St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-25
ScANLAN'S ROMANCE.
His Marriage With Pretty Maggie
Jordan.

Philadelphia Times.
The end is rapidly approaching with
William j. Scanlan, who only a half
dozen years ago was looked upon as
one of the most fortunate actors on the
American stage-blessed with popu-
larity, blessed with wealth and blessed
with the happiest domestic surround
ings. The unexpected announcement
of the softening of his brain came with
a great shock to his many friends and
admirers, and those who were familiar
with the habits of his life still remain
at loss to find reason for the men
tai ailment of which he has become a
victim. His unfortunate condition
and his approaching demise are
brought sadly and forcibly to mind
by the present public appearance in
this city of Andrew Mack, who about
year ago purchased from Mrs Scan
Ian the rights Of "Myles Aroon," a
well-known Irish play in which the
afflicted comedian accomplished great
success. Apart from his inherent
ability, much of Scanlan's success
was attributed to a woman, the one
who is now by his side endeavoring TO
soothe his expiring moments. He was
a young song-and-dance man, who
could give a taking turn to an Irish
melody. but it was not until his busi-
ness affairs had been taken charge of
by her who is now his wife, and who
gave him the spur Of energy which he
did not naturally possess, that he
achieved first, fame, and subsequently
fortune. There is romance in Mrs.
Scanlan's life which well exhibits the
indomitable will of the woman. She
was once Maggie Jordan. All the
| surroundings of her early life, the
| careers of some of her nearest rela-
tives, were such as were calculated to
bind by ignoble ties any one but a
woman of most remarkable character.
| But she arose superior to her environ
ments, and remains unscathed where
| few of her sex would have escaped
scathless. In her girlhood days she
was engaged ito marry William j.
Sharkey, well-known New York
sporting man of very fascinating eX-
| terror, and they were still affianced
when Sharkey killed Dunn, another
well-known character. The murder is
a famous one. Public opinion took
! sides in the matter. Sharkey's friends
| claimed that the homicide was COM
mitted in self-defense, but, neverthe-
! less, the gallows stared the prisoner
| in the face. In this emergency, made
bold by the impulse of her affections
! Maggie Jordan obtained permission to
visit her lover in his cell in the Tombs
prison, and while there she exchanged
clothing with him and enabled him to
escape. Sharkey fed to Spain. Mag
gle Jordan was arrested, but the pub
lie sympathy which was aroused in hel
behalf quickly gave her release, and
she at once sailed across the sea tc
ioin her affianced husband. But, alas
her awakening was rude one. She
found that her hero was nothing more
than a common ruffian; the man fol
whom she had risked her liberty ant
reputation was unworthy of her love
In sorrow she returned TO this coun
try-Sharkey flying to Cuba-and some
time afterward Maggie Jordan me
and married William ]. Seaman.
The domestic life of the young coupl
was most happy. Man and wife wer
almost inseparable. Many will remem
her how. when the Irish comedian ap
peared upon the stage, his wife almos
Invariably sat in a private box, anx
| lOuSly anu dllSClioiieitSis N"NSAiH7 IA
every movement; hanging upon hi
every utterance Mrs. Scanlan dis
! played business ability which is eN
ceptional in one of her sex. She tool
charge of her husbands personal af
fairs, induced him to take higher step
in his profession, and when he mad
money invested it for him in real es
tate and first-class securities. Through
her care, acumen and energy Scanlal
became one of the richest young actor
in America.
Then came darkness. Through tha
still unexplained condition of thing
which has brought mental afflictiol
and obliteration to many OF the bright
est minds of the American stage, and il
this particular instance unexplained b,
any suggestion of excess or dissjpa ton
Scanlan one day became an inmat
of an asylum for the insane. He wa
taken to Bloomingdale, where the ligh
of his life is now Pickering.
Since that sad event there has beel
no Myles Aroon upon the American
stage until this season, when Andrew
Mack, with Mrs. Scanlan's permission
essayed the part. Last week, Will,
playing in Harlem, he visited his ia
nous predecessor in the Bloomingdal,
/ ASYLUM. Mack is now in this city, anc
and the story he relates of the meeting
q! is a piteous one to those who recall