The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-08-11
Death of an Ac1ress-A Sad story.

A late number of the Louisville Jour
nal relates the following story:
Yesterday morning about four o'clock.
when those. who had passed the night
in revelry on the steamboat Valley,
which had been chartered by club of
sporting men for a moonlight excursion,
were coming ashore after returning TO
the city, an event transpired which
caused all who participated to regret
and mourn. A barge was lowed by the
boat, and on it the eXcursiOnistS danced
there was not room enough in the boat
for this purpose, hence the barge. AS
the party were leaving the boat, Flora
Reed, who was one of the gayest among
the crowd, missed her footing as she
stepped from thesteamboat to the barge.
fell into the river, and was drowned.
Her body was found yesterday. The
coroner held an inquest upon it, and the
verdict of the jury was that she came
to her death by accidental drowning.
Her father, who resides at Hamilton,
Ohio, has been telegraphed TO, and the
body will be kept in vault until he is
heard from.
The maiden name of the unfortunate
victim of this night of dissipation was
Florence Matilda NcNiven. She was
born in Ireland, and was at the time of
her death about twenty four years of
age. Early in her life, which has been an
eventful one, she contracted great pas
sion for the stage. She was qualified
by education to fill ordinary parts only.
Her parents, when they first came to
this country, settled at Hamilton. Ohio,
onH W nj nrptnA that ln, Cat l. 80
at present well-tO-do resident of that
city.
When she was about fifteen years of
age her parents moved to Cincinnati,
where seven years ago she made her
debut on the stage of the Old National
Theatre as a ballet girl. This calling
she afterwards, against the wishes of
her parents and friends, adopted; and,
though she has never risen above medi-
ocrity in speaking parts, she eXcelled as
a dansuese, had fascinating face, was
symmetrically formed and graceful in
her movements. She has two brothers
who are sailors. Her mother is dead,
but her father is married again.
After her d'bW at Cincinnati she
started on tour over the country, and
has played since then in New York, New
Orleans, Nashville and many other
places during the war. She was mar
ried at MurtreesbOro, Tennessee, 10 a
man by the name of Read, who was a
Federal qnartermaster AZ that place, and
is at present in St. Louis, Missouri.
The marriage ceremony was performed
privately, and until now has never been
publicly announced. They lived to-
gether for a short time only.
She was recently engaged in this city
at the Academy of Music, and was a
good card" for that place of resort. a
few weeks ago the attraction at the
Academy was burleSque upon the SEN
satioDal spectacular drama entitled the
"White Fawn," in which she was very
attractive. She appeared as Mills
Flora" and was noted IN this piece for
the beauty of her wardrobe, and was
very successful in her part, eliciting
great applause and receiving many bO- |
quets. With all her faults she had some |
redeeming traits of character. She had |
word of comfort for all her compaa-
IONS when they were sick and in dis. !
tress' and was of a very cheerful dispo-
sltlon. She was Catholic, and would |
never discuss religious matters with any
one, saving she was too corrupt to pol |
lutte such a holy subject with her lips.