St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-20
One Of Americas Foremost
Actors Answers Deaths
Call Bell.
The Last Impenetrable Cur
nRung Down on a Brill
liant Career.
He Slept From the Field Of
Life to the Shores Of
Eternity.
Universal Regret Expressed
For a Canal Man and a
Great Artist.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov 19.-William J.
Florence, the actor, died at the CONT
mental hotel in this city at $50 O'Clock
this evening. Death came as startling
surprise to those in attendance upon the
sick man, for tine reason that his condi-
ton had been considered as improving
during the afternoon and early evening.
. My Mr.. FlOrence'S sster-in-law, Mrs.
Barney Williams, of Brooklyn; his sis
ter, Mrs. Norman Wizard. of Washing
ion. and DR.. Patrick Donnellan were
with him when he passed away.
He mad been apparently getting bet
ter, and the physicians had no idea that
the end was so near. DIR. Pancoast, who
had charge of the case, had left the
hotel about O'clock secure in the idea
that his patient was doing as we'll as
could be expected. His brother. Police
Inspector Conlin, left for New York at
8 o'clock with the same impression. Mr..
Florence was very weak during the day
from exhaustion and in the afternoon
was somewhat fiighty. Towards even
ing he slept most OF the time, however,
and his death came so peacefully that it
may be said that
He Slept Away.
He made no utterance whatever. and
the first intimation the watchers had of
his death was that he ceased to breathe.
Nrs. Williams and Mrs. Wizard were
gerry much Frustrated by the death of
their brother. AS all of Mr. Florence's
male relatives had gone to their homes
in New York and Brooklyn, Proprietor
Kingsley, Of the hotel, took temporary
charge of the affairs.
kilograms were sent in all directions
notifying relatives and friends that the
end had come. AID undertaken was
summoned, and by midnight the work
Of embalming the body had begun Mrs.
Florence will leave England for New
York on Saturday. Until she can be
heard from 10 definite funeral arrange
mentS will be made. The general be-
lief is that the dead actor will be in
TERED in Brooklyn, as most of his rel
Rtiyes live there. Interment will
probably not take place until Mrs.
Florence's arrival Friday or Saturday of
next week.
blr. FIorence's fatal illness began last
Saturday night. He had been COM
planning during the week, but had per-
formed regularly. On Saturday evening
after having played his part of Ezekiel
Homespun in The Heir at Law" with
the Observation-Disclosures combination at
the Arch Street theater he gave a sup
per at the Continental hotel in honor of
Mr.. and Mrs. Kendall. Soon after
the close of the festivities he
was taken i'll and Dr. Pan
coast who was called in, announced that
he was suffering from severe attack
of pneumonia, both lungs being affect
ed I1p Ia Costa thn ,Nhvc1
clan, assisted DR.. PancOaSt, and, in adj
ditiOn. Dir. Patrick DOnnellan, an old
friend Of Mr.. Florence. was called in.
The latter was with the sick man almost
constantly.
Physicians d eeeIved.
The bulletin issued by the physicians
this morning stated that Mr.. Florence
was better. At o'clock another bulle-
TIL announced that he was slightly i'm
proved. The last belletin they gave out
reads: MIR. Florence passed away
peacefully at $50 O'clock this evening"
The fact of his death became generally
known about the time the theaters
closed, and the spacious lobby of the no.
tel was soon filled with theatrical people
who stood round in groups discussing
the sad event. A messageeof sympathy
was sent to Mr.. Florence by the Clover
club, which held its monthly meeting
tonight, reached the hotel after he had
passed away. 1t read: 1.-The Clover
club sends to You its greeting of tender
and fraternal sympathy. expressing the
atfectlonate and Sanguine hope that
your recovery and convalescence may
be so speedy that your illness, which is
TO us today present and deep grief,
will quickly be to you vanishing mem
Dry"
Mr.. Florence was nearly sixty-one
years of age, having been born at AL
banY, n. Y, July &c, 1881. His name
originally was COnlin. but as he had
adopted the stage name of Florence, he
legalized his right to the latter by an
act of assembly passed by the New
York legislature.
Jefferson Almost Overcome.
GRAND RAPIDs, Mich, Nov. 10
MY God! you don't tell me-" was the
exclamation which fell from the lips of
Joseph Jefferson when informed by a
reporter this evening that his cOmpan-
ion and bosom friend, W. j. Florence,
was dead. Mr.. jefferson seemed at first
almost overcome by the sudden all
nOuncement, but, recovering his COM
pOsure, continued:
Are You sure it is true?" The dis
patch upon which the information was
based purpOrted to convey only a rumor
and Mr.. jefferson was informed accord
lngly. He at once started for the news
paper offices, hoping against hope that
the evil news might be false. He spent
the greater part of the remaining hours
OF the night reading the dispatches re-
lating to his friend as they came from
the wire and relating incidents of Mr..
FlOrence's career.
Mr.. Jefferson, among many other IN
cidents, dwelt specially upon Mr.. Flor
ence's HUsnerols private benefactions
''Cne fact, Tut little Known" said he,
SIS that Mr.. Florence was the
founder O. the Order of Mystic
Shriners. In religion he was true
Catholic and member of the Knights Of
ST. Patrick. When bidding me farewell
at PhilGde phia Mr.. Florence said 4:
Goodbye, CD boy; I'll soon catch up
with you From all reports we surely
thought he would do so. and bis death is
a great shock to us. You may say that
our engagement at Detroit tomorrow
night will certainly be deferred out of
regard to his memory"