The Shasta courier., 1860-11-17
The Late "Jim Crow Rice.v

The Late " Jim Crow Ricev
Mr.. Thomas D. Ricf famiiarIy known and
celebrated as jim Glow Rice" and Daddy
Rice died in New u brk on the 10th ult. He
had long been unwelH but his last illness was
Of days duration.I About the year 1915 he
was attacked by para lyss and from taat day to
the day of his death, though he often attempted
to fulfil the duties incident to his profession, he
was little else than an invalid-comparatiyel
an imbecile
| Mr.. Rice was born lin the Seventh Ward of
the city ofNew York, md when in his iuyenili
| ty was apprenticed to ship carpenter, to learn
his vocation. He remained in the ship-yari till
chance rather than chpiee, introduced him to
the orce celebrated Dr. Dodge-then at the head
OF the wood-carying business of New York
with whom he served goodly period, and final
| ly became an adept in wooden sculpture Mr.
| Dodge, as one of his last efforts carved the
wooded statue of Shakespeare which for several
years ornamented the western faeade of the old
Park Theatre, and which, from its fidelity to the
great original, won the admiration of admiring.
and said to-be critical, millions
Mr.. Rice, as the apprentice or pupil of Mr.
Dodge, executed large number of figure heads
for ships of distinguished celebrity in their
times. Among them was the wooden figure
that graced the ship Silas Richmond, a mer-
chairman Of some seven hundred tons, and
which, at that period, was considered wonder,
Land too large to be employed in our commerce
The Silas Richmond, if now in being, would be
be deemed but cock-boat to our larger mer-
chantmen.
At an early age Mr. Rice bade adieu 10 the
ship yard and the shop, not the studio, of the
carver, and adopted the life of an actor and yo-
calist. He made his first appearance in this
city in Colemans English opera of Inkle and
iarlco, with but indifferent success but conf
dent in his own powers, went on, and finally be-
came reputable utility comedian.
About the year s26, Mr. Thomas BlakeIy. of
this city, an actor who had acquired suborai-
nate position on the Park stage by his perform
ance OF NaHgo, in Bickerstaif's s opera Of The
Paddock attracted the attention Of Mr.. Rice ;
and he resolved to strike out into the line OF
. Ethiopian character and mnstrelsy. He took
up the line of business where Mr. Blakey left it.
} and speedily became celebrity
About the year 1928 Mr.. Rice succeeded in
? introducing himself to the minor theatres as a
5 star in the line of Ethiopian delineation but
years passed off before he could find his way to
r the dramatic aristocratic stage. All the leading
managers rejected him, on the ground that the
introduction of Regroism would only tend to the
desecration of the stage and the drama
In the year 1888 Mr.. Rice, while performing
in the western theatres, became acquainted with
the once celebrated Col. David Crockett, man
VINO, at one period, filed a conspicuous place in
the political arena. The Colonel was delighted
with him took him by the hand, and proposed
a Journey with him through the country
81 will travel with you" said the Colonel.
" IN my political way, and our fortunes shall be
blended. Wherever go, you shall go and |
, will not speak unless you are recognized as nv
: friend and equal. We will visit all the princ-
pal cities OF the Union; and wherever am in
vited to speak in opposition to the administra-
ton of Gen. Jackson, will refuse to speak un-
less 1t is understood that you will be engaged to
play by the principal managers"
The proposition was acceded to. Col Crock
EFT well knew that he held almost Unlimited
power with the politicians hostile to jackson s
administration in his hands, They would re-
fuse him nothing.
Crockett and Rice, on their arrival in New
r York, found that the game they were playing
worked most admirably Simpson and Price,
: then managers at the Park Theatre, were anx-
ious that Crockett, the Western lion, should
visit their theatre. They called on him, and
invited him to accept a box.
Does Mr.. Rice play in your theatre p in
| quired the Colonel
" He does not" was the reply.
"Well then, cannot accept your Offer re-
r piled the Colonel; for l visit no theatre in
which he does not perform"
Rice was, consequently, Immediately engaged
And the same policy being observed throughout
the North and East, Jim Grow Rice was engaged
by every manager who sought to fill his theatre
by presenting the Western lion, Col. David
Crockett. This successful and very innocent
manmuvre inducted Jim Crow Rice as star to
all the leading theatres of the Union.
Subsequently, Mr. Rice visited England, al
ways playing everywhere to crowded houses
In London he married the daughter of the man
ager of the Adelphi Theatre, Miss Glassop, and
returned to the United States possessed of a
very handsome foTtune-a portion of which he
invested in beautiful villa on Long Island
He pursued his professional career, with varied
success, till aboutlthe year 1S45, when, as we
; have already stated, he was attacked by paral-
ysis. Though he often acted afterward, the
man was gone, and the actor was no more.
As an artist, Mr.. Rico was without rival as
a sculptor in wood be had no superior, as all
Q will admit who have gazed on the wooden
figure Of "Jim Crow" which always accompa-
MED him, and which was placed in the portico
of every theatre in which he performed.
Mr.. Rice leaves behind him three daughters,
we believe, who are amply provided for At
least we were informed so by their father. The
estates standing.in the name of his children
} consist Of two well-built and commodous
houses in the Eighth Ward of this city They
are-or were, when we last knew anything
about the matter occupied by Mrs. Barnes, the
widow Of the once famous John Barnes; and
Mrs. Sequin, the widow Of the late distinguished
! yocalist.-4. 7. Sunday .NeTeUry