Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-01-06

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her not to attempt to appear on the open
ing night. The ailment rapidly grew
worse, and pneumonia set in. This was
aggravated by heart trouble, due, it is
thought, to the liberal use of opiates given
for her relief. She sank rapidly and
passed away peacefully. Her remains
will be brought here and the funeral will
take place Friday from Central Music
hall. Miss Abbott. or more properly Mrs.
Wetherell. when dying, expressed wish
to be buried beside the body of her late
husband at Worcester, Mass 1t is a curl
Gus coincidence that Mr.. Wetherell died
in Denver exactly two years ago at almost
the same hour and from the same causes,
pneumonia and heart trouble, that led TO
his wife's death.
Her First Public Appearance.
The first known of Emma Abbott was
when her father. music teacher, moved
TO Peoria, Ills. Although but little more
than years old, Emma was ambitious to
become singer, and her father allowed
her to assist him in a concert given in a
country school house. This was her first
public appearance. During one of her va
cations she went to visit n friend in a
neighboring town. While there the idea
occurred to her that she could make some
money, which was greatly needed in the
family, by giving concert. She carried
out her idea and realized $40 from the en-
tertainmeLt, which she gave to her moth
or.
Little Wandering Minstrel.
Then for time she taught a country
school; but finding that she could not suf-
ficiently relieve the poverty Of her parents
In that way, she resumed singing, going
from town TO town, giving musical enter
tainments wherever she could find an au-
dience. She had many rough experiences
In those days, and endured much suffer
ing. Once, in going to her concert, she
froze her feet, and at another time she
was so destitute of means she cut off her
long hair and sold il to obtain food. But
she was brave little woman. and moth
ing chilled the warm currents of faith
and love that had their home in her sad
heart. She was often homesick, but that
made her all the more anxious 20 send
every penny not necessary for her bare
subsistence back home. Many times she
had failures, utter and disheartening fail
ures, but she kept struggling on.
A Turn In the Tide.
All alone, Miss Abbott once sang her
way TO New York TO hear Parepa. The
lowest ebb of fortune and courage found
her at Toledo, o.. in the winter OF 1870
Just then. in the midst of her perplexities,
Clara Louise Kellogg, then in the first
glow OF her power and fame. heard her
sing and decided at once to be her sponsor
and benefactress. Miss Abbott went to
New York and became the pupil OF Err.
rani. She also obtained position in
DIR. Cbapin's church and here she made
many friends and through them was ena-
bled To go to Europe and study music
under San Giovanni, Wartel and others
in Italy and France. She sang with sue
cess in Florence, London and elsewhere in
Europe, and was engaged for three years
by Mspleson.
Her Weii-Deserved Triumph.
Before singing in England Miss Abbott
visited Italy, and at Florence, according
to II Corriere Itslisno. created a veritable
Juror, being called thirteen times by an
enthusiastic multitude. On her arrival in
Italian opera, Covent Garden. Her emo
tons on that memorable night il would
be difficult to describe The enthusiasm
she aroused that night settled her fate
and sealed her success Through England
and Ireland she sang herself into the love
OF the people. On arriving In her native
country the brave little woman, who had
achieved such triumph abroad made her
first appearance in New York, the pro-
ceeds of which she gave to charity OF the
church whose beneficiary she had been.
Since that time she has been constantly
before the American public. Mrs. weth-
ercll was born in 1850 at Chicago
Sang Herself into a Fortune.
A telegram from Denver says that her
business manager, George NJ. LOOMS,
made the following statement yesterday:
"The fatal illness of Miss Abbott was con-
tracted at the new opera house in Ogden,
which opened Dec. 20 The house was in
complete and damp. At first she only had
slight cold but it later developed into an
aggravated case of pneumonia. Miss
Abbott had forty-three operas in her re-
pertoire. She has opened more opera
houses than any other actress. She leaves
an estate of 100000 The company will
go to New York, where they will disband."