The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-26
POOR JIMMY OWENS.
SWEETEST TENOR IN AMERICA IN
DONE BY KING ALCOHOL.
Varied Career of Talented and Ed
ucnted Man Who Yielded ia
Drink-Always Refined, Though
Dragged Down 10 the Siums-
Once FavOrtte Comedian,
known throughout the Land.

At 10 o'clock this morning mass win be
said al the Church Of Our Lady of Good
Help over the remains of Jimmy owens,
and then will come the burial in Lake
View cemetery. The pali-bearers will be
as follows. Patrick Burns. William ii.
Newman, James Gil. Patrick Gleason.
Henry Weidnlan and John Egan.
The death of Jimmy owens removes
a remarkable character from the life or
the southern part OF the city. owens died
a death that IL Is better. perhaps. 10 say
nothing about. 1t would be useless. how
ever, to avoid the naked truth that 1t was
John Barleycorn who defeated him in the
race of life. Time and time again jim
N.Y. tried TO break away from the flowing
bowl but just as often he fell by the way
side. His friends have. on many occa-
sions. gone far beyond their means TO help
him on his feet again. For a few weeks
Owens would be about happy, jolly. al
ways ready with good word, mummy
story, and. II he had money ready 10 di-
vide with any friend suddenly his appe-
titc would get beyond his control. and the
Old. old story would be repcated over
again. Yet in spite of all. Owens never
forgot his early training. and when hardly
able 10 stand was a gentleman IN word
and deed. His lifes story would furnish
Richard Harding Davis with material for
"A beautiful narrative, Astounding la lights
owens was about 81 years old. lie was
born IN San Francisco. His parents were
people or refinement and occupied a high
position in social hfe. All the benefits Of
refinement and culture were spread around
him. He was given fine education. both
literary and musical. Musicaiy he was a
prodigy He had one of the finest tenor
voices man ever possessed. People In San
Francisco will remember him as Il mem
Der OF the Loring Singing Society. He vas
also well known. not only in San Fran
cisco. but all over the country as q really
great singer OF mass in Catholic churches.
His reputation i'm this respect reached It's
height. perhaps In Memphis, Tenn.
About -sss owens was living IN Carson
City. New. and through bis singing be-
came connected with a theatrical com
pany. He went East. and had instanfa-
neous success vocalist and IRISH
comedian. A year or so after this he
joined the Bobby Gayior'' company, and
then his reputation spread from the At
lantic to the Pacific. lie commanded a
big salary. and was considered the ng
star in his line He was n h.g favOr.te.
not only with the public, but with hts com
pan,ons and money was no object to him.
When ne was flush" ne was never known
10 refuse an appeal for assistance. lie
dressed finely. and war perfectly at home
TN any company.
With success came his nnaoing. The
sparkling wine appealed TO his appetitie
irreslstfbIy He went from bad TO worse.
singing in beer halls. and finally was lost
sight of Several years ago ne came to
Seattle, and frem that time 10 his unhappy
death made II mis- home. His family did
everything IN IT'S power 10 reclaim him,
but without sttccess