The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-20
BILLY" SCANLAN GONE
THE SWEET SINGER DIES AFTER SIX
YEARS IN BLOOMINGDALE.
Author of "Peek-a-BOO," "NelIie's
Blue Eyes" and Fifty Others-Mag-
gle Jordan Stood by Him.

New York Feb. 19.-William J. Seaman,
the singer and Irish character actor, died
late last night of paresis in Bloomingdale
Asylum for the Insane, aged forty-two
years He had been an inmate of the asy-
lum for six years. and had been cared for
by his Wife Maggie Jordan. Seaman sue
cumbed to paresis and quit the stage dur
ing the holidays of 1892. For nearly seven
years he had been practically dead man.
For five years his mind had been totally
blank. He recognized none but his wife.
Billy Scanlan's case has been one of the
most pathetic of all the sad examples that
finally end in cell at Bloomingdale. For
three years he has been nothing but piece
of flesh that breathed He has lain
in his bed, with no more intelligence
than a sleeping polypus. 1t i'm
possible to arouse him. He was fed
like badly. There was never any
doubt of his fate. He was as certainly
doomed as leper. His death has been ex-
pected every month for over two years.
During the holidays of 1895, three years
after his incarceration the doctors believed
he would die any day. Some days Seaman
would awake from his crazy sleep and sing
a chorus from some of his old sweet songs,
and drool like an infan,. His condition
was so pitiful so hopeless, so repulsive that
his friends, all save his wife, long since
ceased to visit him.
Apart from his inherent ability much Of
Scanlan's success was attributed to a
woman, the one who remained by his side
to the last, endeavOring to soothe his ex-
piring moments. He was a young song
turn to an Irish melody, but it was not I'M
til his business affairs had been taken
charge of by her who became 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 a romance in Mrs. Scanlan's life
which will exhibit the indomtable will OF
the woman. She was once Maggie Jordan.
All the surroundings of her early life, the
careers of some of her nearest relatives,
We're such as were calculated TO bind by
ignoble ties any one but woman of most
remarkable character. But she arose SUI
perior to her environments, and remains
unscathed where few of her sex would have
escaped scatheless. In her girlhood days
she was engaged to marry William j.
Sharkey, well-known New York sporting
man of very fascinating exterior, and they
Were still atfianced 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 committed
in self-defense, but nevertheless, the gall
lows 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 ex-
changed clothing with him and enabled him
to escape. Sharkey fled to Spain, Maggie
Jordan was arrested, but the public SYM
quickly gave her release, and she at once
sailed across the sea to join her affianced
husband. But, alas, her awakening was a
rude one. She found that her hero was
nothing more than common ruffian: the
man for whom she had risked her liberty
and reputation was unworthy of her love.
In, In paft nod tr
Sharkey fed to Cuba--and some time after.
ward Maggie Jordan met and married VIM.
j. Seaman.
MAGGIE JORDAN HIS angel"
The domestic life of the young couple was
most happy. Through her care, acumen
and energy Seaman became one Of the
richest young actors in America. Then
came darkness. Through that still unex-
planned condition of things which has
brought mental affliction and obliteration
to many of the brightest minds of the Amer
lean stage, and in this particular instance
unexplained by any suggestion of excess or
dissipation, Seaman, during the holidays of
1892, became an inmate Of Bloomingdale.
Since that sad event there had been no
Myles Aroon on the American stage until
Andrew Mack, with Mrs. Scanlans permis-
sion. essayed the part One day while play
ing in Harlem he visited his famous prede
ceSsor in the BloOmingdale Asylum. The
story he related of the meeting is a piteOus
one to those who recall the bright-eyed
Irish lad of few years ago. Being shown
into a room, he found Seaman sitting with
his face in his hands, picture of despair.
His entrance did not disturbe the one-tlme
faVorite comedian, and even when he spoke
Seaman did not move.
The spectacle of the wasted, bent figure
of the man who had moved thousands to
tears and TO laughter troubled his successor
beyond mis- control. With wet eyes he was
about Withdrawing, when Seaman started,
lifted his head and gaZed vacantly toward
the visitor. Mack stepped forward called
the unfortunate man by name and extended
his hand. But Seaman remained motion
less For several seconds the two stood
gazing at one another Then Mack, In
soft tone, began singing Scanlons famous
lullaby. l don't know what prompted me
TO do it, said Mack in telling the story,
but l thought that possibly poor Seaman
might recognize the music with which he
mad soothed so many hearts. AT first he
stared at me in a strange way, and for
moment / thought that memory was
turning to him. He took a step toward me.
and as l began the chorus he raised his
hands 70 his forehead '-~-~-----s ~->@k his