Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-04-03
M ISCELLA AN Y.
A Practical Joke.

| "A ifIdCt1Cdl SOkes
Original in character as he was in mind Mike
Walsh did not affect the society of profound
wits and punsters, but found his companions
principally in the patrons of taverns. of every
description; and to an admiring crowd of listen
ers, who understood and appreciated him. he
would perform the part of YoricE, full of infinite
jest and humor. Perhaps the greatest of all his
performances in the way Of ''sells" was the cell
ebrated "Frank Mclaughlin" hoax, which kept
this city in fever of excitement for nearly q
week, and found its way to California, where it
was highly successful. The history of the hoax
may be interesting to others than those who
have been its victims, and it shall be given as
nearly as we can recall the exact fact.
In Bayard Street, near Mott, Democratic
politician, named Manus Kelly, kept tavern,
which was frequented by number of young and
old men out of employment, and among the
number, Mike Walsh was constant and perma-
nent sitter. A poor, miserable fellow, by the
name of Frank McLaughln, who was unfortu-
nately addicted to strong drink, was a lounger
around the place, and one day, in a converse
ton with Walsh regretted the hard luck that
seemed so follow him in everything he attempt
ed to accomplish. Mike told him that such talk
was all nonsense, and said that he would prove
TO him that in one week be would be the most
| popular man in New York, and would have
more people inquring for him than any man in
| the city. Poor Frank did not understand what
Mike meant, but his words brought an early full
filment. 1t was the period of the California ex-
tcitement, when letters were arriving in this city
from the first adventures, and Mike conceived
the idea of starting story of the arrival of
Frank Mclaughlin from California with trunk
| full of letters. The scheme was oaucussed in
| Kelley's tavern, and Walsh started down to the
| Tuv, 70 tba harl> l. 10
The point was, if any one inquired for Frank
Mclaughlin, for the barkeeper to say that he
had just left for neighboring drinking shop
For two days Mike travelled over the city to the
different public houses, repeating the story un-
til everything was in readiness. The first inqui-
rers came to Kelley's, having been sent there by
Walsh, who would inform every acquaintance
that he 'just left Frank Mclaughlin, from Cali
fornia, who had brought letter addressed to
him."
! AS there were many thousands in this city
who had friends in the Golden State, the bait
took admirably, and as the inquirers came to
Kelley's they would be sent to the Ivy Green,
| to the Carlton House, to the Franklin House, un-
til they were thoroughly exhausted, or some
one in the joke relieved them from further search
1t was estimated that nearly five thousand per-
sons were looking for Frank Mclaughlin at one
time iD this city, and men, women, and even
children, were engaged in the hunt. Judges of
our Courts, Ministers of the Gospel, all classes
of society were crazy to find Frank Mclaughlin
and receive their letters from California. John
Van Buren, was among the number who inquired
at the Ivy Green if ''Frank Mclaughlin was
| Iin?" -''No; he left here about five minutes a.
CO." was the reply. swell, that is consoling,' .
returned John. HE left the Carlton ten min
utes ago, and / am five minutes behind him
here well, I've gained five minutes on him any
how !" and away went John to give way for the
next customer-N. z. Leader.