Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-14
MATILDA HERON.
Il. WHITETORE.
Publisher and Proprietor

can Actress
New York Herald, March s.
Matilda Agnes Heron, the well
known American actress, died at
seven o'clock on the evening of the
9TH inst. at her residence, No. 1872
East Twenty-ffth street. Her
death was calm and peaceful one,
and she passed from this world
soon after blessing her only child,
Bijou, who knelt sobbing at her
bedside. With the little daughter
Of Miss Heron there were present
at the moment Miss Rose May, Mr..
j. Fl. Alliger and Mr.. Robert Hys-
lop. Mime Heron had been i'll for
five months,h her complaint being in
ward hemorrhage. The friends of
the deceased lady state that she
was conscious until an hour before
her death, and frequently ex-
claimed, "Oh, I'm SO happy !"
Her last words were of herself
''Poor Tillie, you have never done
wrong to any one"
Matilda Agnes Heron was born
in Libby Vale, Londonderry, Ire
lands in the year 1880, and came to
the United States while yet child.
In her girlhood she manifested de-
cided talent for the dramatic stage,
and after studying for some time
under the direction of Mr.. Peter
Richings, made her debut Febru-
airy II, 1851, at the Walnut Street
Theater, Philadelphia. Ambitious
at the very outset of her career,
Miss Heron selected the character
of "Bianca," in Milman's play of
Fazio. Her success was a moder-
ate one, and she continued to per-
form on the Philadelphia stage dur
ing the ensuing two yearn.
In 1858 she proceeded to Califor-
MIA in company with her agent,
Mr.. George W. Lewis, who died
on the passage, which in those
times was a long and tedious one.
Arriving at the city of San Fran
cisco, entirely alone and unknown,
Miss Heron soon found friends,
and was able to make her appear
ance in her favorite character of
Bianca," at the old American
Theater, on Sansome street, Mr..
Lewis Baker playing " "Fazio." She
achieved a great success, and at
once became an immense favorito.
This was probably the happiest mo-
ment of her life. (opng, ambi-
bilious of fame, and her talents
warmly appreciated, Miss Heron
enjoyed her triumph to the utmost.
Among her many admirers Henry
A. Byrne, a rising young lawyer,
was the most prominent, and they
were subsequently, clandestiAely
married.
In February, 1854, Miss Heron
made her appearance at the Metro
politan Theater, San Francisco,
under the mananement of Miss
Catherine N. Sinclair (then wife of
the late Edwin Forrest), The
character assumed that night was
" Juliet" and her acting was de-
scribed by the local critics as
graceful, intense and true TO life"
During this engagement she played
"Lady Macbeth" "Parthenia,"
" Bianca," and other tragic charac-
ters, all Of the impersonations be-
ing warmly praised and received.
But the character of "Camille "
was the one that established her
fame on the Pacific coast, as it did
subsequently in the East and South.
On concluding this memorable en-
gagement Miss Heron visited Sac
ramento, Stockton and MarySyille
and then rested for a few weeks.
In May, 1854, it was decided that
Miss Heron should return to New
York, fill an engagement and return
to San Francisco, never to return
to the stage. Pending the depart
ure Of the steamer she accepted an
engagement for a few nights at the
Metropolitan, and played to crowd
ed houses. On the llth of June
Miss Heron was privately married
to Mr. Byrne by Rev. John Ma
guinness, pastor Of ST, Patriek's