The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-30
The Tragioal Death Of Authors

Robert Greene, worn out with de-
bauchery and completely shattered with
diseases which were the consequence of
his ill-guided indulgences, was carried
of, it is said, by surfeit of red her-
rings. There is 40 sadder book in liter
allure than his dying homily, ga Greats
Worth of Wit Bought with Million of
Repentance" That Otway died mislA
bly, is clear, though it is not easy to learh
the precise manner of his death John
son gives three accounts, either that he
was literally starved TO death, or that
rushing out in the rage Of hunger into
the streets he went into a cottte-house,
where gentleman giving him a guinea,
he bought a roll and choked himself
with the first mouthful, OF thirdly, that
he died of fever caught by violent
ursuit of thief who had robbed one
Of his friends. For this last story,
there is, we think, no foundation; it is
lamentably probable that the immortal
author of "Venice Preserved" and ''The
Orphan" persisted Of actual want. His
remains are Wondering away in ST..
Clement Danes churchyard, with no
stone to mark the spot. In the same
place, too, sleeps his friend Lee who
also ''died like dog Poor Zee his
"Rivsl Queens" is certainly ons of the
gems of the later drama, and his other
plays with all their bombast are full of
beauties. He had been, it is said, ga
rousing with party of friends, nonetSf
whom had the grace to see him home.
In the morning he was found dead in
the streets, which were covered with
snow A dray had passed over his body,
whether before or after his death was
uncertain. A great mystery hangs over
the fate of Peter Motteaux, who was
also connected with the stage, though he
is better known to us as a coadjutor of
Urquhart in that mastery version of
Rabelais' great work, which almost dis
putes the palm with the original. He
was found strangled in house in Wych
street, into which he had gone one after
noon. Four women and soldier were
put on trial for numbering him, but
after an inquiry which lasted between
five and six hours the jury acquitted
them. There was adequate motive, it
seems, for the murder, and though
marks on his, neck proved that death
must have been caused by strangulation,
it was possible that he had accidently
made away with himself that it was no
case of voluntary suicide was perfectly
clear except on supposition that Il
paroxysm of suicidal mania had suddenly
seized him. To the present day the. :
problem of his death ccmains unsolvse'
A similar fats, though without the nv
terry, befell Thomas May, the historian
of the Long Parliament, the translator
and continuer of Luean's 'Pharsalia,"
and one of the most versatile authors of
the seventeenth century. He was found
dead in his bed with all the signs of
having been strangled. An examination
Il the body, however, proved to the sat
tsfaction Of every one that he had
neither fallen victim to murder or sui
side He and been sutiocated by the
strings of ais nighteap hcing tied too
closely, for he was very fat, and had
gone to bod intoxicated. Becoming
cOmatcse, It is supposed he had neither
the power 70 loosen the strings or TO cry
for assistance, and 50 persisted. Andrew
Marvel has indeed trie.l to make OFT in
an amusiisy poem that his poor friend
had died, not from the indirect. but the
direct ''fosce OF good wine,' and conse-
quently is to bc Numbered among the
martyrs Of Bacchiis. Marvel himself,
BY the way, died very mysteriously, and
not without strong suspicion of having
been poisoned, though it would be diff
cult to assign any motive for the deed
he had little to leave any one, poor soul,
but his integrity. Wcquestion whether
any assassin dragged the dire bowl or
pointed the murderous knife" fer that
The Bad Russian Prince. n