The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-08
P. T. BARNuM DEAD.
The 6hoeman's Rise From Penury to
Aff1uence.

BRIDGEPORT, CONN, April THE great
Snowman, r. T. Barnum, passed away at
6:22 o'clock this evening in the presence of
his grief-stricken family. During the
period of Mr.. Barnum's invalidism
and confinement to his house, which
began twenty-one weeks ago last
Friday, there have been frequent
fluctuations in his condition, from which he
rallied, although in each instance with
slightly lowered vitality. a changefor the
worse which occurred last night was so
much more pronounced than the previous
attacks had been that it convinced his
physicians that their patient had not
many more hours to live.
IN A CoMATosE CONDITION.
At $3.50 O'Clock this afternoon Mr.. Bar
mum sank into comatose condition, from
which it was evident that there would be
little hope of his again returning to con-
sclousness When the end finally came it was
peaceful and to all appearances painless.
His physicians say that Mr.. Barnum had
no organic disease whatever, enfeebled heart
action, which had been apparent for the
past few months, being due to the gradual
failure Of his general mental powers, re-
sulting from old age. He was above so.
WON'T BREAK Up THE SHOW.
New YORK. April THE death of Mr..
Barnum, while not entirely unlocked for,
was not in any sense anticipated by his
partner, j A. Bailey. Mr.. Barnum, how
ever realized that at his advanced age the
was over 50 years OF age) his demise might
occur at almost auy time. 1T was accordingly
provided by their articles of agreement that
'in case Of the death of either the show
should go on as usual" Mr.. Bailey accord-
ing announces that the show will con-
tinue with its policy entirely unchanged.
The capital of IS, 500, 900 will remain intact
and Mr.. Bailey will continue to act as man
ager For the past dozen years Mr.. Bailey
has been the sole authority IN the organi-
zation, consulting Mr.. Barnum only. in
great and important matters while he
lived.
Phineas Taylor Barnum was the son Of an
innkeeper and country merchant. he was
born at Bethel, Conn, July 5, 1910. From
the age of l3 he was employed in a county
store. Five years later he entered largely
the lottery business at which he made
money. At 10 he married. Then he began
to edit the Herald of Freedom, and was
imprisoned for the freedom with which he
expressed his views His first exhibit was
old Joyce Hath, adver tised as the nurse OF
Washington aud 16l years old. Off her he
made SO much money that he entered the
show business regularly. Without dollar
of his own he bought Scudder's museum
in New York, aud made enough money the
first year to pay for it. Then he called it
Barnum's museum. In 1S42 he discovered
Gen. Tom Thumb and exhibited him all
over the country. In 1S49 he brought over
Jenny Lind From ninety-five Of her con-
certs he aggregated S7l2, 161, of which a
large share was profit. In attempting to
build up Bridgeport, Conn, where he had
very hand some house, he lost his fortune
ia 1855. But he had settled on his wife
enough to start him out with Tom Thumb
again through England and then again
open the New York museum, at Broadway
and Ann street, where the Herald building
now stands. AS successful Snowman he
subsequently, accumulated an immense
f rtune. His gifts to educational institu-
tions have been many and generous. He
has also written several books and lectur d
on temperance.