New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-22
OBITUARY..
CHARLES BACKUS.

Charles Backus, the well-known minstrel,
died az his home West Fortyourth-s ten minutes
TO yesterday morning While consciousness remained
he who had furnished food for laughter many thou
sands could check the habit of his lifetime, and he
tested with death long his lips could frame articu
late words When the doctor told him Tuesday that
his life was its end he said "oh, then, I'll be
end man TO the last" He his wife weeping
occasion when he undergoing operation he
stopped the physician and pointing to his wife, said,
doctor, what beats good wife ." The doctor pos
sby never heard the old minstrel conundrum. and
swered that he did not know. "A bad husband" was
the answer which the minstrel gave him. His brother
was with him short time before the doctor told him
he could not live and said, Charlie. I'm going down
town" Are you1" said Charlie. "Well, Jim, I'll be
here when you come back" Mr. Backus's life was
varied one. The son OF a DOCTOR he was seized
with strong desire for stage life and began at the very
lowest round of the ladder gradually working his
through all the phases OF his profession He was born
in October 20. 1884, and attached himself
to theatrical company at the age Of fifteen. He
found his way to the boards OF n minstrel showand
in that business varied with occasional engagements as
clown in dfereut circus companies he remained till his
death. II while filing the last mentioned position
that met his first wife, who @ rider. She
did not live very long, and after he married Miss
Kate Newton, for many years actress at the Olympic
and wanack's Theatres After her death he married
Miss Tisse Mason, OF Philadelphia by whom he leaves
two children She the daughter OF the celebrated
Mrs Mason, who played with Wanack years ago at his
Broadway Theatre and previously at Bur-
TOMS Theatre; but she herself never on
the stage 1t was while Backus and Birch
were playing with the CoesChrsty Minstrel Company
IN san Francisco that the famous San francisco
Mnstrels were first started, under the Of Birch,
Wampod and Backus BILLY" Bernard was subse'
quently taken into partnership and few years after
Inc company moved East and New York has since then
been it's headquarters Last was the most disas
trous one from a financial point OF view which
IL has ever had and william Hamilton who had bought
an interest conceived the idea that he had been unfairly
treated and brought suit, which was subsequently
amIcably settled In the Of his professional en-
gagemeuts Mr. Baokus visited nearly every quarter OF
the globe and he PLAYED with much success in Hong
Kong as In Londond. His last visit 70 England
when he PLAYED at the st. Jamess Hall In London.
one Of his greatest tTiumphs He went there compare
lively 10 the public aud before he LEFT was one
OF the "lons" of the city He had been introduced tc
the Prince OF Wales and leading members OF the aris
tocracy his Ock OF anecdotes hs return was n
creased considerably by the funny stories he was never
weary Of telling about his adventures with the "scons
Of nobility"
Charles Backus a peculiar man. lie was, as all
who him know, close man who believed that every
dollar he made belonged to his family or himself " he
spend H. but he would not spend 1t In tring
with any He was man Of strong preluolces anu
equally strong affections, and loved his friends ana
hated his enemies with equal vigor.
The funeral services VIII be held this afternoon at bis
taken TO Rochester and inferred in Mount Hope Gene
ffrV