Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-01-09
EMMA ABBOTT DEAD.

A SINGER THAT LEFT A FORTUNE OF So, 900, 900.
SALT LAKE, UTAH, January 5-Emma Alb
bolt is dead. She died at 7:30 this morning at
the Hotel Iempleton after an illness of four
days. Tuesday Miss Abbott took chill and
Wednesday evening during the performance
OF "Ernani'' became seriously i'll. 4 physi-
elan was at once summoned. Finding her
temperature at 1914 he insisted that she should
leave the stage and be taken to her hotel.
Miss Abbott, although a very sick woman,
part, and despite the protests of her medical
adviser the plucky, little songStress stepped
to the foot-lights and sang hermusc as though
there was nothing wrong with her. except
bad cold Thursday her condition was SO
critical that her physician called for medical
assistance. The entire left lung was found to
be involved, and Saturday her physician an
| nounced she would not survive the day, bat
off death so determinedly that Sunday morn
ing'a change occurred seemingly for the bet
ter. During the day, however, she had be-
| come delirious. '.What date is ths?" she
asked. Being told, she said "'Twill be two
years tomorrow since my husband died. "
The sadness of the death of Mr. Wetherill,
Emma Abbotts husband, two years ago. with
whom she had lived so faithfully, seemed to
! cling to her at times, devOur her thoughts
| and make her oblivious of every thing about
| her. During Miss Abbott's engagement in
this city in October, 1888, Mr. Wetherill took
a cold. He was troubled with a hacking
cough, anu DcIES Called 10 IJellNeG Oh business
he went, and entering that high altitude, died
while in the act of signing deed for $4,000
worth of real estate SIhe shock to Miss All
bolt was great. Her first and only lover had
been smitten down. Although he had been
dead two years, she had not even considered
favorably a number of proposals from pas
sionate admirers. Two weeks ago she tele-
| graphed to her landlord in the Denver Hotel,
asking that the room in which her husband died
be retained for her. This morning, as the sun
| light was gliding the mountain peaks, and,
looking upon the scene from the window, ex-
claiming: II am not afraid to de- she fell
back upon her couch. Emma Abbott was
dead.
Miss Abbott's success financially was even
greater than her professional career. She not
only methodically invested her prodigal earn
ings, but duplicated in stock speculation.
Her fortune is estimated anywhere from
s., 100000 to 5000, 900. Before leaving for Eu-
rope she made will, and it is understood
that Lizzie Abbott, sister, her mother and
Seth Abbott, her father, who reside in Chica-
go, inherit the largest part of the estate
buried beside her husband at Gloucester,
Mass. A short service was held at the Hotel
Templeton this afternoon by Dr. McNiefe, at
which only members OF her company and
close friends were present The company
leaves for Denver this evening over the Rio
Grande and the body Will be taken to Chica-
go, where further disposition Of the remains
will be decided upon.
HER HISTORY.
Emma Abbott was born in Chicago about
forty Years ago. While an infant her father
moved to PEORIA H., and tried to earn liy-
ing by teaching music. Emma developed a
talent for music and was accustomed to sing
at parlor entertainments, the hat being passed
around for contributions.
In this manner she attained considerable
local notoriety, and finally attracted the at
tention Of Clara Louise kellogg, who brought
her to New York and succeeded in obtaining
for Miss Abbott the place of principal soprano
in DR.. Chapin's church at the corner of Forty
fifth street and Fifth Avenue. While there
she became so popular with the congregation,
and impressed Dr. Chapin's parishioners SO
favorably with her musical ability, that the
sum of $4,000 was contributed to send her
to Europe to complete her musical educa-
ton.
At this time Eugene Wetherell was mem
Der of Dr.. Chapin's congregation, and he was
selected to look after the money contributed
for the sopranos education. II had an addi-
tional interest in the young singer They
lived i'll the same boarding house in Four
teenth street, and their acquaintance ripened
quickly into mutual appreciation which re-
suited in marriage in 1874.
Emma Abbott went to Paris and studied vo-
cal music under Marchesi and acting under
Charles Fechter. On her return to America
she sang in concert, but decided to present
of her second season Emma A bbott'S financial
success was unbroken
HER FUTURE PLANS.
1t twas her intention te disband her company
at the close of this season May !, and then
dedicate the magnificent mausoleum to her
husband, which is probably one of the finest
monuments in the world, and cost $50, 600 As
was her custom, Miss Abbott expected to GO
to Europe and study new opera which Au-
dram, the composer OF "Olivctte'' and ''Mas-
cote, /" was writing for her. She had contrac-
ted with him for it for SIC, 600 She was al
most persuaded to spend a year Or two in Er-
rope and give the Old World Il test of her
powers before returning home, although the
Abbott Company was booked fer the Grand
! Opera House for the last week Of September.
! 1891, Like all prime donne the popular En-
ma always liked to talk about herself, but
she never spoke unkindly of others. She was
generous and charitable, giving freely to any
one in distress.
Frequently she was imposed upon, and it is
known that she distributed hundreds of dol
lars about which she said nothing. She was
passionately fond OF newspaper notices and
had many sincere and devoted friends among
thai profession. 1t was her constant boast
that she had never disappointed an audience
and had always been kindly treated by the
newspapers,
THE ABBOTT BRIDES AND BABIES,
operate star was ever so much beloved by
members of her own company as Emma Alb
bott Several of them had been with her ten
years. 1t was one of her agreeable diosyn-
cracies to make a present OF diamond ring
to every bride in her company. Every baby
born in the troupe (and there were nine chill
dren when the company appeared here last
falD received check for SlAo which was de.
posted in some hank, at Interest, for the it,
tie one: Miss Abbott often spoke glowinglv
about the Abbott ba bics, and she always en-
couraged matrmony among the members of
her company, in which, it is said, there WAS