The New York herald., 1878-11-29
ROBERT HELLER.
Last Hours Of the Won
derful Magician.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.
Interesting "reminiscences Of the Con-
jurers Career
PHILADELPHIA. Nov. os. 1878.

The death OF Robert Heller. the announcement Of
which was telegraphed you at two o'clock this morn
ing was very sudden and entirely unexpected 1t
occurred at about hafpast twelve this A. NJ, at the
Continental Hotel where the great magician had been
confined 70 his for only about thirtysix hours
suffering from what believed to he nothing more
serious than cold The sick man was with difficulty
restrained from performing usual last evening
and even his physician anticipated nothing dangerous
until short time before the snlden and shocking
end. Than his death this morning nothing could
have been more unexpected.
WINTER ENGAGEMENTS.
Mr.. Heller came to Philadelphia on Saturday last
from New York He had made arrangements 10 lease
Concert Hall for the winter and expected to perform
there continuously during the season. Early in Sep
temher the magician had visited Philadelphia. after
absence of many years, to play the first engage
nent OF the season at the reopennS of the Broad
Street Theatre, under the new management Of Messrs
Ford and Zimmerman. He remained four weeks, and
his charming and wonderful entertainments were so
well patronizcd and popular that the coniuror de-
Icrmined to return and establish himself permanently.
orfor the winter at least in Philadelphia. Accordingly,
after finishing an engagement in Washington two
weeks ago. Mr.. Heller and his sister returned to New
York for week preparatory to beginning their
entertainments in this city. Concert Hall had been
htted up as a little theatre, and the performances
were advertised TO begin last Monday Both Mr. Heller
and his accomplished sister caught slight cold in
Washington. but made light Of the matter supposng
that the weeks rest in New York would restore them.
when they came to Philadelphia last Saturday Miss
Heller much better, but her brother was cyl
IDENTIFY still struggling against his illness. de was q
man Of great nervous energy. and he fought against
the attack without summoning physician deter
mined not to dsappoint his audience. and thinking
nothing serious threatened him than a stubborn
cold.
TAKEN TIRE STAGE.
On Monday evenin. he gave his first performance.
He got through the first part OF the entertainment
with his usual spirit. and retired behind his curtain
with joke and smile There was long interval Of
waiting and when he reappeared he very pale and
faint looking. He spoogized to the audient and said
that sudden illness made il necessary to ask their
indueence His sister also, he said. was
sick but they would both endeavor to go through
the programme and please their patrons. They did
So but the pleasanries and smiles OF the conjuror
were forced and painful and the poor performer
hurried through his play his suffering was apparent
to the dullest spectator When he retired to the
Continental Hotel that night he was weared and
i'll, and be admitted to friend Il feel as
! il may have siege of it, The next morn
ing he better and his sister insisted on having
physician. DR.. i. II. Getchel was sent for He
says be found his patient suffering from slight con-
gestion of the lungs, and, while he did not think him
seriously sick. advised repose and nursing and for
bsde his playing that evening. Mr.. Heller at hrst
would not listen to this declaring that nothing would
induce him to disappoint his audience. 1t was
late Tuesday afternoon before the performer
consented to remain in his room that evening, and
when Mr.. Donnelly. his agent, drew up the announce
ment Of the postponement Of the exhibition he
would not consent to its extending beyond that even
ing. II shall be all right tomorrow, surely Doctor:
shan't L. The doctor doubtful, aud advised
further rest. Yesterday morning Mr.. Helers con-
dition about the same. and he thought OF per
forming Last evening, but induced TO give mp the
idea by the physicians remonstrances.
CHANGING woRsE.
1t not until after seven O'Clock last evening
that Mr. Heller,s condition changed for the worse.
He seized by fit of vomiting, which greatly
exhausted him At THIS new symptom ~ Dr. Ds Costa
the examination it agreed that Mr.. Heller was
very i'll. Dr.. Getchell decied to remain during the
night. TO be at hand in case Of another vomiting
attack. Miss Heller who had been devoted
in her afectionate attentions to her brother, also
remained with the sick with female attendant
insisting. The vomiting returned several times
weakening the patient more and more, and he lay
doing and fretful Up to midnight no anticipatons
Of his death appear TO been entertained. Dr.
Cetchell. Miss Heller and the nurse were 1t
the bedside At quarter past midnight
man. 1t lasted only few minutes, but
ne did not recover from it. He gasped and fell
back dead. The stroke was so sudden and terrible
that Miss Heller between whom and her brother there
great affection. was completely prostrated Mr..
Donneny. Mr. Hellcrs business man, was summoned,
and dispatches were sent 70 stephen Fiske and Dion
Boucicaut intimate friends Of the magician. M.
Boucicault was to have visited Philadelphia next
week to dine with Mr.. Heller in Paramount Park.
FUNERAL.
Mr. Heller had often expressed himself during life
as opposed to unnecessary show ana display. and.
Accordance with these wishes the funeral viii be uu-
ostentatious and private as possible The services
Will take place tomorrow afternoon, At halt-past
three o'clock in the cf AIR. Heller
and his sister at the Continental Hotel Rcy.
Dr. William Rudder, OF st. stephens Prot
estsnt Episcopal Church, viii ofiiciate The body
will be dressed in the evening suit which Mr. Heller
upon the stage and Will be enclosed in very
PLAN %anm, CONN., Win No s,tnr MN ~ ,S Ss
receiving vault OF Machpeah Cemetery temporarily.
they will probably be sent to Europe eventually.
Mrs. Heller aud her children residing ia Paris and
Ihe will be communicated with at regarding the
disposal of her husbands remains.
sYMPATHIzISG FRIENDS
Heller IL prCetrgted with the sudden
loss of her brother. She has already received about
nifty kilograms and messages OF sympathy. showing
the high regard felt for the great conjNrer by his
many personal and professional friends. Mrs. stephen
tiskc came from New York TO render aid and con-
dolence aud Miss Katherine Rogers brought
sage Of sympathy from Mr.. Boncicsuit. Mr.. Kick
pener, brother of Mrs. Heller. arrived from Wash
tngton this afternoon.
Mr. Hcllcr's sudden death was caused by acute
pneumonia. II appears that the physicians
we're not anlc 70 ulshose MS csse prolr.riy ~ once
for the first treatment was for congestion OF the
lungs snd rheumatic paralysis. When Dr. Da Costa
called in last night he told Mr.. Donney, Mr..
Heler's agent. that the patient would die Mr. Don
nelly from the rst appears 10 have dreaded this
suit and when he went home at ten O'Clock last night
he said to his wife:'I shall never see Mr.. Heller
alive again.
ROBERT (PALMEE) HELLER's CAREER.
Robert Heller, he was professionally and
familisrly known in this country, born Can
tcrbury England, about tho year 1880. His fathers
name was Palmer. After the death Of his mother
his father married time, wife by whom he
had daughter. who is now well known Haidee
Heller tine clever associate Of her late half brother in
his representation OF the wonderful second sight
mystery. Helers father intended the boy for a
musician. and the latter served regular apprcn-
ticcship such in the London Conservatory,
where be attained such proficiency, both
a. q pianist and composer, that he carried of the
Kings scholarship and medal. He received the
praise % Chopin and OF Sir Charles Benedict.
and the greatest hopes entertained con
rerning his future musical career. Young Robert.
however, during these studies had developed
mechanical talent, which showed itself in tho
construction of trick boxes. figures aud other ma
chinery employed in conuring apparatus, and at the
age of sixteen hear OF him n platform in
Chatham England. Tho performance, however al
though under the patronage OF tho General com
snsnding that military post. was failure. None
nf his tricks worked right. His confed-