The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-07
MRS. D, P BOWERS DEAD.
The Eminent Actress Succumbs to
Pneumonia at Phila-
delphia.
Brief Story of Her Life on the Stage
Was Popular in San
Francisco.

PORTLAND, Or, Nov. 6.-Manager H.
c. Bowers of the Hotel Portland received
a dispatc h to-day stating that his mother,
Mrs. D. P. Bowers, the eminent actress
had died in Philadelphia last night OF
pneumonia after brief illness.
Mr.. Bowers left for Philadelphia to at
tend the funeral, which takes place next
Tuesday.
Mrs. Bowers left two sons and one
daughter, H. c. Bowers of Portland, Wal
ter Bowers of New York City and Mrs. E.
V. Bennett, manager of the Arlington Ho-
tel, Washington, D. c.
Mrs. D. P. Bowers was well-known to
many of the play-goers of San Francisco.
AS an actress in the strictly legitimate line
she achieved great success and held lead
ing place among stars until few years
ago. 1t has been said of her that she be-
gan life as an actress at Is and was a
mother at IS.
She was woman of quick intelligence
and marvellous charm and sounded the
very depths of feeling and run the sweep of
life's gauntlet.
Mrs. Bowers PLAYED Juliet with great
success. Her Juliet possessed the sim pie
nature of girl with the passionate heart
break of woman.
In the heydey of youth and success she
realized Charlotte Cushman's ideal Juliet,
and played it 10 the Romeo of that great
actress. Mrs. Bowers always contended
that Charlotte Cushman's Romeo was the
the greatest on the stage. She did not
even except that of Edwin Booth
Her father used to say that none of his
seed would ''ever beg bread" Inan inter-
view not long since Mrs. Bowers said ::
This faith of my father l have realized.
When | have reached my last round the
good angel of my life has lifted his wings
over and ttoated me into sunshine again. !"
This was illustrated several years after
the actress marriage Ga second marrage)
to the scientist, DR.. Brown. who insisted
that she leave the stage. They lived in
good style in London until his scientific
experiments exhausted their money.
Then she consulted Manager Pheeps at
Saddler's Wells Theater, and signed to
play Julia in THE Hunch back" Her
success was great and immediate and a
profitable engagement at the Lyceum fol-
lowed.
Mrs. Bowers was the daughter of Rev.
W. y. Croker, an Episcopal clergyman.
She was born at Stamford, Conn.,, March
II, 1880, and was married to D. P. Bowers
in 1847. Bowers died in 1857. She subse-
quently married DR.. Brown of Baltimore.
Mrs. Bowers made her debut at the
Arch-street Theater Philadelphia, in 1S47
IS Pauline in the Lady of Lyons" Her
London debut was made in 1861 at Sad
dlers Wells Theater.
She played several engagements in San
Francisco. The first one in 1852 is remem-
bered by many of the old time patrons oil
the play. Early in the seventies when the
California Theater was so widely known
for the excellence of the actors and merit
OF the players on its stage Mrs. Bowers
played an important engagement.
1t was during this visit to San Francisco
that she was elected an honorary member
of the Bohemian Club. Her mem bership
was proposed by Henry Edwards and sec
onded by Thomas Newcombe, who was
then city editor of The CALL and president
of the club.