Post by Michael on Feb 6, 2019 10:37:16 GMT -5
Placed in our Archives by Admin For Joe
Origin of the Boad Nelly?
In 2006, I first posted some personal thoughts about the origins of the “Boad Nelly,” ie. a potential connection between the fictitious boat named by the kidnapper in the final ransom note, and Nellie Bly, the woman journalist and adventurer.
On November 14, 1889, news reporter Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman) began her famous world-wide journey on the Hamburg-American Company liner Augusta Victoria from the Hoboken Pier in New Jersey. At the time, many woman newspaper writers adopted pen names. In this case, Seaman’s editor chose "Nellie Bly" after the title character in the "Nelly Bly,” a popular tune written by Stephen Foster in 1850. Cochrane originally intended for her pseudonym to be spelled "Nelly Bly," as in the song, but her editor incorrectly wrote "Nellie" and this name stuck.
Over the course of her adventure, Nellie hopped from train to boat to rickshaw in order to make her necessary connections. Her ongoing travel experiences were published daily in the “New York World” and eagerly read by all. Seventy-two days after her departure, Nellie arrived home at the same Hoboken pier. She was greeted with fireworks, parades and brass bands and was catapulted into the world's spotlight, not unlike the celebrity status accorded Charles Lindbergh, following his trans-Atlantic flight.
Richard Hauptmann landed at Hoboken Pier in November of 1923, and could well have come to associate the place he landed in America with the location of Nellie’s departure and arrival. Perhaps there was some plaque of recognition that briefly described Nellie Bly's adventure, there. I really don’t know, but it seems reasonable to me that Hauptmann would ultimately have heard about her exploits afterwards and connected that same Hoboken Pier in his mind, not to mention the significance of his own personal struggle to finally reach America after three tortuous attempts.
Hauptmann was also known to enjoy playing German folk songs on his mandolin, and singing them with others in a group setting. As he adopted America as his new home, he broadened his repertoire to include many American folk tunes, and surely would have been aware of the popular compositions by Stephen Foster, of which "Nelly Bly" is a mainstay.
Nellie Bly died on January 27, 1922, and her passing was widely reported. About a year-and-a-half later, Richard Hauptmann arrived at that same Hoboken Pier as an illegal immigrant.
Elizabeth (Nellie Bly) Cochrane Seaman is buried in the Honeysuckle Plot, Range 19, Grave 212 at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, not far from where John Condon met Cemetery John for the first time on March 12, 1932.
On November 14, 1889, news reporter Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman) began her famous world-wide journey on the Hamburg-American Company liner Augusta Victoria from the Hoboken Pier in New Jersey. At the time, many woman newspaper writers adopted pen names. In this case, Seaman’s editor chose "Nellie Bly" after the title character in the "Nelly Bly,” a popular tune written by Stephen Foster in 1850. Cochrane originally intended for her pseudonym to be spelled "Nelly Bly," as in the song, but her editor incorrectly wrote "Nellie" and this name stuck.
Over the course of her adventure, Nellie hopped from train to boat to rickshaw in order to make her necessary connections. Her ongoing travel experiences were published daily in the “New York World” and eagerly read by all. Seventy-two days after her departure, Nellie arrived home at the same Hoboken pier. She was greeted with fireworks, parades and brass bands and was catapulted into the world's spotlight, not unlike the celebrity status accorded Charles Lindbergh, following his trans-Atlantic flight.
Richard Hauptmann landed at Hoboken Pier in November of 1923, and could well have come to associate the place he landed in America with the location of Nellie’s departure and arrival. Perhaps there was some plaque of recognition that briefly described Nellie Bly's adventure, there. I really don’t know, but it seems reasonable to me that Hauptmann would ultimately have heard about her exploits afterwards and connected that same Hoboken Pier in his mind, not to mention the significance of his own personal struggle to finally reach America after three tortuous attempts.
Hauptmann was also known to enjoy playing German folk songs on his mandolin, and singing them with others in a group setting. As he adopted America as his new home, he broadened his repertoire to include many American folk tunes, and surely would have been aware of the popular compositions by Stephen Foster, of which "Nelly Bly" is a mainstay.
Nellie Bly died on January 27, 1922, and her passing was widely reported. About a year-and-a-half later, Richard Hauptmann arrived at that same Hoboken Pier as an illegal immigrant.
Elizabeth (Nellie Bly) Cochrane Seaman is buried in the Honeysuckle Plot, Range 19, Grave 212 at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, not far from where John Condon met Cemetery John for the first time on March 12, 1932.