WACHTEL THE PERFORMER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 90, 18 April 1877, Page 4

WACHTEL THE PERFORMER.

*' The - San Francisco News Letter telMh, following:—-" A pathetic story _as ibeeh going the rounds of the papers as torthe manner; in which Watchel, the great tenor, first, became known and famous., . This, narrates how he was originally a poor, cab driver in Dresden, and that one wintry night as he was singing to himself upon his box, the audience of the Grand Opera began to disperse,; bow the entranced multitude gathered around the unconscious cabby; how he finished his solo amidst a storm of applause; and how, the very next day, a large purse was subscribed to send him to the conservatory at Paris. Mr Schengler, who lives over oa Bincon Hill and who is also German, was; much < affected by this ; story, and as he,; too, hqa a voice, he determined to be, sent to Paris at once. So, on Thursday evening, he waited until the California Theatre began to let out, a^yjjpunting the bbx ; of a hack in fcpp^jpi ip,, he lifted up his voice and Bftttgi j tfTbe turaultouous crowd was instantly hushed, aud stopped transfixed, asj° ; witn ; closbd eyes, the absorbed Bipger i .,8a I t,. his whole inspired , soul floating, ouji. in glab triumphant noise. TheKeele-tioo* by Mr Schengler was * Tommy,, make room for your Uncle,' one ortne best' of its kind, but at the end of the third verse a brickbat struck Mr Schengler immediately beneath the right ear, knocked him over the dashboar^ 7ollbvi ing' which he was walked o : ver r and.his qeck stepped upon by, the thoughtless .throng. Mr Schengler' is convinced-there is a fraud about this Watchel Btory somewhere.''