The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-26
JENNY LIND IN MADISON.
An Account of the Visit of the Swedish
Nightingale to the River City.
A. J. Grayson, in Madison Courier.

The lot on which James H. Crozer Co. have
their marble-vard and saesroom Is where the
Jenny Lind pork house formerly stood part
of that historical structure Is still standing
the west end of the lot, it being the part where
the stage erected on which the Swedish
Nightingale stood when she warbled her Bird
song" and electrified Madisonians with Home.
Sweet Home"
Several months ago visited Mr. Crozier's mar
ble-yard. and when under the roof of what re-
mains of the old pork house. Dir. Crozier point
ed out to me remnants of the cedar decorations
among the rafters that were placed there under
the direction of Billy Wilson. alias Jenny Lind
Wilson, thirty FIVE years ago. on the occasion of
the Jenny Lind concert Mr. Crozier was kind
enough to allow me to take away sprig of the
cedar which, when placed in position over
thirty years ago, was fresh and beautiful TO
the eye, but, like the sweet singer to whom the
whole civilized world bowed the knee and paid
tribute, it has lost it's beauty and attraction and
remains only a memento to Madson's pamiest
days. | gave the sprig of cedar to Mr.. T. N.
Galloway of the Corner book store, with in
structons to preserve it in his cabinet of curiosi
ties.
There is nothing in. the history Of Madison
that caused such a furore as the coming of Jenny
Lind Madison was one of the eighteen cities in
the United States in which she sang P T.
Barnum had her engaged for the season, and in
his book find that in New York city she gave
IS concerts Philadelphia. 8; Boston, 7; Provi-
dence. 5; Baltimore, 4: Washington City, 2: Rich
mond, Il Natchez Il Memphis, l; ST. Louis, 5;
Nashville, g. Louisville g. Madison, l; Cincin-
natl, 3; Wheeling l, and Pittsburg, l.
When Jenny arrived at Louisville Wilson went
down and made arrangements with Phneas t.
Barnum for concert in Madison. Mr.. Wilson
agreed to take the management in his own
hands and pay Barnum 600 for the receipts.
AS the steamer from Louisville for Cincinnati
would arrive at Madison about shutdown and
would wait until after the concert Barnum
agreed to his proposition. Mr.. Wilson returned
home and went to work fitting up the pork
house for the grand event. He had the build
ing whitewashed and thoroughly mopped out.
Rough seats were improvised and ladies were
called in to assist in the decorations. Time was
short, but Billy Wilson equal to the emer-
gency and soon everything was in apple pie
order.
On Friday evening April H. 1851, the boat
rounded in at the Madison wharf. having on
board Jenny Lind and troupe, accompanied by
Signor P. T. Barnum. A great crowd and a
jam of people were at the wharf to meet our
distinguished visitor. Her advent was hailed by
the firing of cannon, the cheers of the populace
and other demonstrations of joy. Madison be-
ing the only city in Indiana in which Jenny Lind
would sing, reporters and public men from all
parts of the State here. They came from
as far north as Peru, and from Cincinnati, Louis
vile and New Albany. The steamers Hoosier
State Wisconsin, Ben Franklin, Telegraph.
Mary Stephens. Swiftsure. Blue Wing, Court
land and Prairie Bird all laid at the wharves,
from Walnut street to the depot, until after the
concert 1t was even advertised that skiff for
Critzville would also leave Mistreet landing.
Tickets were sold at auction at the hall the
day before the concert and the first ticket put
up bought by Capt. David White for $50
cash, the remainder of the tickets offered at
auction being bought at average of 81 each.
Charles Alling, who was then clerking at
Dutton d Adams book store aso sold tickets,
and they were sold at the door, and gentlemen
passed through the crowd on the outside selling
them at 81, while curbstoue tickets were in great
demand as the singing could be heard through
the thin weather boarding of the building almost
as well as from the inside.
From the following communication which ap-
peared in the Courier the dav the concert took
place. would infer that the high price of the
| tickets ran all the city beaux into their holes,
as we should judge they failed to put in an ap-
pearance:
Mr. Garber--In behalf of a number of the ladies of
the city. am requested to say anxious to go
to the concert. Our beaux to have forsaken us
since the Jenny Lind excitement commenced. We
don It even hear of them If they will Just accom-
pany US, we win pay all expenses ANNA.
Seven dollars ticket-fourteen dollars for
overcoatF No wonder the young fellows all
slowed themselves away until the close of the
concert
Though. financially. Mr.. Wilson's enterprise
in bringing the Night ogale to Madison was not
success. 1t did much toward advertising the
old town. Every paper in the country had
something to say about Jenny Lind singing in
pork house. some of them even converting it
into slaughter-house. The receipts for the
concert were SO, SOB Is. leaving Dir. Wilson ST.,
Barnum stood, and thus relieved Mr. W. of
great burden
AT this time Madison was putting on city airs
She had two daily papers, while the weekly
Journal and Sentinel. of Indianapolis were only
talking Of starting dailies.