The New York herald., 1877-08-29
OBITUARY.
Dnsroror =. DE BAR. CoMnD1Ax.

breathed his last ST. Louis yesterday morning. at
twenty-five minutes past O'Clock, In the presence
oil his wife, his daughter. Mrs Dexter and his
tary Patrick Gleason HIS last moments were OF
most peaceful character and no actually dead be-
fore his attendants realized that dissolution at
hand. About two hours before hts death hc
visited by George }. Jones. treasurer At Dc Bars
Opera House, and John G. Preist, q personal friend
He conversed with them nationally upon some sub
jecs, but upon Others his mind wandered at random
and he a total loss TO call any Whatever
At his request ne raised from bed and occupied a
chair tor Tow minutes at the end OF which time he
was laid the bed again, much exhausted
When his treasurer, Mr. Jones, arose TO leave.
Do Bar said, incoherentiy, "Got the house
all ready 10 open right away" meaning his
opera house He then dropped into an uneasy Sleep
but si the end Of an hour swoke ana oudcavored 10
raise himself IN bed. chill oil the congestivc nature
70 which he had been subject some time came over
him, and his covered him with the bed clothing
and Induced him TO remain quiet He was evidently
excited aud Iaiked At intervals In an iucohersnt
way, but II was manifest that he was no.
scious OF hts surroundi nxA At quarter past
six he became worry quiet resting easily ana breathing
scarcely audibly. AT twenty-five minutes past SIX
Mr. Gi eason noticed that his breathing had suddenly
become hard and moment or two later after gasping
slightly three times, Mr. De Bar ceased TO breath His
wife and daughter, who at at his bedside.
testify that few minutes before his death after
he had ceased to speak he raised mis- arm
and pointed MS anger upward, smile
at the same time wreathing his face. Ora LanEford
and Banders tho physicians who haye attended
through his illness, were Immediately summoned, but
before they had arrived the body o the comedian
already cold The announcement OF his death caused
profound sorrow throughout the community, and his
funerai, winch takes place Thursday ~ two NJ viii
doubtless be largely attended. Tue funeral services
Will take place NJ hts residence on Chestnut
street, and The body VIII be buried ut
Bellefontalne Cemetery with Masonio ceremonies
Inscribed on his tombstone will be the words, "Benc-
dict DeBar, died August - 1877; aged "a years. o
months and % days" Tho physicians attendant ON
the actor promo mis- disease white ,ng
Of the brain ana trophic snecIion superinduced BY
disease the cerebral arteries which supply the brain
with tournament A st-mortom cxamiuation was
held last nght order that the death should
be arrived at with scientific accuracy
The beginning Of Mr. De Bars illness may be dated
six months ago, when he contracted inaariul fever
at New Orleans AFTER ono month Of treatment aud
partial reeuperation ue went TO Nashville to aii au
engagement and returned homo sick He then re-
NAMED n 81. LOUIS until the LIST OF May, whom an
engagement in San francisco called him to The Pacific
coast anu no nau 30 lar recovered tnat wss nongnt
brilliant performances Mr. De Bars memory suddenly
loft him. and he. nnding himself unable 10 cali mind
any one sentence oil his parts was forced 10 rehnquh
toward ST. LOUIS on tne homeward journey be
was under contract 10 play Two nights 1t Salt
Lake, and, as the manager persistentiy refused to
cancel the contract, the aged actor attempted
ance before tho public Hs reached home about the
latter part OF May, seemingly in good physical health
and excellent sprts, but st afflicted with the loss OF
his memory. On the lst Of june having partially
covered, MIR. Dc Bar proceeded TO New York for the
purpose OF making engagements for his Grand Opera
sion Of friends in New YORK. psrceivn ng that
be was unable to attend 10 business and to ali appear
Soron xho ~as ''na nnd.r
contract with straksscn. Mr. Moron promptly
threw up his engagement: and proceeded to New
York, where at Mr. De Bars request, ne began COM
peling tie list OF attractions Tor tall and winter
campaign. Matters moved smoothly along for several
weeks until IL became apparent 10 Mr.. Norton that
mis- friend was rapidly SINKING, and he became asy
Mr. George J. Jones, treasurer OF DO Bars Opera
House, had by this time joined Mr.. Norton IN New
York, and the two solicited the aid and counsel OF
Dr. Hammond, celebrated Tor h1 successful treatment
OF brain diseases After An examination the Doctor
pronouncedMr De Bars nflicton a. partial parays,s
Of the brain and proceeded 10 naugurate MS treat
mcnt, under which NJ. De Bar grew SO much better
diateiy telegram was received OF alarming nature
and Nc Jones and Mrs. De Bar started 10 New
Norton went to MrA whiiing's, corner of Twelfth
street and University paoe, where Mr. De Bar has for
fifteen years made ms headquarters, and discovered
that during the night previous he had received q
paraly ic stroke Tho sroke peculiar one extend
ing along the right halt OF bis body FROM shoulder
foot but crossing from the right shoulder &c tho lett
ana affecting the lett side OF his head. Dr. Hammond
advised that the actor DO taken immediately his
home, which was done The night alter mis- arrival in
ST. Louis Mr. De Bar rallied ior u time. He had occa
siohal moments OF sanity, but was altogether 10 worry
MIS- De Burs Stage name is Miss Hattie Yale.
be opened his eyes ior the frat time at his fathers
house, Chance lor lane, London, England. IN tho
year 1915 His parents were highly respectable
people and bis iather occupied many prominent
Official positions undor the government. Wheu little
the Marquis OF DOwnsnre, better known as the county
Down Ireland, ana the family accordingly repaired 70
the Emerald IsIs, where they resldsaI Hllsboro for
twelve years. Here Ben spent his bright boy hood and
received Ills earliest lessonA AT this time his futhcr
died and the family returned to London Mr.. DE Bars
father lett splendid library, good name, but no
money behind HIM, his 10 shit for HIMSELF
IL made his debut the London stage some III NOR
capacity he finally detcrmnsd to seek his fortune
IN the New World, and ~ the age OF nineteen Q635j
he arrived IN New Orleans and procured
situation In the theatre opened by Manager Fields now
paris and from his first appearance In tnis country
achieved complste success Leaving New Orleans he
hits during his stay. II would be almost Inn possb,c 10
follow him through the country ana describe many
triamphs 1t viii be enough 10 make recapitula,ion
ol his career snce his arrival from Merry Engiand
New Orleans He became manager OF the nrst theatre
he ever performed 10, the ~. Charles. He was
aser Of the Old Bowery Theatre, New York, Tor long
time; also Of the Chatham Theatre, New York He
appeared IN every city OF importance In the country
In the MOCK Dsre," aroodIss'" ,hs sbromios.a
"Ropert MacsIrc" and many other pays he had no
equal IN the country he was man oil good business
qualifications and temperate habits, SO that II did
not require many years Tor him place himself IN an
Independent position, artistIcally and financially
tho St Charles Theatre, New Orleans In 1858 he pur
chased the property on Pine street. between rnrd and
Fourth streets, SL LOUIS, then known the ST LOUIS
Theatre, afterward us De Bars Theatre, aud subse
sequenty called the Theatre Comique In 1860 no
purchased the St Charles Theatre New Orleans, for
the sum Of $120,000 Then be became lessee and
manager Of the theatre Royal, Monlreai, and pur-
chased the old Varieties Theatre, the finest building
OF ,he kind 10 the CITY, known At the time Wake
fields Opera House, but now called DO Bars Grand
Opera lhus u III be seen that Mf. DE Bar was,
probably, AZ ono periou the heaviest manager IN the
nfrv rfavh hto Hnnrn Hha al
Montreal, and the ST. Charles Theatre, New Orleans,
beside receiving al income from his old Opera House,
or the Theatre Comique. Mr.. DE Bar ihen said 10
be woItn not ess than half million. Ben
De Bar some years performed to delighted houses
In Ne~ York 10 the character Nose, and his success
great that he decided to return 10 England aud
perform that character there He met with little
cess, however, ~ his couptrymen did not enjoy
American slang and, In TACT, could not understand IT,
II hardly necessary 70 speak Of Mr. De Bars Fasta
He was considered the peer OF Haokoit whose por
traya OF the bury knight gavo him his fame great
artist Although old IN years. lac was young In appear
and eenal ne was twenty years ago. An
honest man. enterprisng ana industrious, true bis