The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-05
BARNUM AND JENNY LIND.
The Old Snowman Describes the Night
ingale's Arrival.
From the Netc York Press.

ho over entertaining pTluCo VI sIO iioli
L. L. Barnum, was met at the Madison
Square Garden short time since, and he was
asked what he considered the most interest
ing amusement event in the history OF New
York.
Those who remember" said he, "the
grand ovation rendered Jenny Lind on that
bright September afternoon, September l,
1886, when the new steamer Atlantic,
which had cleared from Liverpool on the
10th of August, came to her dock at the
foot of Canal street, will recognize the
occasion as the most exciting amusement
event III the history of the city"
The veteran Snowman then proceeded to
give the following description of the first
visit of the Swedish nightingale to this city.
The vessel, which had been expected
for two or three days, was sighted off Sandy
Hook about o'clock, when it fired salute
of two guns, and shortly after a signal flag
was hoisted at the telegraph station at
Clifton Point. This was the signal for
which had been anxiOusly waiting, and
Immediately set out to meet the steamer.
On passing the Narrows another gun was
fired, and at Quarantine the Atlantic was
only detained few minutes, and there
joined the party and weic med Jenny LIND
to America. On leaving Quarantine Capt.
west, who was in command of the ship,
Jenny Lind, NJ. Benedict and Signor Bel
lett, on the starboard wheelhouse, for the
Atlantic was one of those now obsolete
sldewheel ocean churners, in order to view
the panorama of the harbor. | found Miss
Lind in excellent spirits, the voyage having
been pleasant, and her gray eyes and re
markably unassuming countenance lighted
up with the inspiration of the scene, until
she looked truly beautiful although she was
8t ordinary fiYpaG only Main and Tlpa GinO
specimen of womanhood. As we passed
Castle Garden little schooner lay there,
with the royal flag of Sweden flying at the
gait. At the sight of it tears came into the
eyes of this woman to whom nation was
about to pay homage. and, no doubt, her
thoughts went far awav to her early home,
beneath the roof of her father, the poor
shoemaker of Stockholm.
"At the Atlantic docks, at the foot of
Canal street, thirty or forty thousand peo-
pie had gathered to welcome the Nightin-
gale. The spars of shipping, trees, lamp
posts and housetops were thrOnged with
people. No such jam had ever been seen in
New York. In fact New York appeared
to have emptied itself into this particular
basin, and all over the city pubic places
were practically deserted. The Atlantic
gllded into her place, a gang-plank was
launched, a carriage which had been wait
delay Capt. West escorted Jenny Lind
down the plank to it, amid the prolonged
cheers of the multitude. | have never heard
such a cheer since. 1t was the voice of a
joyous people without one unhappy tone in
it. She was followed by Nile Ashmensen,
her lady co npanion; NJ. Benedict, Signor
Bell til and Herr Max Hjartzberg, her
secretary, and the carriage began to make
its way through the throng and under the
arches which had haan arppta1 n Nvalcnsno
her. The first arch, which fronted the
water, bore the inscription, Welcome,
Jenny Lind. The second was elaborated
with the American eagle and the words,
Jenny Lind, Welcome to America
"As soon as the carriage started the
crowd broke down the light picket railing
which held the multitude back, and in the
scramble and rush many were thrown down
and trampled under foot. The occupants of
the carriage were fairly deluged with
| flowers thrown by the enthusiastic people.
| The police finally succeeded in forcing the
| crowd back, and, once clear of the thrOng,
| the carriage was driven rapidly to the Irv-
| ing Hotel, at the corner of Broadway and
| Chambers street. which the party entered
| before the news of her destination spread
and another had opportunity to gather; but
it was not long before it did so, and would
not be appeased until Mile. Lind appeared
at one of the Broadway windows and re-
| peatedly bowed. The crowd did not dimin-
ish as the day waned, and twice again she
was obliged to appear and satisfy new COM
ers.
"Worn out with the days excitement she
| retired about . o'clock; it was so announced,
and the crowd slowly disappeared. About
II o'clock it began to gather again, when
the New York Musical Fund society, con-
sisting of about twJ hundre musicians, led
by George Loder, appeared on the scene,
escorted by about twenty companies of
New York volunteer firemen-the latter
then representing the greatest power in this
city-with torches. The firemen formed SO
| as to keep back the crowd and give the
musicians ample space, for by this time not
less than 10000 people were again gathered
along the two streets. In a few minutes
Mile. Lind, escorted by myself, appeared at
the window, which was the signal for sey-
eral minutes of loud cheering. The serenade
then began and it was grand one, worthy
the occasion. Then a committee of the as
ISOLATION, headed by George Loder, waited
on Jenny Lind and presented her with an
address of welcome in the name of the
musicians of America. She thanked them
cordially, and after few minutes CONVEX
sation retired, wearied and delighted with
the events of the day.
AT that time New York was very poorly
supplied with opera halls, jenny Lind Hall,
afterward Tripler Hail. was still incomplete,
although work had been pushed on it as
much as possible. So l. accompanied by
Jenny Lind and Mr.. Benedict, made a -ur
of the city to select a place for an opening Z,
and everywhere we went we were escorted
by large crowds. Indeed, nothing but Jenny
Lind was talked about or thought of. The
old Tabernacle, Niblo's and Castle Garden
were all visited, and finally the latter place
was selected So great was the demand for
tickets that it was decided to dispose of
them at auction and at the place where she
was to sing for the first time in America.
This, too, was an nnovation-tickets to an
entertainment had never before been auc-
toned in this city. Mr.. Leeds was selected
as auctioneer. The day selected was dreaIy
and wet in the extreme, but the house was
crowded although an unexpected imposition
of one shilling or l2lsc., admiSSion-it was
all shillings tnen, our chief currency being
English aud Spanish coin at that time--waS
placed on all who entered by the proprietor
of the Garden. Genin, the halter, biI in the
first ticket ever sold for Jenny Lind in
America at 1925, a sum that appeared i'm
mense in those DAYS. The first day 40
tickets were sold, the gross amount realized
being 80, 10 p, and the second day the re-
naming seats, to the number of 3,055.
brought S15.3l9, making total of S24, 4}S -
fer the first nights concert. Yes, continued
the veteran Snowman with twinkling eve,
there isn't question but Jenny Lind's
advent was the greatest amusement event
tl,at hos nvot. hapn wilma sod in tho bistpr,,