Griffin was actually Levi Lyman, one of P.T. Barnum's associates.[11] To keep the plan working, Griffin checked into a Philadelphia hotel. After staying a few days and gaining a positive reputation with the public, Griffin showed the landlord of the hotel the mermaid as a thanks for his hospitality. The landlord was so intrigued, he begged that some of his friends, many of whom were editors, be shown the mermaid.[9] This made the public interested in the Fiji Mermaid.[12]