Evening star., 1920-06-13

ingtonian who knew his old Wash-
ipgton better than any one can Know
the great and busy Washington that
has grown up in the last quarter Oh
a century-Capt. Harry Bowers was
the son of Mrs. David p. Bowers, an
actress who for two generations was
familiar and popular throughout the
United States. She came to be. In the
sunset days OF her life. the proprie-
tress of the St. Marc Hotel. The
maiden name of this lady was Eliza
beth Crocker. daughter of an Epls-
copal minister. and she was born al
Stamford. Conn. in 1880. Sne mace
her first appearance on the stage IN
the old Park Theater. New YORK. IN
1916, and in 1917 she became the wife
of David p. Bowers. an actor. soon
after the marriage the couple went
to Philadelphia and remained there
until 1857. playing during those years
at the Walnut Street and Arch Street
theaters. David Bowers died IN lsaI
and his widow married DR.. Brown
of Baltimore. She went to England
in 1861 and in London was acclaimed
as a great Julia in The Hunchback.
and made a pronounced MT as Geral-
dine Darcy i'll a play called ihe
Woman" She returned to New YORK
/ in 1863 and played in numbHr of the
New York theaters. though her bi-
/ ographer mentions only one-the
Winter Garden. He says that her ia
vorite parts were Juliet. Lady Mac
! beth, Marie Anto;nette and Lady Aud
| lev. DR.. Brown died in 1867 and after
! a due lapse of time Mrs. Bowers be-
| came the wife of J. c. McCollom
| About this time she began long tours
| of the United States. ana Washlns
! ton theatergoers came to know her
we'll. She retired from the stage for
i several years, but returned to it in
1885 under the management of A. NJ.
| Palmer Many Washington people re-
member her in Lady Windermeres $
! Fan" and in the early COS she piayed
| conspicuous roles in the companies OF
/ Rose Coghlan and Olga Nethersole.
/ Mrs bowers died in Philadelphia in
| 1895.
This woman, who comes into the
J Ramblers stories because her son
| was Potomac steamboat captain.
tinguished actress. Her name was
j Sarah Crocker and she was born at
! Ridg Conn. in 1884. She be-
/ came the wife of Frederick b. Com
! way, an actor. Sarah made ner oeDut
! at little playhouse in Brooklyn
when she was fifteen years old. ana
| in the year of her coming out. which
was 1S49, she was engaged by John
z. owens. In 1850 she was member
of the stock company of Purdy 8 Ma
New York, and it was in that COM
pany that she became acquainted with
Fred. Conway. to whom she was mar
| ried in 1851. They were then playing
at the Brooklyn Theater. that theater
| of tragic memories which was burned
about 1877-the Rambler cannot now
I.stop to look up the exact date-while lie
| Kate Claxton was playing the Two
Orphans"
Sarah, in 1852. was member of j.
W. Wallacks company, and she sue
ceeded the beautiful and talented
Laura Keene as leading lady in that
troup of famous players. which in
i cluded Jim Wallack, jr.: Lester
Wallack, John jWyott. Frank Chip
pendale. William r. Blake and Mrs.
Hill. In that company the character
which brought her most flowers and
applause was Beatrice in Much Adoo
About Nothing" Sarah and her hus-
] band went to Philadelphia and leased
the Arch Street theater and conducted
| a stock company. Among the players
were Elizabeth (Mrs.) Bowers, John
Drew, the elder: George Boniface. Mrs.
Charles Richards and others. to recall
| whose names the Rambler would have
to refresh his memory by turning to
HIS collection of old programs. or to
that Of Jack Armstrong. in the Dis
trict surveyors office. or to that OF
Fred Berger, whom so many Wash
ingtonians came to know first as one
of the swiss Bell Ringers (the
Berger Family, years later as man.
ager Of the Columbia Theater Stock