New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-07
rates Of wages. This Is the first society Of the kind
ever formed In the Southern States.
OBITUARY.
BENJAMIN A. BAKER.

BENJAMIN A. BAKER.
Benjamin A. Baker. assistant secretary Of the Actors
Fund Of America. died at his home. No. III West
Twelfth-st., yesterday. His sickness was caused by
the bursting Of bloodvesse In the brain week ago
Friday lie sitting in the ONCE Of the fund. In
West Twenty -cighthst., writing the minutes Of the
executive committee. when he said to Lester S. Quincy
who sat adjoining DESK that he did not feel we'll
and thought that lie would 90 home. Mr. Quincy ad
vised him to do and he took his hat and went out
saying Good night; Ill see You In tho spring" This
quotation was his usual goodnight TO Mr.. Quincy.
HIS voice sounded little thick. but this not
unusual and Mr. Quincy did not call carriage. as he
would have done II lie had supposed that Mr. Bakers
sickness anything serious. When he reached home
he could scarcely speak and It thought that ne
conld live for only short timc but In few days his
condition improved little and he was confidently or
pectcd to recover In time. In spite Of his age.
lie improved little from Cay TO day. but carly yes
to-day morning he seemed worse, and his physician
DR.. Colin MoDOugal. Of No. lO< West Fortieth-st-,
was called to the house at O'Clock lie found the
patient so much that he again IL 80 and
stayed until Mi. Baker died. at IL 20 yesterday after
noon
Mr. Baker was one Of the Oldest and best known
theatrical men in New York. lie had such a wide
Quaintance among actors fitted him especially for
his duties as assistant secretary OF the Actors Fund
In this capacity he did active work up to the very
moment OF his sickness. and he was always to be
found At the OF the fund, except when he was
visiting or providing for the needs OF some poor
or sick actor. That he at his duty
to the last Is shown by the book in which ~
writing at the moment when the attack came.
Up to a certain point tho writing Is as clear and In
telgibe ever, then there some eras,ircs. and
then few lines In which many OF the words are
illegible and all utterly incohercnt.
Mr. Baker was born In this city on April A. 1918.
When boy ho away from home and went on q
steamer to New-Orleans, where ho worked as
ut
cavalry trappngs under General Houston. lie made
his first appearance at Natchez, In Februry
1887 In Rob Roy lie stayed In the South for two
years and tien back to NcwYork, whom he Joined
Mtchells olympic Theatre at the time OF It's opening
December 8, 1880. Here he served as prOmpter
and also actor. While here he wrote numbox Of
plays and acted in many. Some Of his own plays were
put on tho stage with much success. One Of his
pieces was called "a Glance 1t New-York." 1t was
presented for the first time 1t benefit on February
25, 1S4s. Tho leading psrt IN It called "Mosc,'
was played By Frank Chanfrsu, who made . distinctly
favorable impression with it, and 1t was this play
and this part that led tho production Of the famous
Streets Of New-York.n Mr. Baker stsged 81 the
Olympia Theatre for eleven years. or up TO tho time
that Mr.. Mitchell retired.
After this he became partner With ". B. English
in the management OF the Howard Athenaeum, IN
Boston, but he left II 10 70 to Washington where he
was sta manager the National Theatre. He next
o. Metropolitan Theatre, San Francisco. lilo Eft
san francisco with Edwin Booth And Came East In
October 1880. acting manager for Mr.. Booth on his
first starring tour in this country and visiting many
cities with him. This not his 1rst meeting with
BOOTH however. as he vas stoge manager Of the old
Chatham, In New York. whom Booth. then young
man, suddenly appeared in King Richard III one
night in place of his father who sick and unable
10 act Mr. Booth has always remained the firm friend
OF his old manager. still later Mr. BaE was stag
manager Laura KeCt at her theatre in this city.
at the time OF the Of The Seven sisters and he
was stage manager and actor from time to time 1T
various theatres Of the city up to October O. 1853;
Fund He discharged all the duties OF this ONCE iiOst
Of hi. last Sickness lie leaves wife. but no children.
EX-CHIEF JUSTICE GEORGE w. BROWN.
baltimore Sept O (SpeciaD.-Ex Chief Judge George
William Brown, tho most prominent 1urtst IN Mary
land, died last night at Lake Aohonh, N. Y. lilo hsd
been in iIl.hcslth for time. but the Immediate
cause Of his death apOplcxy. lie was bonn In
Baltimore City. In 1872. His faher also . native OF
this city. a prominent merchant; and his grand
father DR.. George Brown. who came from Ireland
10 baltimore IN 1853 The young man spent one
ycat Dartmouth COLLEGE. going trencc to Rutgers
College New Brunswick, n. j.. from which college he
was graduated at the head OK his class In 1881. lie
studied law, and in Ie2O formed a partnership With
Frederick W. Erunc former srhoomatc. This nrm
is .,u in existence Early In his professional career
Mr. brown and William A. Talbot surted move
mcnt which resulted In the foundation OF the present
excellent bar library OF this city. In 1888 Judge
Brown conspicuously before tho public as an ad'
vocatc Of municipal reform. In 1853 he united with
other prominent citizens 10 form q reform assoc'>
ton. to put stop TO tho "KDow!NothnS" violence
which kept the city In bondage.
In october. 1850. no was elected Mayor BY
a majority Of about 5000. Mayor Brown went
into office al critical time. The attack
on the 9th Massachusetts Regiment In the
streets Of baltimore. April 10. 1861. Is we'll rcmem
Lered. Mayor Brown. who had used every endeAvor
70 avert bioodshod upon learning what had happcned
fastened tho spot ordering Marshal Kane to follow
him with body OF police The Mayor met the troops
marching rapidly followed by hostile crowd and
placing himself st their heod, he went with them for
some distance to Camden Station. Ills presence
while it did not prevent further disorder. served In
small degree avert sull more bloody conflict
President Lincoln afcrward recognized tho good faith
In which the Mayor aud his colleagues In authority hd
acted Shortly after this however, military rule was
established in baltimore On the night OF september
H. 1901 Mayor Brown arrested By the Federal
authorities at his homo and was taken prisoner
to Fort Mclicnry, whence he was successfully re-
moved to Fortress Monroe, Fort Lafayette and Fort
Warren While In confinement numerous offers were
made bv the Government 10 release him. but all wec
soupled with conditions he could not accept Finally
when his term Of office had expired, loG", he Was
Internationally released
In 1867, when the rule OF the minority which had
held control OF the state and city government during
And after the War Herthrown and popular gov
eminent restored, Mayor Brown was chosen member
NJ the constitutional convention. In 1872 he was
elected Chief Judge Of the Supreme Court VI Baltimore
CITY In 1858 he was nominated for the Mayoralty
on an independent, partisan ticket and polled
large vote. but was defeated by James Hodges. In
1850 Judge Brown retired from the bench ON
orc,mnt OF having reached the age limit.
Indigo Brown earnest friend OF all move
mcnt. on behalf OF humanity and education lie was
- t1strc OF the Peabody Institute and tho Johns
iiopns University. visitor to St. Johns College and
In Lao hc with william II. Norris and Frederick ".
Hr,ne compiled the first digest OF the decisions OF
.h Iourt OF Appeals Of Maryland. After his retire
tho ", tho ,n,ch In the fall Of l6s9 rudp. brown