The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-02-27
RecOHectiOns Of the Recently De-
ceased "King Of Pain"

DR.. Mcbride, known as the King of
Pain, it is reported, died of consump-
ton last week in Chicago. This eccen-
trio individual was known throughout
the United States, and nowhere better
than in this city. 1t is about seven years
since when he would station himself
nightly at the corner of Fifth Avenue
and Smithfeld Street, and by his pecu-
liar dress and appearance attract the at
tention of hundreds, who stopped to
gaze and listen. He presented tall,
gaunt figure, wore long hair that stray
gled down over his back in matted
strings, eyes of inky blackness, pierre
ing gaze, nose of the aquiline order,
sharply chiseled face, and a general
contour of features that indicated a man
of excessive nervous temperament. He
wore an immensely rufhed shirt front,
long regulation black coat, heavy
slouched hat and small log-chain
about his neck made of gold. Such was
the Mcbride known to Pittsburg eight
years ago. His Office was at the st.
Clair Hotel, and during the day it would
be besieged with patients impressed with
the idea that the great physician could
cure their ills with his wondrous RENE
dy. During his stay in this city he
would make McClarren's drug-stor his
headquarters to great extent, and it is
from Mr.. M. N. McClarren Leader re-
porter this morning learned something
of the career of this remarkable indi-
vidual. 1t was McBride's policy to pos
sess himself with mysterious air, in
order that he might the more easily gull
the sscommon herd" and his success
was simply enormous. In the evening
he would put up gross of his remedy,
take up a position on the street, sell it
at 81 bottle, and when IA bottles had
been disposed of he would close the sale,
refuse to furnish another bottle that
evening, and refer purchasers to the
drug stores. He would be fol-
lowed about the streets by crowds
of people, and it was favorite
amusement to take a seat just inside the
drug store, hold glass of soda-water
in his hand, watch the gaping crowd,
who stood outside, and laughingly re-
mark that they were suckers" His
sales would frequently amount to $500
day, of which Is per cent was clear
profit. At his rooms he would push the
crowd of patients about like sheep,
sometimes walking out and leaving wait
ing patients in the room for hours,
while he was enjoying himself in con-
vivial bar-room company. They con-
sidered this part of the mystery, and
were willing to be cursed in the hope of
being cured. 1t was his delight to en-
ploy a brass band, put them in a chari-
OF, mount himself alongside the driver
and parade the streets, not forgetting to
serenade and advertise those druggists
who bought his iniment. He did not
care for money, was dissipated, delight
ed to wear enormous chains and rings,
and was very fond of any games of
chance. Thousands of dollars did he
make, and yet he died a pauper. 1t is
related of him that he once spent sever
al thousand dollars in fitting up mag
nifcent drinking saloon in Louisville,
Kentucky, and for several weeks was
such diligent customer at his own bar
that he became Frustrated, and his bust
ness venture flattened out. So he lived,
often worth thousands of dollars, which
he scattered about like water, and again
poorer than the most lily paid day la
4 borer; creature of circumstances,
picked up by some shrewd fellow at Buf-
falo when on the eve of committing sui
eide, his singular ranger-like personal
mode realized enormous sums of money,
that went even as it came, like very
chat before the wind; and this man,
known throughout the country, PAM
pered by fortune, his greatest bane be-
ing the too rapid acquisition of money,
ended his strange career friendless and
penniless. Pias5urg Post.