The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-10-05
WILKIE COLLINS DELTHBEB.
Especial to n. y. Herald.l

iiohdou. sept. -o.-N like Collins
the eminent, world-famous novelist,
died at his residence, 50 Wimpole
street, Cavendish Square at half-pasi
10 O'Clock this morning.
1t was a strange death for man
whose brain had pictured and pen had
described the death Of all kinds of men,
in all kinds of places that could be
conceived. lie died alone, without
wife, child, or relative to soothe the
last agonies with that love and sympa-
thy which only comes from ties Of
blood. He had not a relative in the
world save one old aunt, who was far
away in Dorsetshire, whom he had not
seen for a long time. BY his side were
DIR. +. Car Beard. his lifelong friend
and physician, and an old house-keeper
who for thirty years had looked after
her masters comfort with the care and
devotion Of slave. His valet, George.
was not present, aud it was in the
company of a SINGLE friend and a SER
want that the man who had described
so many deaths breathed his last
breath.
The deceased was very much ema-
ciated, and the pallor of his thin face
was heightened by the long, dark
moustache and heavy beard. He was
a short man, of slender build, with a
large head and broad, prominent fore
head and large intelligent eyes. lie
had for three months been a prisoner
in the room in which he died. lie
was sixty-ive years ofage, and the ill
ness, which was primarily due to a
long standing affection of the heart,
was made serious by stroke of par
alysis two months ago. This stroke
Dr. Carr Beard brought him through
successfully and his patient was stead
lily progressing toward recovery when
he was seized with an attack of bron-
chitis. This greatly complicated the
symptoms and he was not strong
enough to throw ii OIL. For two
weeks past he has been steadily fail.
Ing, owing to lack of nutrition. lie
could not retain or digest the slightest
food. Since Friday his death has
been known to be only matter OF
time, and long before midnight last
evening 1t was feared he could moi
live to see another day. Ills death
took place amid perfect calm. liz
was leaning back, with his head buried
in the pillow Of his chair. From tim,
to time the doctor felt the flutterins
pulse, whose throbs were growing
weaker and more irregular Now ant
then the dying man opened his eyes il
a vague, dreamy sense of his condi
tion, but that was all. AT 1880 o'clocl
there was slight convulsive move
ment, his head sank back, and whel
the doctor took his wrist the heart ha,
ceased to beat.
Mr.. Collins was In comfortable cir
cumstances, but was scarcely ricl
man. His fortune is under $50, ,O0(
lie lived for long time in the Win
pole street house, though II is not hi
own property. II is filed with won
derful store of bric-a-brac and som
valuable old furniture. Most of tn
articles having In addition to their In
trinsic value, the added interest of Ii,
erary associations. Prominent anon
these are sketches, pictures and oil
prints, the latter covering the wall
Mr.. Collins executors are DIR. Car
Beard and Alexander Watt, his literar
agent. A very interesting figure in th
sad picture is that of the doctor. II
was the most intimate and truste
friend of Charles Dickens, as he was Q
Mr.. Collins, aud there were no truer 0
deeper mourncrs at the bedside G
either than this wise, sympathetic oil
man. The world never knows It's grea
men half as intimately as 1t would lik
to, and If ever the doctor writes hl
memories they will be of the deepei
interest to all readers of "David Cor
perfeld," or the "Woman In White.
Mr.. Collins has never married, and
is understood that the bulk of hi
property goes to the friend for whor
he had a close, warm friendship 70
years