The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-30


TIE Denim Amir ~ AsponW~ll.
We take the following communication from the
Philadelphia L<dge. Of the 18th Inst
81 observed among your news Items yesterday, an
the Misses Denim figure very conspicuoudy In
manner calculated to wound the feelings OF their
relaveSand friends in this city. Both these ladies'
are under the protection Of Mr. Fox the husband OF
Kate, and can, no doubt, should it become neces.
sary, vindicate their conduct. Under the circum-
stances would respectfully request suspension OF
pubc-opinion, until some more definite information
| be received" r
The following sketch Of the early life of the Denim
sisters is from reliable source, and will be read
with interest -
Miss Susan Denim was born in Lombard street.
Philadelphia, on the 22d of March, 1885. 1t may
almost be said that she never knew her father-he
having died very after she and her sister had
reached respectively the ages Of two and four years
II was then that the power and beauty Of maternal
love was fully exemplided: Thrown entirely on her
own resources, Mrs. Denim struggled berocaly to
give her children the advantages of education.
Among other means of livelihood which she at this
time adopted, was that of making theatrical dresses
and in this way becoming acquainted with persons
connected with the profession and with the view Of
adding to Der scanty store, she induced to let
Susan appear as Coras child in the play Of" Pizarro"
and afterwards in conjunction with her sister Kate
as dancing fairies in play called the King of the
Mist. This was at the National Theatre, in Phila-
delphia, under the management Of Messrs. Wemyss
and Oxey. During this time they were kept steadily
at school, first with Miss De Silver afterwards with
Mrs. Hastings, to whose excellent instructions is
doubtless owing much. of the thirst for knowledge
and desire OF information they have evinced in later
years. About this time Mrs. Denim became acquant
ed with Mr.. John Winans, the well known and po-
pular comedian, to whom she was eighteen months
afterwards united in marriage. Miss Suson being
then nine, and her sister seven years Of age. Mr..
! Winans was at once struck with the dawning genius
of the two girls and applied himself unremittingly
to its Development and improvement, and to his
exertons Ia doubtless owing in great measure the
fattering professional position now held by Miss
Susan DENIM as well as the universal love and esteem
had the pleasure of meeting them in the family
| circle.
From the Troy wbig, June I'll
gentleman, now of this city, but recently Of
San Francisco, tells US that Bingham was vel
known in California as an actor He was a I" deal
ing man." and apparently Of amiable disposition
He served throughout the Mexican war, and was
among the early settlers OF San Francisco. He is
described to us as about thirty years Of age, fall six
feet bigh and well proportional and having an eye
like an eagle. Two years ago he was living with 40
wife. alleging that be married her in Mexico. It
now appears that he subsequently married Emily
Thorn, beautiful girl, by the way, and lastly he
figures as the protector, &C. of Mrs. Woodward, late
The marriage of Mr.. Woodward to Miss Denim oc-
Cured at Buffalo, not quite two years since. Some
newspapers at the time made their usual ado over
the matter, and young Wood ward was declared to
be the most fortunate man alive. Immediately af
ter the marriage the parties proceeded to Philade
phia to speDd the honey MOON and soon returned to
Syracuse, where Woodward's parents resided, the
bride having taken farewell benefit of the stage.
Woodward's father who at the time Of the marriage
was heavy merchant in the Salt City and supposed
to be very wealthy failed about year ago, and the
temperance of Mrs. Woodward on the stage was
explained by this fact.
The history of the Denim girls may be written in
very brief chapter. While yet mere children they
were brought out to play juvenile characters. The
mother marrying comedian known as Jack
Winans, be conceived the idea Of making Miss
Susan and Kate stars' in the theatrical frma.
ment. They were put in training for that purpose,
and soon made their debut-not il New York Their
success in tAe country was very great from the com
mencement. In the Western Cities Susan's slash
ing, devilmay.care style of performance procured
her showers Of bouquets from the boxes, whilst the
pit straightway went crazy and sometimes swooned.
While at Cleveland, in the summer of 1852. she
caned respectable young man IN the street. for
some real OF fancied insult he had offered to her,
| and this added immensely to her popularity in
that quarter. That she had stage talent in certain
line OF characters evident enough and up to the
time OF her marriage her success was rapidly accu-
mulating fortune. But the connection OF the girls
with Winans was a source of constant difficulty be-.
tween them. He was accused OF taking their money,
and Of treating them badly. An occurrence between
the Misses Denim and Winans at the Troy House,
| while playing an engagement here, may be recot
lected by our readers. Winans found it convenient
to leave town Immediately, though he was adyer-
4
| Miss Kate Denim, the younger sister, lacked the
force Of character which made Susan favorte,
but was liked for her amiabe and pleasing manners
She was married in this city in March last to Mr..
California, and was not concerned in the affair at
/ Aspinwall, as was ut first reported.
| Those who know Woodward will sympathize with
him. He is young, amiable and confding; just
1 the chap to become fascinated with dashing act.
ress, and to marry her after ten minutes inter.
view, as he did Susan Denim. 1t was a most ill.
assorted match" as every one who knew the par
ties was aware Of at the time OF the marriage, and
have been expected. Woodward's parents still re-
side at Syracuse. They are highly respectable peo-
pie, and the unfortunate affair at Ascinwall will no
doubt, cause them the deepest affection.
from the Troy Daily Budget June %
! We will give some additional facts as stated by
California passengers, to show the probable ground
Of the reconciliation referred TO, They would
have been given before but for WOodward's request
to the officers of the boat and Others to say nothing
or as little rs possible about the matter.
| While the sisters were performing at San Fran
cisco, Woodward observed that there existed what
he considered an improper intimacy between hia
wife aud Bingham, and reproached her forit. Harsh
words naturally followed, and the immediate result
OF the dispute was an agreement that both (Wood.
ward and wife) should return by the steamer, and
submit the matter to their respective friends eav
ing Kate to fulfl the engagement alone as best she
could. They left with Susan's name on the bill for
appearance at the theatre on the night Of the sailing
Of the steamer; it being Woodwards desire that the
passengers should have no suspicion of difficulty
Shortly after the steamers sailing, Woodward found
Bingham on board, and ascertained that Susan had
obtained of him (Woodward) the money with which
his (Bingham's) passage ticket was purchased.
Bingham soon put himself on very intimate terms
with Susan; SO much so that on the facts becoming
public on the vessel the passengers were exceedingly
indignant, and some of them manifested DISPOSE
ton to throw the roue overheard. A crowd was got
together the bulwark, hustle and hustle like
and the transgressor would, it is supposed have
soon been missing, had not the captain observed
that something unusual was going on and went to
the scene of disturbance On dispensing the assem-
blage he warned Bingham that he was fully aware
Of the wrong done Woodward, and if he persisted
IN his intimacy with Susan, on the passage, DC
should baya him put in irons.
shortly after this occurrence Susan was missing
but Bingham was not long in obtaining an intimate
associate III what appeared to be dclcate.featured
| ard IN ahiOnahv dressed y0unv Unntleman who had