The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1894-02-17

Another Olh Timer Rolls Up His Blanket,
and Goes Over the Dark Divide.
Virginia City Cor. Standard, Feb 10.
Another pioneer has rolled up his
blankets and gone over the dark divide.
Sunday morning at 4.2O o'clock, William
J. Norwood, better known throughout
the State as "Billy" Norwood, died at his
home in this city of hemorrhage of the
stomach. He has been aiing for several
weeks past but only took to his bed on
Monday last, and on Thursday was so
much better as to be able to take short
walk. On Saturday night, however, Il
change for the worse took place, blood
vomiting ensued, and death followed as
above stated.
"Billy" Norwood was a familiar and
noted character in Montana history, and
there is scarcely hamlet in the state to
which his name and fame have not pene-
trated. He was the pioneer dramatist
and theatrical manager Of Montana, hay
ing come to Alder gulch from Denver,
where he had been associated with the
veteran Jack Langrishe in July, 1868. In
fact, several months before the territory
Of Montana had a place upon the map, he
was giving dramatic performances-of d
high order, too--in the building on Jack
son street. now used as a Catholic church.
In 1864 the Peoples theater was built,
and Norwood managed this until tn g
spring of 1866, when he returned to Den
yer. In the meantime Langrishe and his
company had gone to Helena, and finding
| Norwood had left Montana, sent to Den
yer for him, and thetwo were associated in
building the handsome Peoples theater
in Helena, which was destroyed in the
conllagration which devastated the soutu
part of that city II few years later. He
remained with the Langrishe company
about three years, when he removed tc
Virginia City, and, giving up the dra
matte profession, took up the trade of q
cabinet maker and carpenter, which lie
has followed ever since.
Mr.. Norwood was born of gooG
family in Baltimore, Md, and in early
manhood was quite g. prominent figure
in "Oriole" society. In 1861 he was
president of one Of the most formidable
political associations in the city. II
February, 1861, his associates concoctet
a plan to waylay Abraham Lincoln while
on his way to Washington to be inaugu
rated, and kidnap, or if necessary, xii
him. Norwood, beinga thoroughly loya
man, would not fall in with the scheme
and, on account principally, of the ardo
with which he opposed it, it was aband
oned. This object being attained, he re
signed the presidency of the club, and
being possessed of considerable histri
onic talent, went to New York, where h
achieved success in several delineation
at the old Bowery theater. In 1869 h
went to Colorado-then at the zenith Q
its early day osperity-and came t
Montana in the following fall.
In his way, 'sBilly' was quite philan
! thropist. No stranded, strolling thespia
ever came across his path without recei,
/ ing aid, and many poor family has caus
!, to bless the whole souled, but unobtrusiv
j generosity which sent him to thei
t assistance in the hour of need. He la
: a moderate income and so was enabled
Z help in time of need He had just com
into possession Of legacy from d.
O ceased brother, aggregating somethin
/ more than $50 900; but it came too lat
for poor Bill's earthly necessities, an