The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-03
LUCK IN BLUE MUD.
How the Tenacious Clay Formed the
Foundation of Fortune.
From the San francisco Examiner.


From the San francisco Examiner.
Hocdoos, Jonehs and kindred banes Of the
theatrical profession were being discussed
and likewise the methods OF removing the
malign influence of the same. Then up
spake Nose Engel, who is now looking after
the door OF the Grand opera house, saying:
"The early successes Of Central park were
founded entirely on blue mud"
"For hoodoo antidste," he continued.
''glve me blue mud first. last and all the
time. In fact, l feel confident that if its use
should once become general, such thing as
a hoodoo show would soon be utterly and
absolutely unknown"
In the old days the Mechanics pavilion
stood on the present site Of Central park,
and circuses and kindred ephemeral shows
occupied the vacant bog upon which it is
now intended to build the new postotice.
Somewhere along in 1888 big combna-
ton, then known as Jacoby's circus. came
out to the coast with as good q company as
has ever been brought together in the bust
ness German, the rider, was with them;
so was his wife, Linda Jeil, one of the best
equestriennes that ever rode in forty-tOot
ring.
q Luck was against them, however. They
hardly made expenses, and eventuaHy-in
clAOEU W huO buEb
was besetting the enterprise-Charlie Sher-
man, who was managing the outfit, shipped
circus, animals, horses and all aboard one
OF Spreckels' boats and sailed away to
Honolulu. Sherman died on the islands.
and it devolved upon John Jscoby and
Nose Engel to take back che troupe to
America.
1t was all they could!do to pay the passage
of the performers themselves The horses
and wild animals had to be hypothecated
before that much could be successfully &C
oomplished; but as long as the human ele-
msnt Of the combination got back every
body fels thankful, and it was with the
most cheerful confidence in the goodness OF
providence that they reopened their show at
Eureka, Humbolt county, in the week Of
the Fourth Of July. 1884.
There was not g four footed creature on
the muster roll but that was a mere matter
of detail They successfully worked the
town." with old paper aud cleared out
with enough cash to pay car fare to San
Francisco.
When the frighttul tornado Of July, 1884,
swept over Humboldt county a week or so
later the Eureka Times TELEPHONE come out
editorially with g remark TO the effect that
it praised God for having sent a cyclone
this time instead of second visitation Of
Jacoby's circus.
Engel came down to the metropolis 10 ad-
for a cheap site he happened across the
vacant lot that Is now Central Park.
A year before the circus had played at
the Grand opara house. A ring bad been
made on the stage, and the performance
was excellent; but the hOodoo on the house,
as has been stated, ruined the business.
Anyhow, the rent was an insurmountaole
barrier to the remnants of what had been
Jacoby's circus, aad when Engel net
Shearer, who was then agent for the prop
erty, and hired the vacant lot for a week
for $50 he felt that he was doing a good
stroke Of business.
Now, it happened that Coles circus-one
OF the legitimate sho We on the regular cir
| cuit-was billed through the town TO appear
the following week. This was a godssaud
to Engel He got out 10000 quarter.sheet
hangers, but not single display poster,
flooded the town with the little hangers,
and for the rest Of his advertising he
showed on Coles paper"
There il no more lowdown, ordinary
trick in the circus business than showing on
another mans paper; but 1t was case Of
hard pan with the Jacoby oom binati On, and
Cole could better afford the loss Of business
than they. Therefore, they worked Cols's
posters for what they were worth, and Incl
dsntally worked Chinatown.
On the first Sunday matinee they had
$500 Cinnamon at the show. 1t was the
first time that Cinnamon had ever been
known to turn out In force at Caucasian
celebration IN San Francisco, and there
fore, was the occasion of much free adver-
Using. Incidentally it put tbs show on its
feet financially, and that was what Engel,
Jacoby q Co. were looking for.
But 20 return 60 the blue mud
When Eugel COS the lot it looked all right
and he immediately gathered together his
canvas men and began driving stakes for
| the tent
At the first effort he saw that it was no
| place for tent. The first blow with the
maui drove the pegs clean up TO the notch
into the soft, yielding sand. while 5-poand
| pull yanked them out again.
1t was impossible TO get grip in the
| ground, no matter how they weLted or
tempted 1t. Erecting tent without guy
ropes was equally impossible. so Engel sat
| down and weps.
During all the operations a little wiry
Irshman had been sitting on the fence and
carefully watching the canvasmen, and
when he saw Engel give up in despair he
climbed down from his perch and ap-
preached him
"Sor," said he, lis it dhrivin' pegs in the
likes o. this you be thryin' to-" and he kicked
the soft sand with his toe.
YES" answered the unhappy Mose, "but
they womb drive, it's no use trying"
"Well, shure, wasn't sayiu' they would"
ecquiesced the strangers. "Shure, it's dom
well | knowed it, an wuZ jist waitin' fur
to see how long yez ED be lArnin' thot
same"
And why didn't you tell us tneng' sobbed
Engel.
"Whisht. whisht, me bhoy. Now Yell
be afther liste1in Co me, but IL I'd bothered
yez afore yeZ 'od be tellin' me 30 lave yez
alone, for wuz mad. Now, sor, III tell
! yez this, and that's that I've got the savin'
| o. yes; but it'll come high, seen' as how
| it's dollar G load that it'll be afther costin'
| yez,"
"And what's that?' egain queried Enge
blue mud" said the freshman. "NoEhin'
| but blue mud. With q hundred carloads
cossin' wan dollar apiece yoz osn glue down
them tint pigs from now till the day O.
| judSmrht"
Engel jumped at the offer, the Irlshman
filled his contract. and superstrarum Of
rich blue mud was spread over Central
park.
at must have been the blue mud that
| killed the JONAH" concluded Eugel. Amy
| how, it turned the fortunes of the great
| Jacoby show
Though we had not a horse or a wild
| beast TO our name, We played to glorious
| houses. When people inquired after the
| tigers and things they Ind seen in Coles