Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-07
Rnrnnm and Rennett.

-m"" OIL A@AA I
We have already alluded to the quarrel
between these awo distinguished and sue
csssful chevaliers of Humbug, and its re-
result-the strike of the theatre managers
against the domination of the New York
Herald. The New York World gives the
details of the quarrel SO racily that we are
tempted to append them:
kr. Bennett had, some time back, cast
an eye-the affidavit did not set forth
which of them-upon the piece of ground
whereon the old Museum stood, diagonal
w opposite the Astor House. AT the time
of the fire Mr.. Barnum held lease of this
property for twelve years, which he, dur
inc thgweek after the confagration, offered
for sale through the agency of Homer
Morgan Esq, for the round sum of ($225,-
O0O) two hundred and twenty-five thous-
and dollars. Meeting Mr.. Bennett n
day the fact that the property was in the
market was preached. Mr.. Bennett asked
the terms, and Mr.. Barnum stated the
price named above. Subsequently Mr..
Bennett sent his broker to Mr.. Barnum
with instructions to close a bargain ifpos-
sible on the best terms he could get. Mean
time Mr.. Bennett took care to secure a
contract to purchase the fee of the o
ty from its owner, residing at Fishkill-
on-Hudson, for the sum total of $780,
O00) four hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars. Mr.. Benefits broker, Mr.. Duggan,
then closed the matter with Barnum, after
beating him down a coed sized peg, by
purchasing the privilege of the lease for
twelve years for two hundred thousand
dollars cash, for which amount a check
was duly rendered and accepted, and the
usual Acknowledgements made. A written
agreement was also given by Mr.. Barnum,
emitting the purchaser of his lease to the
debris on the premises, with the exception
Of certain iron pipe, a boiler, a hundred
tons of coal, and some other items that
were considered as contents of the Muse
UNI, and not as a parcel of the premises
In the course of a few days it appears that
the editor of the Herald grew sick of his
bargain, or, what is more probable,
thought by feigning a disinclination to
conclude the purchase of the fee, for which
~ L-ra sIa--tr--.l nOI a sIaOou poIIUu, sliaS
Mr.. Sargent might let it go at a more
moderate figure. In this calculation Mr..
Bennett found himself mistaken, for in
| sending word to Mr.. Sargent that 'he had
concluded not to purchase" that accom-
~modating gentleman said: every we'll
Mr.. Bennett is at liberty to do as he likes; -
and with that sailed for Europe, without
leaving his address or offering to abate one
jot or title from the large price namsd.
This unexpected issue left the astute jour
nalist in a position somewhat like that OF
the lucky gentleman who won the ele-
plant in e lottery-he had paid two hun
bred thousand dollars for an unavailable
privilege. The situation vexed him. Sc
to pick a quarrel, the brilliant editor lost
no time in interfering with the removal Of
his old neighbours hundred tons of winter
coal, which fortunately had escaped being
prematurely consumed in the genera
burning. Furtherthan this, he6lreatened
to sue Phineas for the old boiler already
dug out from the ruins and carried of. Nj
Barnum, we believe, to ave dispute
permitted his old friend, James Gordon t.
seize the coal intended to enhance the
comfort of the giants, happy family abb.
noes, and intelligent seal, during the long
winter months; but when it came to be.
ing sued for pocketing his own boiler his
Indignation got the betetr of his dignity
Phineas called on James lawyer and soon
discovered that the way to appease the
wrath of the illustrious type-wielder was
to refund the two hundred thousand dol
lars and take back the lease. This the
benevolent Barnum would most unqustion-
ably have done on the spot but for the fac
that he chad spent the money" "Really
he had not that sum about him." He wal
not prepared to reconsider the bargain
particularly as, on the whole, it seemed t.
suit him. Next day the Herald appeared
without the Museum advertisements
Then Barnum, as proprietor of the great
Broadway show sought, a personal ex
PLANTATION as to why these things wert
thus. 1t was not accorded him.
The public knows how the rest of th'
laugh came in.
The prospect is that the lessee of th'
eligible real estate at the corner of Broad
way and Ann street will permit the grass
to grow thereon until the expiration o
twelve years, at which time he will be a
liberty to realize what he can upon hi:
expensive crop of hay. Meantime, h
might permit our public spirited citizen.
to erect a statue of the "Gude Duke of Ar
town in mind of how D@lar-. Ia De1r
nett, and furnish an easy laugh when al
else fails.