The morning call., 1893-05-28
SAMUEL w. PIERCY.

SAMUEL w. PiERCY.
One of The most brilliant of Califor MAS act.
ors was Samuel W. Pie cy, who aft a me te-
oric Career. died at the eaily age of so when
JUS attaining the highest honors of hi profess
sion.
Samuel W. Piercy was boru August s, 1s49,
and arrived in San Francisco December 26 OF
the same year.
HI first went 10 school at the old RncOu Hill
public SC"nol. In 1860 his parents moved to
San Jose, leaving hlm and his brother at DR..
Huddard's col eg then situated al TIL corner
OF Sec"nd and Bryant stie eeis. After remaining
al Huddatd's college some three or four Years
be joined bis parents At San Jose. finishing hI>
school DAYS in that city al the San jose Insii-
tute. IN 1866 his parents moved back to this
city.
II was then Mr.. Pie cy determined to adopt
the ban a his profession aud commenced In the
Office OF General W. II. L. Barnes, The we'll
known attorney.
But on July 4, 1870, circumstance occurt ed
that changed The current OF his life and made
him an actor. On Ihat day he read the Deeara-
ton al lHdep. ndence at he Grand 0pera-house
In ms city and General Barnes. the orator OF
the day. was SO imrr essed with the power and
eluqueHce of lie delivery ha he advised MIR.
PieIcy o ADOPT Tie stage his rofeSsion.
He at once became close stud ut and in
Nov mbei of tbe >an.e year Made his debut at
The California TGeaIe In Inc character of JagS,
anu Johr Mccullough pronounced II "Oue of
the iuest performances he had ever will
nesSeA."
He alIerward appeared in the Bush-slrert
Thea'e, in The character OF Hamlet winning
godeno inion~.
Ia Oc ober, S74, he started East and made
HI ii i appe rance ID Chicago at the Academy
of Muse, iemdInng there one season. While
There he supported different >tars-t lara Morris
aud Charlotte Thomson being among the num-
be-. The following season lie and Mckee
Rduku appeared al neatly ali the ci les of Inc
Eat. Nj. Percy doubling his part by taking
the character of Cripple, besides that of the
Chrva ier.
The next season he went TO Philadelphia as
, leadin- man at t4le Areh-stieet Theaier aud the
Museum. Before fte7- eaSnn was over he at
tracted the favorable atte.ition Of b riley
Campbeli. tie greaI dranalis, WHO engaged
nm TO visit EngIAnd, where lie mad the hit
tnat lacrc him the head of the prof ssion.
Thl> III CampueIs Ivan, the Vlrgihlan."
when cd no achieve the same success as a
= play mat ii contributed 10 Mr.. Piercy's Tepu a
tion an ac or.
Returning To New York in 1877. he was Ell.
gagged al tie Grand o era-hOuSe ON its revival
uuutr lie management of Shook & Palmer,
playing The "FTgmian." which had q run OF
niue weeks. II wa- followed by "0u" Board
ng-house," Mr.. Piercy taxing the pat OF
tie Italian, IN which character he appeared in
nearly all Tile large Eastern cities. This termi-
naled the season of 1877.
That OF 1878 opened with an engagement at
Cuclunatl. when lie suppor ed Edwin Booth,
Mary Anderson and many other stars. As Mr..
Boogh', leading support lie WAS highly praised
by that gentleman.
Returning to San Francisco Mr.. Plercy ap-
peared at the Grand Opera-house IN the
"Pas>ion Play" On Aurast 29. 1879, he
married and during he ensuing season visited
all the principal cilie, OF the East and est,
supporting Miss Ada CaVendish he and his
wife returning TO San Francisco. where shortly
atterward Il daughter Was bonn 10 him.
On August ?, 1880, Mr.. Plercy accepted Dr.
Callahan'> play of Deception" and had it pro-
duced ~ the Baldwin Thrater, where 1t ran for
two weeks.
In the meantime Mr.. Percy for med one OF
the strongest combinations ever taken out OF
this city on tile road. Among lie members
were Miss Eleanor Cary, Mrs. Kate Denim and
her TWO daughters, Miss Nellie Weather in,
l. wis Morrison, j. o. Barrows. Johu Wilson,
Mr. Barber, j. II. VinSon. The company
opened III San Jose. proceeding thence 10
Stockton, Sacramento, Salt Lake City and
nearly all the cities of the Eas. When play
ing his second engagement at Philadelphia. his
wife was taken sick and died. May 27, 1851.
the funeral takiug place IN this city.
In Two months Mir. PleIcy returned to the
East ana was Immediately engaee ed TO support
the leading actor and one OF the foremost
gentlemen Of the American stage Edwir
Boolh-who entertained for him, both as mar
and acror, a very high opinion. But when II
Boston his career Was cut short by coniiuen
smallpox, and lie breathed his last January 8
1882.