The sun., 1899-04-30
JOHN E. oWENs'S SUBSTITUTE

JOHN E. OWENs'S SUBSTITUTE
Brief Career of tho Man Who Replaced the
Comedian in tho Union Army.
WARRINGTON. April 29-There died In a
Washington hospital tho other day an Irish
man who attained a certain notoriety a Rener-
alton ago through having been accepted a
substitute IN the Union Army for John Z.
Owens the comedian. Owens was resident
OF Baltimore county. Nd. his home being Just
beyond Baltimore city. The demand on the
county for her proportion Of the States quota.
under the second reuuisition OF President Lin
coin for soldiers. during the civil war lacked
forty-seven Of completion. Late one after
noon. the time for volunteers to round out the
required number having expired at noon. the
dreaded and unpopular wheel OF fortune. as
it was called. was set spinning to supply the
deficiency. The third name taken from the
wheel by blind boy sent over from nearby
asylum to act'as name taker. was that OF John
Z. Owens. The fact soon became known at
Barnum's Hotel in Baltimore city. the meeting
place OF Owens and his friends.
At tho time Owens was filling an engage
ment at the old Natioa aal Theatre In Washing
ton and he was having benefit night, as was
the custom once during an engagement In
those days. The bill consisted OF two plays
The Rivals" and The Happiest Day Of My
| Life" in which latter play Owens portrayed
! henneck ed husband timdly hiding away when
ever opportunity offered. The theatre was
crowded Pre- sident Lincoln.and party occu-
| pied box and members OF the Cabinet and
| other distinguished men in both civil and
military life were in attendance. The curtain
| had gone down amid deafening applause. and
| when it was rung UP again Owens stepped to
| the front leading Mrs. Mddprop. An.uproar-
| ious demand for q speech continued for some
minutes. Now. this was weak point with
owens: he dreaded speechmaklng and always
| avoided it il possible. Many OF the AUDIENCE
| we're aware OF his tim idty about public speak
Suddenly he had u happy Thought he took
| from his pocket u letter brought over by spe-
clal messenger during the evening from some
his throat. alter an instant OF quiet read
large ana 1nsShse stIzens nsersSi of Baimere
thru turn W Of the wheel OF fortune and with
part of ali present, selected TO represent in
part the loyal sentiments OF this county as q
| that the honor OF the nations flag could not be
| ntrusted to worthier or more willing hands.
| We know that your martial spirit has hitherto
| yielded belief that the youth OF the county
| was entitled to nrst consideratlon,Dut OF.
| fetal action. III which even envy itself does not
attribute cousion uron yo!r part. has 81, re- E.
| lieved you from this restraint, ana you VIII pe
given free nand unq' Ynnp nn aml IN unmSer HI T.ih
| ishabe glory on the nation history. or; liI,-
ing. I'LL the grave OF an honoreu th0uGh @ un
| known hero somewhere south OF the loto,
mae Don't hurry, home. You have until
next Thursday to take your plasee in iime at the
| gen. ED SHRIvEk. COMMANDING
When the shouts. cheers ana guyi,nE tha, fol
tIWoo Sis ovens VEN said: MY friends, YOU ali Know
me. you've me act. you've seen with
tu overcome the dlscipIired tmidity of my
co gardly legs. Tho conflict that RACES here
striking his BREAST is as tumuItuous and un-
renson,ng as the waters that dash over Nj
ngara. The yearning for the appreciation that
follows the sn"Sessiur xrwhclmn by the lear tnaI
an uncomfortable. Bob .lrTeS trem oiinR inlGnt
:ome upon mo IN the very moment 1, OF appaiemt ,I
baubu reputation even IRON the cannon
mouth bring disgrace both upon myself ana ana
| the cause | nave much at heart. My legs
have been too Thoroughly disciplined by W.
tue Of long and close stuuy oi the ynU nUole sea
~ ~ IL more than possible that the proud uni
form Uf a soldier. which my state. Goo pless
through the training OF my extremites to lug
their owner somewhere else whenever dan-
ger is scented. | therefore beg ana impiore
any in authority who may hear my voice
looking longingly at the PresidHnts box and
| EEn like myself, would not willingly see our
wIi HInpioms star. Spangled Banner exposed TO con
| tunely. 10 WELD the power OF inc Whole AZ
mini-tratlon. If need be- ana turn nd nacs
| in the keeping OF one whose training Tor the
deadly conflicts of life has left his nerves
100 I'm At runn than mine
The next week owens through his overseer'
arranged with u stalwart young larmhahu, re.
Gently employed upon his plantation. 10 eS tnns
'iown Several of Owens s friends drove OUT tC
tho rendezvous with him on the lhursuhy u
,yIIuess his transfer OF PROSPECTIVE military
honora TO Michael ODowd. rms was ,, sooI
Uher. hnmIaEne flowed until well into tht
. night to commemorate the event. htteT wnici
. owens was driven put home. Shortly, ate!
! arriving there he was sound aSIeepi ABOUT
O'Clock the dogs set w a GrIsk 9ar M hnH, & M m q
= owens being aroused. laid hands on her nus
| band. and said - ... Il. .,,,i,,,v Won
'John wake UP, Some one IS calLlhG you
.Iuh. what" said the sleepy copedlan
! "Iook out Of the windoS. urged MS wlie
Tin sure something unusual mas nappensiu
:; Owens threw W the window anu ,peelin'
into the night with ewes thai almost peiuSeG ~
u 4 rich Irish broGue broke the air Wlth' An
, | Is thai YOU. Mister owens; o
I ""W course 1t is" replied Owens.
IA. .nr comrse gUu S, I'm all right" and then relec
! lively. tight TOO What do you want
! Can they do anything with YOU sor'' hoate'
4 u!"Gaans s"l they do anything with me?" repeate
a o""iTS; ""rhc Glueral, sor-cnn he take you for
S0ot w. said owens. I'm all Tigh I've sbpS SS
in suGsitaedmG miSht ires noT 10 Worry ANU
, "Good.hy, Mister Owens. sor,, SAID n
j. yo.ce, I'm yer suhstitCot. Sor' nlin IN IN
=. fence an hour beyant nInlGht . ulGn ye Se Se
7? no no PiGEeets; Piniess and nd sHoq the MONEY. ~ :
u, mr rhiS hiS' Vas true The lrishman made hi
~ way 10 Canada and remained uhtll the S'us ~
q of the war when he returned ana tnro4En ;n "
IL unused at his substitutes escape. he got en-
a pioyment as a watchman about MashihgIo
10 tneatre which he never surrenuereu unt
ID taken TO the hospital short time before III