In 1892 Dr. Ziegfeld engaged Scheel to go to Chicago the next year and give historical concerts at the World’s Fair. The enterprise failed. He then took an orchestra to the Mid-winter Fair in San Francisco, under the name of the “Vienna Prater Orchestra,” in the winter of 1893. Later he gave daily concerts, and, during two seasons, cycles of Afternoon Symphony Concerts. For a season he was engaged by Oscar Hammerstein and then he became the first leader of the San Francisco Orchestra. He introduced the great classical and modern works to the people of that city, who still speak admiringly of him and remember his success. After five years in San Francisco, Scheel came to Philadelphia, and was discovered at Woodside Park, conducting his “New York Orchestra.” The newspaper criticisms were most flattering. The following pen picture of Mr. Scheel has been given by a man who played under his leadership and saw him under many conditions. “A tall man, robust, large-framed, something more than spare, a little less than stout; a back and broad shoulders in strikingly good proportion, and a head poised upon them in easy dignity. The large hands are full of character, delicately formed, refined, noticeably plastic and adaptable. “A dark-brown military moustache and a prominent nose stand out clearly under a typical, high, German forehead and coiffure. “In his brown eyes an infinite variety of expressions are lurking. From humorous twinkles that are irresistible, to flashes of fire and scorn that never miss the mark, they assume new and rapidly fleeting phases with every phase of music or speech.” Many stories are told of Fritz Scheel’s early efforts with amateurs and with a group of musicians, strange to him, for in those days the requirements for orchestral players were not the present ones, and there were many obstacles to overcome. His ear was absolutely correct, and he often told the players when tuning was needed. He was on occasion obliged to use mechanical strategies to insure the proper intonation. A close friend of his tells the following anecdotes: