, I believed it best that we separate. This left me in a precarious position. Not only was I without money, but I was unable to redeem my baggage. As the contract C---- had made was finding, I decided to play out the engagement.

We played to more than sixty thousand people during the five weeks. C---- took advantage of the contract I had signed in New York and entered suit against me for half my salary and secured an attachment on my baggage. The trial was set for three months later, demanding a bond of one thousand dollars. I was virtually a stranger in San Francisco, and the reduced salary made it impossible for me even to pay back the money C---- had drawn in advance. For three weeks I tried every expedient to raise the bond money. Finally I was introduced to James E. Duffy, passenger agent of the Santa Fe Railroad, one of the finest and biggest hearted men I have ever known. He listened to my story thoughtfully; and then took me to the judge's office and signed my bond. We hadn't known each other thirty minutes! But he did know C----!

Jack Angus, the "Australian Dante"

During his Australian tour in the 1930's Harry "Dante" Jansen had a legal battle with a fellow who also billed himself as Dante. John/Jack Angus claimed to have worked with Oscar Eliason and to have purchased his show, thereby entitling him to use the name.
The Angus story can be found here