St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-09
The Best Exponent Of Broad
Comedy in America Dies
Suddenly.
While Changing His Costume
He Is Stricken With Heart
Disease.
Missourians Talk of Lynehing
Desperadoes Who Attempt
to Fire q Town.
John R. MeLean's Right Bow
er Jailed for Contempt Of
Court.

scene OF LORD Onumley dt Tie hy
ceum theater this evening, E. Fl. SOth-
ern appeared before the audience and
announced that Charles B. Bishop, who
had few moments before been acting
prominent part, had suddenly died in
his dressing room while changing his
costume, The audience was then dis
missed. Mr.. Bishops wife was with
him when he died. and was Frustrated
by the sudden shock. Mr.. Bishop was
perhaps the best and most refined eX-
ponent of broad comedy on the Amerl-
can stage. Before he went on the
stage. several years ago. he was medi-
cal practitioner in Baltimore. He was
frequently called ''doctOr" by his asso-
ciates. but it was title he did not care
a great deal for. Mr.. Bishop first starred
in THE Widow Bedott." He made the
piece immensely popular, and it had
run for several years. But Mr.. Bishop
will be best remembered in his delinea-
ton of the drummer in the play of
'.Strictly Business" This play he pro-
duced everywhere, and was always re-
ceived with enthusiasm. During
Mckee Rankin'S management of the
California theater Mr.. Bishop was in-
duced to
SHELVE STRICTLY BUSINESS"
and join forces with the California
Theater stock company. A grand re-
vival of old comedies was the result,
Mr.. Bishop always assuming the part OF
the grotesQue character. When Snake
speare'S tragedy Macbeth was pro-
duced at the California two years ago,
MIR. Bishop played one of the witches.
He took the whole house by storm. The
great actors in the play were al
xr-hi Ia %1n
comedian was applauded to the
echo. About this time Mr.. Bishop was
at the zenith of his popularity. He re-
ceived a crushing blow when his only
son, Charles E., died suddenly about
year ago. Mr.. Bishop has since felt the
loss, and it is more than probable that
it hastened his own end. His son was
tWentv-fOur years old, and was conSld-
cred a promising comedian. A year
ago the deceased joined the Lord
ChumleY'' company. Mr.. Bishop was
man below the ordinary height and
very corpulent. He could play Sir John
Falstaff without adding any appendaSeS
to look the character. A pleasant face
and genial smile were always visible.
He was generous to fault and greatly
liked by his associates. The immediate
cause of Mr. Bishops death was due to
ucdIb 1dllulcs liz htto cuAV1SU ~
some years past from an affection
of the heart. A few days ago he
complained of his heart to his asso-
ciates. but he did not, nor did
his friends think that his end would
come so suddenly. Mr.. Bishop had
been ailing slightly during the last few
days, but made light of his indisposl-
ton. regarding it as nothing more seri-
Gus than a slight attack of neuralgia
gastritiS. On his appearance at the the
ater last night he complained OF feeling
rather worse, and remarked that he had
serious
DoURTs ABOUT LEAVING HOME.
He seemed cheerful, however, and on
being jOkingly rallied by member of
the company on his failure to cure him
self when he had cured so many others
(Mr. Bishop having been graduated as
physician, replied: "A doctor cannot
be his own patient" He dressed and
marked that he was acting better than
ever. After his exit toward the
close of the first act, just before
the famous scene between Lady
Adelaide Barker and Lord Chumley,
Mr.. Bishop was walking down stairs to
his dressing room, when he suddenly
reeled and fell against the stair rail.
Recovering himself with great effort,
he managed to Stagger into the dressing
room of Tully Marshall, which is near
est the stairs, and fell on the sofa, ap-
parently in dead faint. Mrs. Bishop,
who was in the theater, Miss Will
son. Kittie Wilson and other mem
bers of the company ran to his
assistance and used every means to
restore him. but failed. DrS. Lehman
and Powers, who live nerr the theater,
were summoned, and OH their arrival
announced that Mr.. Bishop was dead.
On hearing the news, Mrs. Bishop was
completely overcome. In the meantime
the play had been brought to close by
the failure of Mr.. Bishop to respond to
his cue, he being supposed to dis
cover Chumley on his knees to Lady
Adeline. Mr.. Sothern was apprised
of the condition of affairs, and
going to the front of the stage, begged
the indulgence of the audience for a
few minutes until Mr. Bishop should
recover The drop curtain was lowered.
and in a few minutes Mr.. Sothern ap-
peared in front of the curtain and an
nounceG that Mr.. Bishop was dead. The
news created prOfound impression
among the audience, but there was 10
excitement and the people quietly dis
persed The money paid for admission
was offered to all by the management,
but nearly every Gae declined it.