Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-24
DEATH ENDS UNIQUE
LIFE OF DIR. E. BEDLOE

Continued from Page One
been equaled. He was DR.. Edward Bed
loe famous to thousands of old-time
Philadelphians and many of the younger
men about town as "Bedloe Bey."
Throughout the world the friends of
Doctor Bedloe will mourn his death. He
was 81 years old, and during his life had
visited nearly every port of call In tho
world He was looked upon as an au-
thority on the mysterious ways of the
Orient.
Doctor Bedloe became i'll April % with
heart trouble, from which he never re-
covered. Prior to that time he had lived
for some years at Dooner's Hotel, dur
ing which time he added to his reputation
as an after-dinner speaker and wit. He
is the man who wrote the dead all over"
verse that is the slogan of the Clover
Club, to the members of which for years
he was known as grand high quizzer and
queerer."
Doctor Bedloe was born in Philadelphia
February 20. 1S4S. He was graduated from
both Jefferson Medical College and tho
Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery,
and for six years practiced his profession
In this city. In 1876 he was appointed
Consul to Verona, Italy and later was
transferred to the consulate at Alexan-
dria, Egypt. Here his efforts to protect
American citizens were so marked that
he was given the official thanks OF the
State Department
KNEW EGYPT WELL.
The knowledge of Egypt and its people
gained by Doctor Bedloe was so great
that in 1sO7-Os ne was signally honored by
the Khedive. being officially attached to
that monarch's encourage for great en-
tertainment. For this he was known
.. 10. -
his friends in the Glover Club gave him
the sobriquet of "Bedloe Bey."
Doctor Bedloe retired, temporarily, from
the consular service in 1884, resuming the
practice of dental surgery in this city.
At the Inauguration of President Har-
rison, IN 1889, he sought the appointment
TO the Cairo consulate. Although he was
not successful. a year later he was given
a similar post at Annoy. China.
Here Doctor Bedloe gained his deep
knowledge of things Oriental. He became
an authority on China and the Chinese,
so much so that he was selected by the
Worlds Columbian Exposition Commits
sioners to gather the wonderful Chinese
exhibit for Chicago in 1893 He retired
from the consular service again in that
year, at the beginning of President Cleve-
lands second term, but when President
Mckinley was elected Doctor Bedloe was
named TO the important post at Canton,
China. In 1907.
The State Department asked for his
resignation two years later, because of
his connection with the Abbey illbuster
case. The Abbey, a small steamship that
had flown the British flag under the name
OF the Psaig, was given a certificate of
American ownership by Doctor Bedloe
It sailed for the Philippines. with munl-
tions of war for the Filipinos and was
seized by an American ship of war Doc
tor Bedloe's name figured so prominently
in the resultant investigation that his
resignation was asked for, and he re-
turned to this city, He always main
tained that he was not Intentionally to
blame FOR any part of the Abbey case,
and attributed his retirement to malaria.
He never returned to the consular service.
SUBJECT OF FARCE.
George Ade utilized incidents from the
picturesque career of Doctor Bedloe some
years ago and also the Phiadelphlan's
name In the famous farce, United States
Minister Bedloe" Doctor Bedloe was a
familiar figure In the club life of Phila-
dslphia In the last Is years, although he
spent much of his time travelling TO out
of-the-way corners OF the earth
Doctor Bedloe's funeral will be held |
Tuesday morning The body Is now at
the oliver II. Bair Undertaking estab- !
ishment. Burial win be az Mount Yer |
non Cemetery, Arrangements for serv- |
Ices have not yet been completed