New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-13


/, wonld seem, by later devslopmen's a. II bennet
h n never forgiven nc for the ridiculous ny
made TO cut Ia his Joiee Heth Hoax. -
Tte Urea, master OF numbue, soon alter '''s'
bacomes tb. rbect hmsolf of practical JOKE
which is too good not to be related 10 ols o""
words. TrAvebog with Turner, noted circus
nropri.tor. he comes 10 Annapolis, Mo, where
he gets paid off 10 his own coin as follows;
We had been doing a highly profitable busine' %,
which made me feel pretty ron, end ven, GUY LOO
NIGHT and bought me a foe SUIT OF olaeS cio.Hes,
NJ we're ali Strangers in that IN, never navinS
hsen there before. On sunday morning, feeiiaS
nroud of nv sable suit dressed myself, ana started
io stroll about the town. passed through tue o'i
room of the hotel. About tstnty persons "eIe
shoe smoug whom was Turner who had, by INC.
time made Their acquaintance. After l passed
ont Turner pointing in the direction whicn h'u
take remarked 10 the company, mink II very
singular you permit that rFca % marea your streets
Ia OPP n day 1t wouldn't be allowed ia Rhode Island
and suppose that is the reason the olacA-coa'ed
scoundrel hes come down tos way.
"Why. who is be CALCULATED half dozen az
once. -
Don't you know Why, that is the Rev. K. IA;
Avery, the murderer OF Mss Corneh' anS"e-eO
Turner.
as il possible !" they exclaimed, all starting for
the door .aeer 20 get a look at me- and several
swearing vene eaoce against the hypocrt'cal priest
Turner, having thus put the ball IN motion quisuy
took n seat while every person in the BARRON
started in pursuit OF ME. had tarned corner OF the
ereet and was very nnoceuiiy, though rather pomo-
onsly strutpg down the side. walls, "hen was over
taken by a dozen or more persons, whose numoer IN
creased every moment. | observed as they passed
70 that each person looked bsck and stared at me
with apparent wonder. | believe | must have been
uucombculy proud Of that suit Of clothes, tor was
vain enough 10 believe that my Hec So" was "ns'
attracted such special attention. /, however soon
fl,a,as hA moi
five or ten rods ana waited till came up 10 Them
As passed heard several observatots Ike the iol'
lowing: 80 The lecheroGs ole h!pocrne, tue sane
flied murderer" "the bl6ck-c)aled villain, let
tar and feather hin, lyncd me sconhursi' etv e.c.
passed along totally uncons ious that these remarks
could possibly have any reference 10 me. Inc de-
n0utmsnt, however soon came Inc moo, whicn
now numbered az least one hundred overlook me AZ
passed another corner, and one fellow Setzei me oy
the collar While five or Elk others approached, bear
ing rail between them
Come says the man Who cOllared me. " Old chap,
YOU can walk any iurther We know You, ana a. We
always make gentlemen rtde IN these parts you msy
lust prepare 10 straddle that Taa! -. .
NV surprise may well be imagined. I" Good heav-
eps,'' exclaimed, as they all pressed around ms,
gentle men, what have cone
Oh, we knw you, exclaimed ntt,a a a,,sl
that game don't take in this country Come s'raddie
the rail ard rene B,Jer tie stdcS-yUd! $50
grew mere and more bewildered; it seemed like
dream; could not imsgin9 what possible ohense L
Vas To suffer for and continued TO exclam, Cen
tlemen what have | done Don't Kill me, gentle
men. but tell me what have done.
"Come, make him straddle tho rail; well show
him bow 70 hang poor factory glfk, shouted some
chap from the crowd.
The man who had me OF the collar then remarked,
Come, Mr. Arery, IT'S use, you see we know you,
and vel give you touch of Lynch law, aud start
you for bone again.
Ny name is not Avery, gentlemen You are mis-
taken in your man, L exclaimed.
Come cone. none of your gammoni straddle
the ran, EphraD, said the man who had me by the
collar.
TO be "straddied on il without difficulty, ana was
about 10 be placed according to orders as the truth
flushed upon me.
Gentlemen,' exclaimed, IL am not Avery l
espise that vgin as much as you can; but my name
il BsIuum; belong to the circus which arrived mere
last night. and am sure Old Turner my partner, has
hoaxe0 you with this ridiculous story
II be has, We lynch him, SAID one OF tne moo.
"Weu, be hes II assure you, replied 80
upt walk to the hotel With me. and Ill convince you
OF the fact
This arrangement they reluctantly assented to
keeping, however,, close hand upon me. AZ we
walk Cd up the main street which the new State
House is situated the mob received reinforcement
Of some fifty or sixty, and was marched like male
factor up 10 the botel. Old Turner stood on the pi-
ready TO burst with laug hter lappeaed 10 bim
for heavens sake 10 explain this matter, that might
be liberated He continued to laugh, but finally told
them she believed there some mistake about it.
he fact IL, said he, my friend BsTnum has a new
suit of black clothes on, aud II makes bim look so
much like priest concluded it mast be Avery
The mob saw the joke. Some a3OlOgized 10 me for
the rough manner in which had been handled, for
the had my coat half of my back, and rolled me
in the dirt considerably while others that Old
Turner deserved the fate INTENDED for me- but the ms.
ory of the people ro6red with laughter declared il
was good Joke, and advised me to look sharp, aad
pay my partner off for it. | was exceedingly vexed,
and when the mob hsd dispersed | asked Old Turner
what ON earth could induce him to play such an out
rageously mean trick upon me.
My dear Barnum, said he, % it was all for our
good. Remember, all we need TO insure success is
Rotoriefy. You will that this will be nOised all
about town trick played by one of the circus
managers upon the other, and our pavilion will be
craI9r cd tomorrow night"
Itturned out "a he coDjectured. The joke in
every persons mouth We soon became acquainted
with the whole town, and had immense audiences du
ring our stay. This however, cid not induce me 10
forgive Old Turner, for knew full well that selfin
erest was an after consideration in this case-he joke
being prompted solely by desire to see some fun,
matter at wbose expense.
The wheel of fortune soon began to turn the
wrong way. After seeing many men and many
cities" as an itinerant Snowman, Barnum returns
to New York in ls4I, having grown as wise as
Ulysses, aud resolved to quit his vocation for
ever, for "some respectable calling" But this
the austere fates did not permit. He becomes
an agent for Sears' Pictorial Bible" but loses
both profits and capital by the operation. His
funds were all exhausted, and it was only with
the utmost difficulty that he could keep his head
above water. He finally obtained the post of
writing advertisements and notices for the Bow
cry Amphitheater climbing the upper stories of
many newspaper Offices to get his puffs inserted,
for which he was thankful to be remunerated in
the magnificent cum Of 81 per week. He also