Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-14
VENERABLE ACTRESS DEAD
MRS. W. G. JONES BEFORE PUBLIC
NEARLY SEVENTY YEARS
Began Stage Career Sixty-Two Years
Ago-Long Favorite in Old
Bowery Theater. ~, .

NEW YORK, June 14-Mrs W. G. JONES'
| the Oldest actress of prominence since the
death of Mrs. Gilbert, and a popular favor
lite with the public of the old Bowery and Ma
tional theaters thirty years ago and for a
quarter of century before, died yesterday
morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
Julia A. Birdseye, 1O1 West 1O6th street.
She was seventy-nine years old. She had
been in public life since she was eleven
years old, and an actress since 1S45 Her
last Illness began on April II. two days
after she had appeared in a Shakespearean
part in a benefit at ST. Chrysostoms Epis-
copal Chapel, 39th street and 7th avenue.
She played with Maud Adams as Mamie
in THE Little Minister in 1904 and her
last engagement was with Mr.. Mantell as
the Duchess of York in Richard HIN the
winter of 1896.
Her second husband was BENJAMIN J.
Deane. and it was by mis- name that she
was known on the stage. She is survived
by her daughter and two sons, William G.
Jones and Charles X. Jones, both of this
city third son. Benjamin D. Deane.
died last year while playing in ARIZONA"
in Detroit. Mrs. Jones has lived for thirty
five years in the house at PA West S7th
street.
Barn Matilda Wagstaf.
Mrs. Jones, whose maiden name was
Matilda Wagstaf, began her public career
after her father. leader of a military band
in Bermuda, had brought his wife and two
daughters from there to New York in
small open boat. She was born In Chat
ham, England. in 1928. The desire Of the
public for sensation was as great then
now and the dangers and hardships of the
daring ocean voyage, coupled with the fact
that the father~was a popular entertainer,
Secured him place in a theater. The
public wanted to see the rest of the adveh-
furOUS family Matilda MIA wing the flag
eolet, and her sister accompanied the faith
er. appearing as the Wagstaff family
through n the the country for several years
on March s., 1s45, in the Walnut Street
Theater. Philadelphia. where the family
had settled. She started by playing the
Duke of York in Richard ILL.," and her
subsequent experience in filling parts In
this play was characteristic of an actress
career in those days. She played the Prince
of Wales, Lady Anne, the Duchess Of York.
Queen Elizabeth, often doubling two of
these woman parts. and In Pittsburg she
once played Richmond to the Richard OF
Kate Fisher, In a benefit performance for
the. latter, in the combat scene. 1t drew
big audience. The last part she took in
this play was that of the Duchess of York,
assisting Mr.. Mantell.
Popular at Old Bowery.
Up to 1879 Mrs Jones' career was practi-
cally confined to New York, at the old
Bowery Theater, where she saw It at Its
zenith as the home Of the classic drama and
at the National in Park row. She was
at the Bowery Theatef with Fanny ami
James Wallack the Booths, E. A. Daven-
port, Edwin Forrest Macready and other
noted actors of that time. Even in this
company she had made name for herself
and had acted many of the Shakespearean
heroines well leading parts of plays
that were popular then. Mrs. Jones Often
recalled how once she acted Lady Macbeth
to Jupius Brutus Booths Macbeth in Pitts
burg.