Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-22
HOAXES-HOW CHICAGO AND BOs.
TON WE'RE SOLD.
From the Chicago Journal, July Is.

From the Chicago Journal, July Is.
Early last evening young man called
at the Briggs House, and informed the
clerk that he was an agent of Robert Bon
ner's, just arrived from New York, and
that that gentleman would be in town
during the evening. The news of the in =
tended arrival spread among the guests,
got out upon the street, and coon the enter
prising reporter of morning paper was
on the spot, gathering with avidity matter
for sensation.
The "agent of Bonner" next stated that
his employer was to be greeted with SER
enade, and at once started to procure the
services Of Vaas' band, and shortly after
they were taken into band wagon and
driven to the dock, where a boat lay in
which the agent said Mr.. Bonner had
arrived. The band, under orders from the
"agent, played numerous popular airs, until
it was discovered that Mr.. Bonner was not on
board, aud then the "agent" stated that the
expected gentleman would be found at a
Mr.. ''Patterson's," on West Lake street,
and the "agen" and band at once pro-
ceeded to the West Side. In the mean
time "mine host French, had prepared to
do the hOnors to the honorable guest whose
sudden arrival had been heralded, and
magnificent collation. was to be served up
on the occasion. Numerous friends and ad-
mirers Of Mr.. Bonner visited the hotel.
The cause of his erratic visit was the sub
ject of discussion, and expectation was on
tp-toe, An hour passed by-no Mr..
Bonner-no "agent'-no nothing, but dis
appointment. A little before midnight the
livery man of whom the band wagon had
been hired drove over to Patterson's, on
the West Side, and found Nass' band seated,
and silently awaiting orders from their de-
parted guide, who, having left the wagon
to call Mr.. Bonner out of Mr.. "Patter-
sons had not and has not been seen since.
From the New York Telegram. g.
Boston, July Is, 1S68.-One of the most
extensive and cruel practical hOsxes of the
age was perpetrated in this city this morn
ing. 1t seems that some dozen or more
persons combined together and simultane-
ously, at about ten o'clock, circulated the
story in different sections of the city, that
the roof of the Providence railroad depot
had fallen in, and that two passenger trains,
together with all the passengers on board,
and forty or fifty others in the building at
the time, were buried beneath the debris.
The report spread rapidly, and there was
at once the widest excitement in the city,
and thousands upon thousands crowded the
different streets leading to the direction of
the depot Some of those engaged in the
hoax went to the different police stations,
and through their representations squads of
officers with litters were sent to the scene Of
the terrible disaster. Others visited sur
geons and summoned them at once, and
others went into the newspaper offices and
news rooms and left the startling reports
that sixty dead bodies had already been
taken out, and that the number was
being momentarily increased. the excite
ment was 80 intense that many places of
business were closed for nearly an hour, or
until it was ascertained that the whole story
was pure fabrication.
The indignation of the crowd when they
found that the depot was all right was only
equslled by their JOY at the fact Of the alb
sence of such a lamentable catastrophe as
had beea reported. The city and railroad
authorities will probably offer reward for
the apprehension of the parties engaged in
circulating the false reports.