The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-07
OBITUARY
James B. Eddy, an OId-tIns
Local Minstrel.

James Barnard Eddy died Wednesday.
He was better known TO thousands OF
people all over the country as Dick Mel
vile, for that was the stage name he
adopted when. at the age of 13 years he
ran away from home and joined s. o.
Wheeer's Diamond show a pretentous
circus for those days
Mr.. Eddy had been i'll for three years
but the end came very suddenly. He was
visiting a friend in Johnston when he
collapsed. His wife was sent for and was
with him at the end.
! When Mr.. Eddy took 10 the road he
played the bones for the minstrel section
OF the circus performance. thus com
mencing an eventful career
He served in the Civil War with
Rhode Island regiment and when peace
was restored went on the road again. He
was with Morris Brothers OF Boston for
years and had travelled all over the coun-
try with many famous companies. includ-
inG Dupree and Benedict the Hooleys OF
Brooklyn. @. Swain Buckley. Matt Vince
ler johnnie Pierce. Barlow Brothers.
Dave Reid. Billy Ashcroft. Dick Sands
George Thatcher Billy Rice. Billy Emer-
son. Dick Parker, Abe Leavitt. Sam
ShafeeleyT- fstti+-s; s;eheeleraft - George
Cowea, Barney McNulty and Dan Nc
Guinness. Neil Burgess did hlackface
comedy i'm those days and Dick Melville
Greene's Mocking Bird Mlnstrels and then
with Dockstader now playing with Prim-
rose. His last appearance was I'm 1877
with Buckleys Mnstreis.
Business interests had engaged his at
tentlon since then. but he was known as
n royal entertainer with hosts Of friends.
He was born I'm this city and he'd always
lived here. though he had been in business
I'm Newport and Boston. He belonged TO
Prescott post OF the Grand Army aud was
also member OF the Veteran Firemens
association. At the post meetings and
wherever he went he was very popular
and usually the centre OF n group Of
friends whom he amused by his inimtable
songs and anecdotes Few men could
boast n wider circle of close friends than
Dick Melville.
Sylvester j. Sweet. Veteran OF American
Band.
Sylvester J Sweet died at his home. 22i
Indiana avenue. Thursday morning, af-
ter brief illness.
Mr.. Sweet was born In rxbridRe. Mass,
October g. 1922 and was the son of Jacob
and Lydia Sweet When he was about a
year old his parents moved TO Woonsocket
and there for 30 years Sylvester J. lived
on the old homestead. lie followed the
trade OF a carpenter. bat was n nrst-c class
musician. and for IL years was a member
of the American Band and accompanied
that organization In the war ef the Rebel
lion when II enlisted with the First
Rhode Island At the conclusion OF the
war he retired from the band but had al
ways retained an active interest I'm the
veteran association, OF which he was n
member.
Mr. Sweet was married I'm 1852 to Miss
Mary Ware OF Woonsocket. and eight
years ago they moved To this city Two
weeks ago he was confined to his bed
until the end came yesterday. His widow
and four children, stephen H. Of New
York Louis n. Of Providence. Mrs, Chas
Hopkins of Jamaica. n. Y. and Mrs. WI
liam ID. Treu of Providence. survive him.
lie was n member of Morning Star
lodge OF Masons and Smith Post. c. A.
r.. OF Noonsockct. The funeral services
will be held tomorrow afternoon at 1890
The remains will be taken to Woonsocket
for interment in the family burial lot