St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-21

Patrick Egan (Harrisl, the eldest son
of Peter and Margaret Egan, was born
in Ottawa, Canada, in 1S47, and was,
therefore, at the time Of his death,
about forty-three years old. He was
the sixth in a family of eight, one being
now dead. The others. five of whom
reside in st. Paul, are Mrs. Joseph
Smith, Mrs. Louis Franklin, Mrs. j. q.
Donnelly, P. F. Egan and James Ii.
Egan. Another sister, Mrs. Mary Heb
line, resides in Baltimore.
When about four years OF age
he removed with his parents
to La Sale, ILL.,, where he
lived until 1862. when the family came
to Lakeville, Mimi, where they re-
manned for many years. While yet
mere boy, the youthful Patrick. who
always seemed to have a penchant for
amusements, Joined George w. De
Hayen's circvS, an organization which
had its origin and backing in st. Paul.
This was In 1868. lie remained with
the circus for period covering about
two years, and succeeded in getting an
interest in the business by dint of his
indomitable pluck and energy. for let it
be understood he had not penny when
he began. Soon after this we hear of
the young man in connection with the
Great London circus that was travers-
ing the country about this time.
He went to the front quickly, but he
soon tired of the nomadlc life he was
leading. and SHE'D his castor into the
theatrical arena in the city of New Or
leans. 1t was about this time that he
took the name of Harris, not that it was
more euphonious than his own, but to
correspond with within that men in
-; tO + urAc
i'm the city of Pittsburg. Pa, that Mr..
Harris laid the foundation of the
fortune that came to him in later years
as a result of his wise Sagacity and I'M
firing zeal and energy. He began in
small way, taking half interest in a
dime museum. And right here it
might be we'll to state that Mr.. Harris
was one of the first to origin
ate the scheme of dime museums.
and place them on paving basis. His
venture was a go, as all his ventures
ever afterwards proved. Everything
he touched seemed to turn to money.
At the advice of friends he started a
theater in Baltimore, giving first-clasS,
clean amusementS at popular prices.
Theatricals, which had been dead for
10. these many years in the Monumental
City, took boom, and Harris was soon
the SrdIlu uldLdSSI VI tuC ldISCSI 1HCo-
ter in Baltimore. In quick succession
he assumed the management of theaters
in Washington. Pittsburg, Cincinnati
and Louisville. meeting with I'M
bounded success in every venture. A few
years ago he put into practical effect
desire that he had long cherished. viz:
to establish theaters in st. Paul and
Minneapolis, for the former OF which he
had always the tenderest affection. 1t
is true these last theaters proved hardly
so successful as his previous efforts, but
the reason for this was his declining
health and his inability to give the
necessary attention to the new houses.
When he saw that it was absolutely inn
perative to have help be called to his
aid his brother. P. F. Egan, to whom he
entrusted his Western business. But
the beginning of the end had come, and
the great manager. who had reached
the summit of his career, was on
the road that leads to the
tomb. The rest has been told:
Mr.. Harris died martyr to his zeal