The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-09-07
The Unfortunate Love of Amelia Garcia.

Few of our theatre going people but will re-
member the beautiful Amelia Garcia, who for
three or four successive seasons won unboun-
ded applause on the stage of our principal
theatres. Young, lovely, and accomplished,
the wonderful charm of her voice was augmen-
ted by great personal attractions. Gay, fascl-
mating, and brilliant, she won admirers by the
score and at one time-in the height OF her
theatrical fame-was the most sought alter and
the acknowledged beauty OF her profession:
That such woman should have suddenly died
without her death being made known is SUR
prising. Nor will the public surprise be lessen
a suicide. Her death occurred about two weeks
since on Jackson street, near the corner of An
nunciation, where she had resided for over
wear past 1t will be remembered that about
two Years since she quit the stage and retired
to private life. She had become passionately
enamored of gentleman in this city, and 1or
his sake abandoned whatever of fame and pros
pect of advancement she had in her profession.
She occasionally appeared on the street, always
radiant always beautiful, and whenever she
came into the theatres or public places OF
amusement she was the cynosure OF all eyes
She enioyed this public manifestation OF ad-
miration, and sustained it regally. Had she
never been a famous SINGER, Garcia would still
have been admired for her splendid beauty.
But it began to be whispered about that her
life was not happy. Society had its observances
that could not be neglected, and the poor singer,
with all her beauty, could not retain an allegl-
ance which society demanded to be broken
The conviction came upon her slowly, but 1t
came at last. To one of her passionate nature
there was nothing left for her but to die, 1s 1t
would be wrong, if it were possible, to LIT the
veil from those last hours of her life. Con-
vinced that the happiness she had barterded so
much to secure was slipping from her grasp
and the cherries future spreading dark before
her. she resorted to that Leathean cup, the
poison of the suicide, in which to drown the
sense of her misery and the joyless life OF de-
serted and abandoned woman. 1t is said that
the morning (some two weeks slnce) the tlnal
separation took place when her friend said
goodbye for the last time-Garcia ordered her
servant to go to the drug store and fetch her
some laudanum The servant, suspecting her
design, refused to 90. The command, repeated
still more imperatively, was disresarded, and
the servant, with tears and entreatics, besought
her to refrain from her wicked intentions. 1t
had no affect, however, and she went herself
for the poison. On what preteXt she obtained
it is not known; but she did get it and, having
taken it, died from its effects. The residents
in the neighborhood say that about the time the
poison must have commenced its fatal work,
She went and seated herself at the piano, and
for more than an hour played and sang Her
rch thrilling voice, rising to its full compass,
revelled in the sweetest music they had ever
heard. Strains of passionate sorrow mingled
with the sorrowful cadence of a funeral dirge,
as the dying cantatrice sung her life away;
Amelia Garcia was about % years of age, and
native of the West Indies. Her father was
Spanish Creole, and her mother Jewcss, a
native of Germany Her parents came to New
York when she was quite young, and she COM
menced her professional career in that city.
She sang one season at the Academy of Music
in this city, and one or two engagements at
other theatres. She left the stage, however, in
1869, and has not since appeared, profession
ally, in public. Such, in brief, was the career
Of one of the sweetest singers and most beau
tiful women of the age. Whether her life was
good or evil it behooves not now to say, ltshe
was reckless, frivolous, and gay, she had, at
least passionate and loving nature, and died
suicide-New Orleans Picdyune, august Is.