New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-06
LESTER WALLACK DYING
STRICKEN WITH APOPLEXY AT HIS HOME
IN STAMFORD


Lester Walack. who was TOR 50 MANY ware a..
chief Of American managers and the most finished
Of comedians is dying Yesterday morning sbo,,
O'Clock while he was sitting in the library a,
his summer home at Stamford. Conn. he was end
denly taken with stroke OF apoplcxy and fsn
from his chair to the floor unconscious In ,b,.
condition he was found shortly aftcrward by On.
Of the servants. The alarm was given immodl.
atcly, and several OF Stamfords best physician,
were summoned. Telegram was also sent "a
Theodore Moss in this city. 20 bring nd Arfhp,
Wallack and a specialist in diseases Of the brain
Mr. Moss responded at once. and took the II
o'clock train for Stamford. accompanied by A.
thur WallaclS James Scallion and DR.. Roor, Z
Weir. When they arrived Mr.. Wallack was .iiu
unconscious and his breathing was labored Will,
his pulse was so weak as 10 be almost inner
ccptiblc at times. After consultation anon,
the physicians. it, was decided that Nr. Walael
was in a dangerously critical condition. his onl-
chance for recovery resting with his remarkably
strong constitution and abundance Of vital energy
However, all hope was not surrendered although
his advanced years will prove strong drawback
TO his recovery.
The physicians remained in ATTENDANCE D 'lr
constantly applying the usual remedies AMI towad
nightfall slight improvement was noticed The
purple color in the face was considerably dimir.
ished and the pulse was stronger. Still the D..
tent was in a condition 50 critical that cbanrs
for the worse might occur at any moment. Tks
continued for an hour or two when more marked
improvement was seen and hope BEGAN 70 revive
in the hearts Of the famous old aciocs family and
friends The information Of NJ WalacIs sud
den illness did not become generally known in this
city until NJ Scalon returned lest NIGHT Tim
il did not take long for the news 10 spread Around
the theatre where 50 many memories Of him lnaer
there were manifestations of deep SORROW and e.
erct, and general gloom seemed TO hang over tho
place. except in the auditorium, wllc-c the news
was not known.
At the other theatres. among the members n
the profession. there was not one who did nov
express the most heartfelt sympathy and concern
for the sufferer. Many Of the managers hasisned
10 Wallacks Theatre for the latest information,
and waited eagerly for each nov tolegraphc
bulletin OF Mr.. WallacIts condition, winch W.
Scallion received every half-honr or 80. The
latest Of these bulletins last night said that NJ
Wallack had sunk into a deep sleep which holds
the balance of life or death Should he awake from
this sleep. his chances for recovery were hopeful
Or. Weir believed, judging from the condition Of
the patient at that hour, that he would live unIl
morning, and probably longer
The news Of Mr. WallacIl's illness will be 70
cciycd with regret, not only by the profession but
by the public generally; for there is
probably no man more widely oF favor
ably known as either actor or manager
Mr. Wallac, has generally been considered ~
Englishman; nevertheless he is native Nm -
can, having been born in tins city in l~-o dug
ing one of his fathers visits TO this country
However, he left America when he WIS only
passed in England In 1917 hc recrosscd tie
Atlantic and began his career IN The United States.
II was in the old Broadway Theatre. on the open
ing night Of its first season. that Lester Nallack
made his first appearance IN America - >if
Charles Coldstream in Used Up His polished
ard easy and inceSSant br'liancy Of style IN tndl
and succeeding parts soon made HIM prc-cmnent.
At the time Of his first appearance hero he Na'
iwonty-cight years Old. Old MaiacN's Ihcairr
was opened IN SCI with Tom Taylor play ot
" The New PRESIDENT" ia which Lester Nailact
acted the part Of De Ia Range. On Christmas
Day 1864, the elder Nailack died and Lester
the theatre. The now Wallcks
Theatre, which now stands at Broadway and Ihr-
ticth-st., was opened January =. 1852
Upon his retirement from the mana cement -
Wallacll'S Theatre last winter, AuguStin Daily
and A. W. Palmer started movement for a tos-
timonial performance to Mr. Wallacil. which was
given to him at the Metropolitan Opera HouSe
on May II, and netted for Mr.. Wal@ok the good
lv sun of 500 600. When the summer set in Mr..
Wallacll and his family went to their country
home at Stamford, where they have since 70
manned. ! complete sketch of Mr.. Wallack's life
written by William Winter, and occupying a snac"
o! over Two columns, was printed IN Inc IT'D
this article was furnished by Mr. Wallacl himself
and Will be used again in his "reminiscences.
which are to appear in the October number OF
" Scribners'