Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-06-07
Fund for ConIy,s Family.

Over $1,000 in cash has been sub.
scribed to a fund in New York for the
benefit Of the family of the late Geo.
Comfy, the fine basso, whose resonant
voice and fine acting, when he was
here with the Abbott troupe, a few
months since, caused him to be con-
spicuously known. Comfy, it will be
remembered, met a tragic death, a few
days ago in Vermont, while fishing
Knowing the condition Of his family,
Emma Abbott at once set about to
raise q sum of money for their relief,
and she was accompanied by Clara
Louise Kellogg. The New York Her
aid of Wednesday last has the follow
ing concerning the matter:
Miss Kellogg told the story herself
yesterday afternoon far more interest
ingly than the reporter can hope to
repeat it. CoHly, she said, was a print
er in Philadelphia, when she found
him, singing in a church, and at ouce
secured his services in her own sup
port on the stage. He played his first
as well as his last engagement with
her, and from the time he began he
was never without an engagement for
a single season. She spoke in the
highest terms of him, praising him for
his uprightness, courage, devotion to
his family and to his professional du-
ties, and saying that he was especially
fond Of reading good, sound literature.
The night before his death she had a
long talk with him, in which he spoke
a~fectionately Of his two little sons,
saying hat be could not hope TO do
more for them than to give them an
education. They will have to earn
their own living" be said, but | am
going TO send them through college"
He had been reading some book, from
which he had learned the pecnniary
expense Of a college education.
The next day, as is known, he &C
companied a party to the lake where
he met his death, together with Reit-
eel, the lad who was drowned with
him. They two, alone, ventured out
rowing, though the water was rough
and the lake is known as a specially
dangerous body of water. No one.
however, attempted to dissusde them
from going, though one of the party.
after stepping into the boat. stepped
out again, refusing to go. The boat
they hired was a round bottomed
skif without ballast, though she
usually carried ballast, and the boat
man has been criticised severely for
letting her 60 out withoutany. Comfy
was an athlete and a specially good
: oarsman and swimmer, having saved !
number Of lives by his skill in swim.
ming, and being accustomed TO Swim
Tor half a dozen miles on a stretch.
e de was over-conident, and instead q
0 rowing in the direction pointed ont a,
the best, he went straight out towarf
g the mludle Of the lake. 1t is supposed
: that he lost his life in trying to saw,
: his companion.
e His wife and two children we're lef
penniless, she being an invalid. From
S the fact that he had neglected to senr
r her any money out Of the last install
ment of his salary which he received
1t Is thought that he had the none,
!. on his person when he was drowned
He had always been regular sbon
If sending money before, and his unfor
tunate delay this time is not under
d Stood. The necessities of the oass
l. therefore, we're extreme, and the tw,
T. ladies who have taken the mattar y,
d are working in no idle cause. AZ ws
1t said, they have already succeeded !,
n raising a considerable sum, despit
the faqt that yesterday was q dSy o,