The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-17
TIE LATE EDWIN FORREST.
Details of the Death of the Great Ira
Observation-Disclosures OF his Career.
The Philadelphia Press gives the following

Observation-Disclosures OF his Career.
The Philadelphia Press gives the following
particulars Of the death Of Edwin Forrest:
The death OF the great tragedian, although
sudden, was hardly unexpected. His sick
ness In Boston last April was ola nature cal
| culated to shake bis constitution severely
further, he had well nigh lived out bis allot
ted span of thee score and ten years. He was
however, quite competent to attend to hI,
usual avocaLtons up to the very morning 9
his death. On Wednesday evening he ap
peared to be In his usual health, and had G
pleasant talk with Kate, bis old and faithful
h~ousekeeper, about some work to be done II
the picture gallery, and passed into the libra
ry, but not before giving her several letters
to put In the Iron post-box at tina corner
breakfast WAS ready at the usual houl
Is. 30) on Thursday morning, and the bel
was rung;. there was no reply. His heavy
tread descending the broad stairs was IN
heard, and the bell was rung q second time
without response. When the faithful Kate
entered the library, and proceeded toward
Mr.. Forests bedroom, adjoining 1t, she heard
q strong breathing, and on entering found
him stretched across his bed, apparently In
swoon, and a livid streak on his right temple,
| He could not answer her call, and when she
| called in his friend and neighbor, Mr.. James
| Rees, ("Colly Cibber,"D who summoned g
neighborlng physician, DR.. Corbet, the great
actor was dead. Word was Immediately sent
to James Cakes, OF Boston, an associate OF Mr..
| Forrest; to Daniel Dougherty, his and
to Colonel Forney, OF the Press, and last
evening the two latter, with Mr.. Rees, Mr..
Parkinson, Mr.. McMahan, Mr.. Elvins, and q
fer others, saw the great man laid out in bis
bed chamber, his face as quiet as If In sleep,
and his broad forehead recalling the magnid-
cent brow OIL Shakespeare. Indeed, all about the
dead man was Shakespearian. His dressing
case was literally covered with pocket volumes
oil the plays Of the immortal bard, and In the
library at the west end the broad pages OF
Halllwelrs magnificent edition were open at
"Hamlet," with notes In Mr.. Reefs handwrlt-
ing, showing that he and Mr.. Forrest were,
on Tuesday, comparing some of the criticisms
on FORESTS laSe reading of that play In the
New York Tribune and Herald. His intellect
was clear till struck by the fatal blow. After
his death q letter. ADDRESSED to "Henrv W.
Bashford, Esq, collector, Savings Bank
Building, Yonkers, Westchester County, New
York, =" was found on his table In the library,
postage paid, with some change, evidently
to compensate the person who might take 1t
to the post box or postof1ce. The Press Of
Wednesday lay at his bedside, and directly
over his right hung a striking picture of bis
mother, below which was q fine photograph Of
his friend, James Cakes, OF Boston. on his
bed lay his blue neckcloth, which he was
doubtless tying ,s he fell. No arrangements
nave yet been made for the funeral. He was
attached to no religious sect, though reared
in the Protestant faith. He had d great admi-
ration for the Catholic creed and practice,
mainly perhaps on account Of the differences
between the various Protestant denomlna-
q firm belief in a saving and torgiving Provi-
dence. He will be buried without ostenta-
ton. Though g. public character, he was q
private man In all that related to himself; and
when he is borne to his last past, 1t will be
without parade.
or Mr. Forests affairs nothing is positively
known. BE dies possessed OF considerable
real estate. His property at Broad and Master
is valuable; his farm near frankfort, which
he bought from Mr.. George n. Stu = ten
years ago, tor some SIS, 900; his lots at ,Ie old
Fort Hill farm on the Hudson; his Corlngton,
Ky., property, ought to foot up q considerable
total, outside of his personal properly. BE
was q fine business man, OF careful money
habits, and yet capable OF generous actions.
He kept his counsel always. Dying suddenly,
perhaps without preparations as to the dispo-
ssitlon of his property, aud dying also without
any known relations, much interest will at
tach to the tacts when bis affairs come to be
legally examined.
The World has an interview with an old &C.
quaintance of Forrest, from which we take
the following:
"How was he In his relations with other
actors ?"
s.Just as he was with everybody whom he
met. If they happened to please him, well
and good; If not, it was uncomfortable for
them If they came In contact with him. To
use q slang word, hs was extremely apt TO
bully all In the theatre, from the manager
down. But he once met his match. II was
when he was playing at 1.-The Broadway Theatre,
near Pearl street. his pieces were followed
by an exhibition of lions by their tanner, q
certain Herr Drlesbach. Forrest was one day
saving that he had never been afraid In all his
llfe-could net imagine the emotion. Dries.
bach made no remark at the time. but In the
evening, when the curtain had fallen, invited
Forrest home with him. Forrest assented, and
the two, entering a house, walke q long dis
dark-until finally Drlesbach, opening q
door, said, This way. Mr.. Forest Forrest
entered, a1d Immediately heard the door
slammed, aud he then looked behind him.
He had not time to express any surprise at
this, for at the same moment he felt "a
thing soft rubbing against his leg, and put
ting out his hand touched what felt like q cats
back. A rasping growl saluted the motion,
and he saw two dery, glarlng eyeballs looking
uU Oh uLu hkC " oAk 1AAf o4h SNS
Driesbach. invisible in the darkness. Not q
Bit Driesbach said something; the growl
deepened and became hoarser, the back be.
gan to arch and the eyes to shine more
Aercely. Forrest held cut two or three min
utes; but the symptoms became 80 terrifying
that he owned up In 80 many words that be
was afraid. NOW let me out, you Internal
scoundreI,' he said to the lion tanner, IAN I'll
break every bone In your BODY He was I'm
prudent there, for Driesbach kept him. not
daring to move q finger, With the lion rub.
bling against his leg all the time, until Forrest
promised not only immunity, but q champagne
supper into the bargain"
fHe leaves quite an amount of property, l
believe"
"Yes; full If not over one million dollars.
His library is, with the exception Of that In
the British Museum, the finest and richest Ok.
tant In Shakespeariana. You probably recol-
lect that he bought the greater part of Bur-
toms superb collection, aud should his books
to the hammer they will furnish a mag
niAcent feast for photographers"
"Hsve you any idea as to the disposition Of
his money :"
81 think that the greater part OF it is be-
uuesthed to establish q school for actors; such
at least was his Intention, though whether his
will carries 1t out, OF course 1 cannot tell. as
he has no family and no near relatives the re-
malnder is to be devoted to building an asylum
for actors"
JOrTINGS ABOUT THE STATE.
One hundred and fifty men Of the 18th