the- Blind son of Peter Bacigalupi - 16 February, 1907

[Valecnik]

Someone posted this on Facebook. Thought I'd share it here too. Seem Mr. Baciaglupi may not have been such a nice guy....

BACIGALUPI'S BLIND SON DIES IN POVERTY

Wealthy San Franciscan Refused to Extend Aid to Afflicted Boy

Lucien Peter Bacigalupi, the- blind son of Peter Bacigalupi,. the wealthylocal agent for the Edison p.honograph and other amusement devices, died recently in- a Chicag-o rooming-house in destitute circumstances.

At, the end he was attended only by a blind Bchoolmate, Rasendo Uruchurtu. Over a year ago young. Bacigalupi sued his father for support/ . The complaint of the son was a pitiful/document,' narrating the helplessness of his condition^ It stated that the youth was at that time dependent upon the bounty, of his Krandmother, ' whose resources were but meager y Inhis answer to the. complaint the wealthy, impresario of talking machines declared that he was . unable ' to contribute to the ; son's -support' owing to the demands -made on -.- his purse by his fariiily,; which included several daughters who were in £ society. The suit created > much f eelln g ' at the time, and when ;it. was 'on Judge. Hebbard's calendar the father; was bitterly., arraigned by ,the court for his. neglect of the afflicted son. .But the parent finally won his' case.:' -Without 'means of support, : the blind .youth | endeavored to earn his living by singing on the concert 1 ; stage, 1" but; did not J succeed. Last summer he went East.

https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d ... 16.2.28.24

[Curt A]

Judging from the news of the day on the same page, the "good old days" were anything but...

[phonogfp]

I don't know the backstory to this relationship, but Lucien Bacigalupi may not have been the choir boy we'd like to believe.

In this account,

https://books.google.com/books?id=ETr_O ... pi&f=false

It's stated that, "Lucien Bacigalupi spent the rest of his short life trying to earn a living as a concert singer and force his upwardly mobile father to support him."

Another period account,

https://books.google.com/books?id=U8AqE ... pi&f=false

Describes Lucien and a friend touring the country on concert, then, "Their plans are to visit London after the United States has been covered."

Again, I'm unaware of what sort Lucien was (or his father for that matter), but a freeloading ne'er-do-well should not be ruled out (nor assumed) until more information comes to light.

Who has more/better information on this? Rene?

George P.

[rhammond]

This is kind of an interesting post but there is a lot that is not being told in these fragments. Also times were very different! Maybe the father had tried everything in the past and his son had unresolved issues. Drinking, drugs, sexual identity/behavioral issues, incorrigible behaviors???? Any of these could have been reasons why the son was "cut off!" It is no different today. Any and all of these things plus others could explain the situation.

[SousaBand]

Another fascinating data point in a project that Mike Khanchalian and I have been working on at the Southwest Museum (now incorporated with the Autry Museum of the American West). While I cannot speak to Lucien's story, here is some information regarding Rosendo Uruchurtu (correct spelling). I think it will help flesh out this great piece of history.

Rosendo was a well known performer and a key recording artist for Charles Lummis (creator of the Southwest Museum). Lummis recorded Mexican, Californio and Native American songs from 1897 until 1919. He also cajoled a number of local and international luminaries to record for him as well.

He was a blind singer, guitarist and inventor of the one-string rosendolin (played with a glass slide, it was sort of the precursor to the slide guitar). Rosendo was an extremely talented sing and guitar player and accompanied Manuela Garica on numerous recordings. He came from a well to do family and his grandfather advertised is services as a music teacher in the 1850’s, certainly one of the first to do so. Rosendo attended the California Insititution for the Blind in Oakland. Students there were encouraged to study music if they showed any aptitude for it, however there is no evidence that he did.

By the time Lummis discovered Rosendo he was performing everywhere from street corners to vaudeville theaters as far away as Chicago. Lummis was so taken with his talent that he promoted him at many events including a benefit at Blanchard Hall in Los Angeles in 1904.

Can't wait to see what other information bubbles up!

[phonogfp]

Interesting! Thanks Dan!

Rosendo and Lucien were described in one of the period articles as "schoolmates," so it's possible that the latter was also enrolled in the California Insititution for the Blind in Oakland.

It's also noteworthy that Lummis had discovered Rosendo as early as 1904, but his partnership with Lucien seemed to occur after that. The Montgomery-Ward publication is dated October 1906 (wherein the duo was planning a trip to London), but Lucien died 4 months later in Chicago.

The article damning Peter Bacigalupi (Lucien's father) appeared in the San Francisco Call. It's possible that the writer - local to Peter B. - had a personal axe to grind. Then as now, the press might overlook warts if they liked a person, but excoriate anyone they disliked.

George P.