The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-08
OBITUARY.
John E. Owens, a Wid4ly-Known and Very |
Successful Comedian.


BALTIMORE Dec John E. Owens the vet
eran comedian, died this morning, at his home
in this city, aged sixty-three years. Mr. Owen
mad been in poor health for three years from a
duplication of diseases. The direct cause OF
death was cancer Of the stomach.
John E. Owens was born in Liverpool, Eng
land, of Welsh parentage, in 1923, but was
brought to the United States when only TIRES
years of age by his parents, who first settled in
Baltimore, Md, but after residence of ten
years in that city renewed to Philadelphia,
where Mr.. Owens, pere. established himself in
business. He made his first appearance under
the management Of the late VIM. e. Burton, at
the National Theater, Philadelphia, where Char
lotte Cushman was then startling the public with
her manifestations of a powerful genius The
Goth of August, 1886 Mr.. Owens reappeared in
Philadelphia, at the Museum, in Masonic Hall,
as Jack HUMPHREYS In Turning the Tables, for
the benefit of D. P. Bowers. In 1850 he assumed
sole control of the Baltimore Museum. In 1907,
at the earnest solicitation of John Brougham,
Mr. Owens inaugurated Brougham's Ly-
ceum, New York, then newly built and
met with cordial reception. The
26tn of June 1852, he, for the third or fourth
time. sailed for Europe, and, declining a fatter-
ing engagement at the Adelphi Theater, made
an extended tour of the continent In 1884 he
again entered into the management OF the
Charles-street Theater Baltimore. In 1859 he
conducted the Varieties Theater. New Orleans
In 1864 he filled most successful engagement
at Walack's Theater New York. In 1866 he
visited England, playing ''Solon Single" Re-
turning to America, he made this part peculiarly
his own, playing it in all the large cities Mr..
Owens was very successful, and among the prop
erty he leaves is farm of more than two hun
dred acres in the immediate neighborhood of
Baltimore
At the beginning of his career Mr. Owens fell
into the error of believing that he was a born
tragedaD. While playing at the Frontstreet
Theater In Baltimore, he conceived the notion of
playing Richard III IN downright seriousness,
and to help him in his enterprise he invoked the
assistance of his friend Gallagher, then recog
niZed actor. The day of the night of the show,
Mr.. Owens hustled around the theater. getting
his costume ready, looking after properties and
managing every detail for a magnificent per-
Torrance. At last darkness came. and with a
rousing crowd of patrons, particularly In the up-
per galleries. usually frequented by boys, up
went the curtain, and from his entrance came
the Richard of the evening With tragic step
and stately mein the would he tragedian broke
forth, Nov is the winter of our discomfort,
made glorious
''Oh! look at Owens" squeaked young voice
from aloft, and instantly there was furore of
yells at-calls and laughter. The remainder of
the speech was drowned in hilarious fun. On
his exit Owens was highly indignant at the be-
havior of his auditors, and expressed himself so
in forcible language At last. in the final act.
when he realized the situation, he and Gallagher
entered heartily into the absurditv of the situa-
tion and agreed to help the amusement along.
They got basket horses, such as are used in bur
lesaue plays. and on them gave mimic battle
on horseback, to the delight OF the house.
During the late unpleasantness Mr. Owens
was strong Southern sympathizer and was the
first man drafted from Baltimore county at the
outbreak of the war. He was appearing in
Washington when a telegram notified him of
this fact. His part that night was an old mans.
Turning to the audience on the opening ST the
act following the receipt of the notiee. ,heAaEew
his coat tightly around him and got off the pun,
There's draft around hore, but it amt from
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