The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-05
POOR BILLY sCANLAN.
The One-Time Sweet Singer Nearing
the End In BlOOmingdaIe.

NEW YORK, Sept. At was reported
last night that Mr.. w. J. Scanlan. the
former well-known comedian, had had sew
eral very severe commissions recently at
Bloomingdale, where he has been confined
for a number of years, and that his death
was expected very soon- DR.. 5. B. Lyon,
the superintendent of the asylum, said last
evening, however, that Mr.. Seaman was
about as usual and might live for months
yet. Seaman succumbed to paresis and
quit the stage during the holidays of 1892.
For nearly five years he has been prac-
tically dead man. For half of that time
his mind has been totally blank. He rec
ognized none but his wife. An old friend
who visited him some time ago writes:
1.-THE morning sun peeped through the
barred windows of narrow, cell-like room
in Ward z. of the Bloomingdale Asylum for
the Insane, Illuminating the bare walls and
lighting UP the features of a dying man.
No one could have recognized in those ex-
preSsionless lineaments the once bright
face of the popular Irish comedian, William
]. Seaman. The eyes were closed, the
cheeks were pulled and of sallow hue, and
the mouth, that in days gone used to break
into fascinating smiles. had driveling
aspect. heightened by the idiotic droop Of
and on for nearly thirty months, and is
now fast approaching his end. His mind
is blank. One day in his life is but a
repetition of another. They are all devoid
of incident. The room he occupies is fur
nished with single bedstead, strip Of
light-colored carpet and a chair.
The great clock in the Steeple of the
asylum chapel chimes 6. 1t is the signal
fer general awakening in the ward. The
attendants leave their rooms and busy
fnarsa ole afFarr hall
the imbecile patients to dress, shaking the
mats and making the beds. Breakfast next
dale at 1880 o'clock Those patients who are
able to walk about the wards repair to the
dining room and eat the meal there. The
sick patients are served in their rooms An
tray and, taking a seat at the bedside
props The patient up with pillows and feeds
usually consists of oatmeal porridge, soft
boiled eggs, beef tea and two or three
glasses OF fresh milk. Strange to say, Scan
ian mas had an amazing appetite. He
seems to have keen relish Tor his food
ana peculiar light comes into his eyes
MSnlie eating. The quantity of food it is
thought best to give him is regulated by the
attendant in charge of the ward.
breakfast over, the actor lies back in bed
ana rails into profound sleep. The ward
re-echoes with the gable and chatter IF
the insane. FealS of idiotic laughter out
bursts or insane defamation, wild cries and
uncouth sounds are heard. AT IL O'Clock the
asylum barber enters the ward to trim the
hair and boards of the bedridden PATIENTS
He enters Scanlans room with an at
tendant. The latter arouSes the actor from,
his stupor, props him up in bed adjusts a
towel round his neck and then sits by while
the barber performs the task of shavinS
him. While the barber is at work the
patient again opens his eyes and regards
him with a vacant stare, all unconscious
OF what is going on When the barber ma
gone the attendant washes the patient' 3
face and hands. brushes his close-cut hair
and arrays him in a dressing gown Then
he leaves him 10 go to sleep again
AT O'Clock comes dinner. Seaman ears
rich broth, some finely chopped meat
generally beef or mutton; vegetables that
do not require mastication. pudding and
milk He again eats ravenousiy and soon
sitter drops off into stupor. At 3 O'clock
carriages enter the grounds and wind along
the graveled roadway toward the entrance
70 the male division. They contain friends
and relatives of the patients, for this il
Wednesday, the day set apart as the visit
Ing day in this department. and the after
noon trains from New York always brings
large number of visitors.
From one of the carriages a Handsome.
woman, richly dressed, alights and mounts
the STOPS She smiles cordially TO The NJ
tendarhs In the Office. She is Scanlan's de-
voted WIFE and on every visiting day rain
or shine, since her husband has been il,
Bioomingdala she has made him a visit
She never comes to the asylum without
bringing him some little gift or remem
Dranc4 Sometimes 1t is a basket of fruit
sonnet aes a bunch OF sweet flowers She