Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-04-11

Phineas Taylor Barnum was born in Bethel
Conn, on July 5, 1910. lie received a few
years schooling in the common schools of his
native state, and at the age Of II was noted
for his quickness at figures and his shrewd-
ness at driving stiff bargains with his play
mates.
His first regular occupation was as clerk in
a country store In 1881 he entered journal
ism, and for three years we fud him editing
TIE Hcr0{d + Freedom
la 1856 he entered upon his life work by
engaging in the circus business with Aaron
| Turner, OF Dankury. He was interested in
various amusement enterprises until Decem-
Der Y, 1871, when he first appeared as pro-
prietor of Barnum's American Museum, then
located at the corner of Broadway and Ann
streets, New York. 1t was here hat Gen. Tom
Thumb was first introduced 10 public motto.
riety, in 1912. Two years later Mr.. Barnum
visited Europe with this famous dwarf
Edward Everett was then Minister to Eng and
and he arranged for the presentation OF Tom
Thumb and Mr.. Barnum to Queen Victoria,
and subsequently to Leopold, King of Bel
gans, the Duke Of Wellington, the Emperor
Nicholas, the King of Saxony and Ibrahim
Pasha. Visiting Paris be appeared before
Louis Philippe.
In 1919 Mr. Barnum purchased the Phila-
delphia Museum. At this time he was a 50
president Of the Fairfield County Agricultural
Society, and the following year he delivered
the annual address before that body. la 1850
he accepted the presidency of the then new
Pequonnock Bank of Bridgeport and while
thus engaged in managing two museums in
the two largest cities in America, president OF
an agricultural society and Of bank and
interested in and directing a dozen different
travelling exhibitions IN as many different
parts OF the world, he brought to this country
the famous songstress, Jenny Lind. The
excitement created by her appearance in the
United States is well remembered by all
citizens Of middle age. As an evidence Of his
foresight in this matter ii should be remem-
bered that he pluckiiy advanced $4,000
upon her engagement before she departed
from England. MIR. Barnum's total receipts
1 from % concerts given by Jenny Lind were
! SIP, 1914.
/ At the close Of Jenny Lind's engagement.
in 1851, he organized his "Asiatic Caravan,
Museum and Menagerie," purchasing ship
and sending it to tie East Indies for a cargo
of elephants for his show. In 1852 he again
entered the newspaper field investing $4,000
in aud establishing the New York illustrated
News. In 1850 came the Jerome Clock Com
pany enlargement whereby he was over
whelmed with more than half million Of
liabilities. Dseharging every dollar OF his
private Indebtedness, Mr.. Barnum, at the age
Of 10, was not only poor man, but, at first
sight, apparently Il ruined one.
ResumIng his travels in 1857, he again
visited England, accompanied by Tom Thumb
and other attractions, and made an extended
tour throughout Great Britain, France and
Germany. 1t vss during this VISIT to Europe
that Mr.. Bafnum first delivered, IN London,
his lecture, entitled "The Art Of Getting
Money" In 1879 Mr.. Barnum returned from
his second transatlantic tour the object OF
which had been to earn the means 10 liquidate
his Jerome Clock Company Indebtedness.
Meantime, his land in Esst bridgeport, which
a few years previous was asses se1 at 81, 0g0,
in 1853 was taxed Tor several hundred thou.
sand dollars. Barnum was himself again"
Other reyerses, however, we're in store for
him.
In July, 1865 his New York Museum was
destroyed by FIRE. BY this disaster property
valued at $4,000, aud upon which there
was only $4,000 insurance, was swept out OF
existence.
In less than four months his new museum,
farther up Broadway, was opened to the pub
lie. His next amusement enterprise Was the
+ organization Of his Great Travelling W GRID, :
Far ia 1872. After u successful summer
I campaign with this exhibition he purchased
+ In the tail Of 1873 Il magnificent iron building
/ on Fourteenth street, New York called the
( "Hippothestron, ana commenced series 81
entertainments there. -Four weeks after his
first exhibition in this building ~, too, was
4 to S301050 Thus, IN lew years Mr.. Bar.
B mum had lost By fire bis costly and beautiful
Iranisfan residence, his two great museums 10
New York and his Worlds Fair" building
! eBtailing loss upon him Of FULLY sl,Z0l0Vl
ia 1875 and 1877 be organized and put upon
the road another end more novel tented eshi
bition, aud in 1888, through bis 'eaptur
I ing" the combined Shows Of his formidable
t rivals Bailey aud Cooper, he put on the roaa
( the largest and most complete Of any Of hii
amusement enterprise. The firm for SIN,
years was formidable one IN the point o
i numbers, embracing Il did at different
times, besides Mr.. BsrnUm, J. J. Hutchinson
/ w. w. Cole, J. a. Bailey and Jas. Z. Cooper
In October, 1857, all these partners retired
except Mr.. Bailey. Mr. Hutchinson, one 0
the retiring partners, is said to have save'
fully 81, oo0,000 out Of his share Of the profit
( during the time he was connected with tn
Aggregation" Soon after the reorganizs
ton Of The firm Mr. Barnum' old enemy, tn
flames. cleaned out the menagerie part Of tn
show while il was in winter quarters at Bridge
port, Conn.
At the beginning Of the season Of 1852 M
Barnum struck \ truce with bis f0rmidabl
rival. the late Adam Forepaugh-
At the close Of the season Of 1880 Mr.. Bar
mum transporter his entire sAggreaatioa' 4
London. where he astanished tie natives Nitl
a miiwiater season OF Amer ear circus.
The Jumbo episode occurred in 1881 Mf
Barnnmis agents arrived in Landoa in FesFu
airy Of that year and purchased the great eie
phant from the Geological Society for 1900
tie was the largest elephant ever seen j.
civilized countries SANDING II feet high a
The shoulders, and Weighing FIVE Tons. II
could reach With his trunk to height Of ?
feet and, although gaHnt and without iuss
he made most imposing figure in the 'gres
moral show" He was killed in a Fai.roa.
accident, and Mr. Bsrnum presented Ii
skeleton to the Philadelphia Academy Q
Natural Sciences,