The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-05-27

the time arranging a reception to be
given to Mr.. Abbey and Nine. Patti on
their arrival from Europe. The visitor
handed Mr.. Mayer a neatly litho-
graphed card bearing the inscription,
"Charles Bonston, correspondent Paris
Figaro. Gil Bias. London Referee" and
stated that he had arrived in this c. ty
from Europe but few days previous
on the steamer La Champagne. He de-
sired to interview Mr.. Mayer for the
Figaro about Nine. PATHS journey
through this country. He was very
suaVe III his manner, and Mr.. Mayer,
believing him to be European cor e.
spondent gave him prolonged account
OF the proposed movements of Nine.
Patti in this country and Mexico. He
told him about having engaged the
Teatro Nacionaie, and the daIes Patti
would sing there, also the prices of ad
mission that would be charged. Mr..
Mayer was then asked by the inter
viewer to explain the modus operanGl
| OF advance sales as conducted in New
/ York and Mexico, and this Mr.. MAY er
explained in detail.
| A few days after this meeting Bon
SION, otherwise Benson, again called on
! Mayer at the same address and asked
foT an invitation to the Patti reception,
and also an invitation TO go down the
| bay to meet Mr.. Abbey and Nine. Pa til,
as he desired to cable full account to
the Figaro, Mr.. Mayer had by this
time become suspicious of his visitor
and declined to give the invitations
sought.
HE GOT THERE JUST THE SAME.
On the morning of the 18th of Novem-
Der, 1886, Mr.. Mayer, with a party of
friends and reporters, boarded a steamer
at the foot of West Twenty-second
Street for the purpose OF proceeding
down the bay to meet the ImpeSsalio
and prima donna. Walking arm in
arm with Mr.. Mayer was a Herald re-
porter, and they were in deep converse
ton, when who should present himself
but Benson, who, addressing Mayer,
said: Il want to have long talk with
you some time, because l want to
send a full account of your do
ings over to my papers," VERY
we'll, | will sea you Tomorrow" was the
answer, The steamer presently got
alongside of the big Cunarder Umbria,
and before the Custom House officer,
who had the right to go aboard first,
had thought Of the fact, the nimble
Benson was on his deck. The captain
| then, for some reason-Which served
Bens n admirably-ordered the Mayer
| party to go around on the other side of
his vessel, which took half an hour
They theL got aboard and at length
met Nine. Patti, Scalchi and Nicolini-
and in an animated conversation with
| Patti was the irresistible Benson. They
converSed in French, and Mr.. Mayer
was fairly nCnplussed when he saw his
interviewer of the day before CALAMITY
conduct the great songstress On board
the steamer lying in wait for its pr9ci-
Gus burden.
| HE CAPTURES MR.. ABBEY.
Soon after the party had got safely
aboard Benson went to Mayer and
asked to be introduced to Mr.. Abbey,
and was told that he would be intro
duced by and by. Mr.. Mayer then in
trodGced the several members of the
rress to Mime. Patti, after which. on
| turning around, he saw that the inimjt-
able Benson had captured Mr.. Abbey
and, to US Mayors own words, :'He Was
laying down the law to him and inter
viewing very strong" Mr.. Abbey was
favorably impressed with Benson and
sent him tickets for the first night Of
the opera.
MIR. Mayer openly expressed his dis
favor OF the man, and did not wish
Benson to have the tickets. On the
night of the performance, intending to
watch Benson's movements, Mayer was
much surprised at not seeing him in
the seats allotted MIN. Presently ne
went to thu back of the stage, and came
near having a fit when he discovered
behind the scenes his bette n0ire. Mr..
Jingle" Benson, talking to the artists.
He spoke to some in French, but to the
husband of Scalchi, Count Lolli, he
held forth in Italian.
He PUTS HIS PLANS INTO EXECUTION.
Having thus made himself familiar
with Mr.. Abbey's plans and with Mr..
Mayors methods and duties. Benson
lift New York and arrived at Aguas
Calientea, in the Republic of Mexico,
on November Goth, 1856. From this
place, under the name of Mayer" he
telegraphed to Mr.. Berges, advising him
that he would be at his house toe next
morning. On November 29th he arrived
IN the City of Mexico. called on MIR.
Berges, and represented himself to be
| Marcus R. Mayer, tAe business agent
of Henry @. Abbey, duly authorized by
him to attend to the business incident
to the entertainments to be given in
| Mexico.
In company with Mr.. Berges, and
| having first inquired of him where it
was customary to have the printing
done, he visited the printing house of
'Grau Libro" and ordered handbills,
prospectuses and tickets to be printed
for the proposed operas.
VERY NEARLY coRNERED.
From the printers Benson, accom-
panied by Mr.. Berges. went to call on
Mr.. Eduardo Orrin, who is Mr.. Berges,
partner. Mr.. Orrin was personally &C
quainted with the real Mayer and
showed Signs of surprise upon seeing
Benson; his suspicious, however were
quickly allayed when Benson in an
easy manner stated that he was Mayors
brother, and that Marcus r. Mayer
would arrive shortly.
The sale of tickets was opened
on December l, 1886, and during this
and the TO lowing day Benson sold a