Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-06

! reality he drew his IoauGlIul Stage
daughter to the reeking sham bles
and saved her life by ending it. None
can forget the wonderful power with
which he portrayed Virginius after
reason had fled, and now pitifully he
calls the fair Virginia to his side when
his own hand had placed her beyond
the reach of harm. Mccullough was
always great ip the heroic drama. He
had the voice, presence and splendid
physique-all the requisites for good
actor-added to a fine memory, keen
perception and indomitable will.
Good company was his bane. He
and big 'spenders' of money who lik~
ed him than any other actor in Amer
lea. They loved to be in mis- company
and he was always at his best when
in theirs.
GA few years ago." said his friend,
81 was at a banquet at Wizards Ho-
tel, in Washington, rendered to Nc
Cullough. He was about ending
successful two weeks engagement in
that city. It was On Saturday night
and along toward midnight, after he
had met his death at the hands of
Richmond on the battlefield of Bos-
worth at the theatre, he appeared at
the banquet table and was greeted by
brilliant array of congressman,
statesmen, judges, army and navy
officers and journalists. Justice Mil
Ter, of the supreme court of the United
States, presided. Blaine was there
and General Sherman, his brother
John, the senator. Joe Blackburn and
scores of other noted men. The silver
shafts of a Sunday sunrise were near
ly visible before the curtain rang
down on that rare menu, feasts of wit,
flow of soul and Widow Cliquor.
There were many bright sayings.
Mccullough neatly responded to the
praises showered on him and rRcited
The Idiot Boy which is just now
suggestive, but none were as bright
and witty in that assem- blage of brains
as Blaine and Blackburn. They were
continually chatting each other in a
humorous way.
"I know clever fellow from
Maine who graduated from my state
as Yankee school teacher, whom I
fear will never be president, was
among the thrusts that Blackburn
launched.
"'Keep your nose clean, my son;
you may grow and become speaker
yet" was Blaine's reply.
'"This badinage was long after most
of the 'walnuts and wine had disap-
peared. It was also some years pres
vious to the statement made by Neal
Dow that Blaine had alwas been q
teetotallcr, though I do not mean to
insinuate that the man from Maine
was 'Iushy' in the least on that oc-
casion. Blackburn was the more
soluble of the two. Liquor acts on
the Kentucky Senator like key on
the spring of a lock-it winds him up
to make hina 60, and he goes like
blue grass race horse.
But to Mccullough. A little over
forty years ago he was on his way
till Ameriky, from Coleraine, near
Londonderry, Ia the North of Ireland,
but about thirty years ago he was
wheeling smoke in the Pbiladelphis
City Gas Works. That T. am told is
the technical name of the work done
by the laborers. Then he became a
chairmaker, then joined the Booth
enian' Dramatic Association 'in the
alley at Sixth and Race streets, and
finally secured place on the boards
at the Arch Street Theatre under
Wheatley and Clarke. Here he be-.
came favorite at once, and it was not
long before he made his debut in
Shakespearean character-Othello-
at his benefit at the above named
theatre in '59 Or 80. I was under the
impression that John Dolman, Sr.,
the Walnut street lawyer, played
Iago on that occasion, but Mr.. Doll
man, says he has no recollection of it,
though he might have done do, as he
played that character so often with
other Othellos. Mccullough went
with Forrest and stuck by the grim
and gruff cid tragedian longer than
any other actor. He studied the old
actors ways in his portrayal of great
characters. He improved some Of
them and made bad imitation of
others.
His California Theatre venture in
San Francisco ruined him financially.
Although he had the backing of Raj
ston, toe banker, who committed sui.
ClNC, duO ObllST TICu 1rlSuCS. Lie
theatre proved TO be an elephant he
was glad to get rid of. Then he star
red throughout the United States and
Canada and made the reputation he
now enjoys as one Of the leading ira
gedians Of the country. He made
money fast and spent it with free
hand. It was not until the last few
years that he could be induced to gar
ner up his earnings. His friend, Mr.
W. Fl, Thompson, the President of
the Boatman's Saving Bank of ST.
Louis, prevailed upon him to establish
bank account with him. and but for
his efforts the unfortunate actor and
those dependent upon him would be
penniless.
Years ago, when poor chairmak-
er, John Mccullough married good
little countrywoman of his own dis
trict of Kensington. He has two sons.
To his credit be it said that he never
pat aside the wife of his early strug
giles by divorce. and although be has
| lived IN 6 ,aoaaS1Ira aOart from hor he