The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-06-07
An ACTRESSES Life Romance.

others.
An ACTRESSES Life Romance.
The New York Sun of the 29th says:
Winetta Montague, the actress, died on
Sunday morning in the residence of DR.. 7
George Smith, at 140 Lawrence Street, /
Brooklyn. The romantic career of this
lady has had already too much newspa-
per comment. Her sister, Miss Bigelow, |
last night, said that the unfortunate
woman deserved few more gracious
words than had been spoken for her.
She was, she said, 26 years old, and a
native of Dorchester, Mass. Her father,
physician, was an Englishman, and
was formerly very wealthy. When her
sister Lydia, the dead woman, was 16
years of age, her singular beauty at
tracted the attention of Mr. Taylor, a
wealthy Boston gentleman, about 60
years of age. Her father was anxious
to secure their marriage, and according
to his wishes she was married to him
privately by Methodist clergyman. A
written contract was made to the effect
that the young girl was to finish her ed
ucation, and at p years of age she was
to become his lawful wife. Mr.. Taylor
was anxious to have her break the
agreement, but she would not.
In 1870, when Walter Montgomery,
the tragedian, was in this country, Win
eta Montague met him in Boston, but
the acquaintance was only brief. She
became fascinated with him, but she had
little opportunity to show her admira-
ton. After Montgomery sailed for Eu-
rope Winetta went with Miss Bigelow
and her brother to Europe to
finish her education. Her broth
er was then a freshman in
Harvard College. While they were
stopping at the Clarendon Hotel, in
Bond Street, London, they met Mont
gomery. He paid great attention to
them, and took them to all places of in
terest, and to the theaters. He was a
highly attractive man, and her sister
could not conceal her love for him. Miss
Bigelow demonstrated, but her sister
said that she told Mr.. Taylor before she
left home that if she saw any one she
loved better than him she was going to
consider herself free. Miss Bigelow and
her brother were summoned home be-
cause of business miSfortunes which had
Overtaken her father. Her sister re-
NAMED with her maid, as she had some
money in bank When they heard from
her they heard of her marriage to Mont
gomery, and of his suicide. MontgOm-
cry knew of her contract with Mr.. Tay-
lor, but he'induced her to break it, say
ing that they would throw themselves on
his mercy when they returned. He was
over so years of age, and had then
wife and a son II years old living, aud
two wives dead. He was the illegiti
mate son of an English nobleman, who
educated him literally.
Three weeks after their marriage, the
son of Montgomery called on his step
mother and exposed his father. Mont
gomery entered while his son was there.
After his departure, he said 10 his wife:
"Lydia, have ruined you; now, shall
disgrace you forever" and stepping in
to an adjoining room be shot himself in
the mouth. The young wife was made
so wretched that she took the blame of
his death on herself, hoping that she
would be killed for it. She secured for
him Christian burial, but her story
that she had murdered her husband was.
not believed. She began to earn liv-
ing in London by public readings. She
refused to come home at first, but at
length was persuaded to return because
of her mothers extreme illness. Her
parents were incensed toward her, and
her fathers treatment Of her was so
cruel that after remaining at home for
short time in 1871, she left, declaring
her intention never TO return, and She
never did. HI .i
She began her readings in Burlington,
Iowa, and went further West, to appear
as an actress. Mr.. Taylor, her legiti-
mate husband, died soon afterward.
Her family utterly renowned her, and
no letters have passed since her depar-
ture. They did not know until re-
Gently of her marriage to James
NJ. Ward, the IRISH comedian.
She has told her relatives of the extreme
cruelty of Ward toward her, and on her
death-bed she forbade them informing
him of her death. She traced her i'll
ness directly to his severe treatment. He
left her to come to New York all alone,
and exceedingly i'll, being so weak that
strangers had to carry her from one car
to another. She worked faithfully with
him to make theater, which they had
leased in Virginia City, pay, but his in
temperance, she said, rendered her work
useless. On her arrival in New York
her friends learned of her condition,
and they had herremoved from the New
York Hospital week ago to Brooklyn.
Her sister saida it- bnr sls,srss
"Please let it be known that she was
not responsible for the downfall of City
Treasurer Hamilton Of Jersey City. She
never met him but once, and that was
in the presence of her husband. Don't
let that be charged to her, .I.aiTaH
THE Swedish polar expedition sailed
on May to explore the regions between
Nova Zembla and Behring's Straits.
Mr.. Nordenskiold is at its head, and the
King of Sweden presented him with
$50, GOO toward the expense, which was
81 - Mr. Ozcar