Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-01-08
DEATH.
Professor Fred DE VOLTS sudden
Call.

Last evening about 6 o'clock, Fred DE-
Wolf, one of the best and most accom-
plished musicians on the Pacific Coast
died under singular circumstances in the
SherifTs Office. For several months Pro.
lessor Wolf, as he was commonly known
in Eureka, had been drinking to excess,
and so far had failed as to neglect his Ia
bors on two or three occasions in the
music hall of Joe Mendes, where he has
been employed for a couple of years or
more.
Yesterday, about IL A. M. a friend &C.
companied him to the Sheriff's Office and
requested the jailor to keep an eye on
him, that he should s~traighten up and
overcome his appetite for liquor. Mr.. De
Wolf talked and chatted with all who hap
pened to come into the j%ailor's room,
which connects by a door. He took sup
per, and shortly after was visited by Frank
Reigelhutb, Leader Of the Eureka String
Band, who handed Mr.. De Wolf a cigar
before retiring. The deceased lit the cigar,
but remarked that he did not care TO
smoke. With a strange gesture he offered
the same to some bystander. 1t was re-
fused. De Wolf then took up a candle
and was about to fire the cigar again, when
he suddenly threw the light away, clapped
both hands to his mouth and choked vio-
lently, but not enough so to throw out the
cigar, which continued to slip down his
throat. OF course the bystaaders exerted
themselves to the utmost to save his life,
and DR.. Thoma was almost Immediately
upon the spot, but inside Of ten minutes
from the time OF the accident the man was
dead. Weakened by excessive drinking, a
fit, or the accident itself-either or all
combined to bring about his death so sud-
denly.
Coroner J. M. Smith was summoned,
and he had the remains conveyed to Has
kelfs undertaking rooms.
Professor De Wolf has been in Eureka
about three years and he came here from
San Francisco, where his mother and step
father now reside. His parents are said to
be quite well off, financially, and Fred was
an only child. He was born and excel
lently well educated in music in Germany.
He was a natural musician and could play
almost any instrument, the flute and
cornet, but his beloved instrument was
the violin. He would hold crowds Of de-
lighted listeners about him while playing
some favorite operate air. When about
IA years Of age his mother moved to New
York City, and at the breaking out of the |
war Fred rushed off with an artillery COM
mand as bugler, and from that day on has |
led a wandering life all over the United
States with circuses and travelling troupes.
He was with the Haverlys and played in a
New Orleans opera house for several years.
From the day he left New York at the
breaking out of the war, until four or five
Yeas ago, his mother supposed her only
son was dead, but when he landed at the
wharf in San Francisco he saw a friend
who took him up and introduced him.
Their meeting can be imagined but not de-
scribed. 1t was a happy one. But Fred
could not stay long in one place and struck
eastward again, and was signing only the
the other day that he had fingered so long |
in Eureka; he said he ought, six months
ago, to Nave been in New Orleans.
Fred De Wolf was about 8. wears of age. |
Professor plumhoff last evening tele-
graphed the deeeased's parents in San
Francisco as to what disposition should be
made with his remains. 1t is probable
they will be sent below.