New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-02-16
DEATH OF DR. DAMROSCH.
FATAL END OF A SHORT SICKNESS.
NO PLANS YET ARRANGED FOR FUTURE OPERA =
THE MUSICIANS HONoRED WORK.

NO PLANS YET ARRANGED FOR FUTURE 0PHRA%
THE MUSICIANS HoNoRED WORK
DR.. Leopold Damrosch died at 216 ,. "a.
yesterday at his home, No. 100 East Forty
sxth-st. His death was unexpected by ell except
the phi ysicians In attendance aud his family, and
their kno ledge Of the likelihood of such an out
come to his illness was only few hours old whoa
the end came. Few even Of the eminent musicians
intimate friends knew that the illness from which
he had been suffering for four days was serious,
and on Saturday afternoon the physicians In con.
sultaton declined to make prognosis. A sudden
change in his condition set in night before last.
Yesterday morning the physicians informed Mrs.
Damrosch aud the children that they had aban-
doned all hope OF recovery, but were nevertheless
not prepared for so speedy termination OF tho
struggle for life
The disease of which DR.. Damrosch died wss
pneumonia, complicated by pleurisy, The originat-
ing cause was cold contracted last Tuesday even
ing Returning from his days labors at the Metro
politam Opera House. he threw himself upon bed
IN O cold room for O nap before dinner. He
had neglected to open the furnace register or 70
cover himself and he awoke thoroughly chilled.
After dinner he went to rehearsal OF the Oratorio
Society at the hall Of the Young Mems Christian
Association. 1t was the concluding rehearsal for
the performance of the Manzoni Requiem, by Verdi.
this week. He found himself so ill before tho con-
cusion Of the rehearsal that he forced TO leave
he hall and hurry home in a carriage. Mrs. Nor
ris Reno, an old friend of the Doctors.
fearing the consequences OF the chiu
which had seized him. threw her fur
cloak on him in the carriage. Dr. Rosenberg. his
family physician, was summoned, and Responded
promptly On Wednesday morning DIR. Rosenberg
requested that Dr. Schnetter might be called In
consultation. This was done, and Drs. Rosenberg
and Schnetter thereafter jointly carried the case
TRANSFERRING HIS WORK TO HIS SON.
One of the subscription representations at toe
Metropolitan Opera House remain to be given on
Wednesday evening. but there was still before Dr.
Damrosch in the way Of operatic work five supple
meutary performances and the seasons at Boston,
Chicago. Cincinnati, and other places
This naturally caused the director
| great deal of concern. lie dererred
| TO the wishes of his physicians and sent
his son Walter in whose skill he had great conf
dence and pride, to conduct the performance OF
"Taunhauser" on Wednesday evening, hoping in
this manner to secure such good care as to enable
him without doubt to be in his chair at the Opera
| House on Friday evening, when Die Walkure"
was 10 be given. This hope, too, was doomed 10
| disappontment and he had to send his son q Sec
! ond time to conduct performance OF the opera
| which had put the capstone to the astou'
| sbinqlv successful season of German opera
which his learning skill, enterprise and perseVer-
ence had brought about. As III the hrst instance
| he went through the score of the work with MS
son and called his attention to some of the details
Of the responsible aud difficult task before hIui.
The Young mans knowledge of the score and hls
aptitude in graspng the few suggestions which it
was found necessary to make comforted and quieted
| Iti,o gatf md ha
| House went on in manner which caused mncn
complimentary comment among musical people, OF
| Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.
The disease, which is extremely prevalent this
season not only in New-YoTk but til GU ,hout the
country was found to have taken stubborn hold
| of the sick mans system, which scarcely IN q
condition lowing TO his hard work during the last
six months) to withstand long siege OF sickness.
| HIS nights had been easy however, and Oh Satur-
day afternoon the physicians agreed that they were
not vet in n condition to predict what the outcome
| would be. At a. III. yesterday change ior tno
worse sot in. and wheL the doctors met early iii Tho
day they realized that the was hopeless, and ~
informed the family. DIR. Damroseh himself, calm
aud composed was not disturbed ut the prospect VI
| death lie retained his CONSCIOUSNESS until aboat
| | o'clock aud within au hour before that timo
| called Walter to his side and suggested that an
opera score be brought i'll order that he might sn!-
gest a few things for the concluding representa-
tons in this city. He was assured that all
would 90 well. His last thought and words
were with his family and work. In dlsjointed
phrases he repeatedly asked that nothing should
suffer because of his sickness; that the prepara-
tons for the opera and tor the concerts OF tho So
cieties of which he was director, should go on.
! With his mind thus occupied he sunk into uncon-
seriousness and died at quarter past o'clock III tho
| ka6S Ia WEI
bischdren except hiseldest son Frank who lives IN
| Denver Col: Miss Marie Won Beimburg, Mrs. Dam
rosch's sister and DR.. Rosenberg. Dr. schnetter
| came an hour or more after death and was as
founded at the rapid course of the last stage OF tho
| disease