Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-20
A Strange and Sudden Death,

The strange and sudden death from Asi
attic cholera of Nine. Morel. the distin
guished prima donna, while performing in
Java, recalls the fact that quite a number
of famous theatrical people have died un.
der almost similar circumstances. A still
more singular fact is the curious connec-
tion that often seems to exist between the
last words of the actor and the moment OF
his death.
Palmer, the original Joseph Surface, fell
dead in the fourth act of performance oi
"The Stranger" in Liverpool He had just
uttered the words, 80 God! God! there is
another and better world" Another dis
tinguished English actor named Patterson,
who was playing the Duke in Measure for
Measure" and had just repeated the words:
Reason thus with life:
If do love thee, do lose a thing
That mono but fools would keep, breath
thou art. 3d..
When he staggered and fell into another
actors arms and instantly expired. Still
another English actor, Cumming, had just
recited the following lines from "Jane
Shore:''
Be witness for me, ye celestial hostsi
Such mercy and such pardon as my soul
Accords to thee. and beys of heaven to show
May such befall me at my latest hour.
When the end came. Miss Maria LinIey
died suddenly at Bath, Eng, while singing
"I Know That My Redeemer Liveth." 1t
has also been noted as rather curious CO.
incidence that just about the time, at the
beginning of the last century, when a GER
tain famous English actor died suddenly
while performing in ''The Rape of Proser-
pine" three prominent French actors
named Montieury, Mondory and Bricourt
died during stage performances
Although he lived Tor some time after
ward, Edmund Kean's last appearance was
extremely tragic. In the midst of a pro-
Theater, on the 25th of March, 1885, he
suddenly fell into his sons arms. exclaim-
ing: 81 am dying, speak to them for me,
Charles" He never acted again. Bea I'll
full Peg Woffington's last appearance was
equally sad. She was acting Rosaliud il
"As You Like 1t" and had just uttered
the words in the epilogue, "Id Kiss as
many of you as had boards that pleased
me-" when she was struck down by paraly-
sis and never appeared before the public
again, although she lived for three years
after the attack ~.
Deaths on the stage from accident have
been comparatively common. We have
had quite a number in recent years. In
VI iuuIuCI dlsO huOWu. 1G Is
recorded of Julius Cesar, that once while
overcome by passion during q performance
in his own theater, that instead of pretend
ing to kill the actor who brought HIM a
poisoned shirt dipped in the blood of the
Centaur Nessus. that he slew him in dead
and threw the body over his head.
But by far the most remarkable tragedy
of the kind took place in Sweden in the
year 1913. 1t was during one of the earliest
productions of the Passion Play known.
Lengis, one of the actors, became so excited
that when he had to pierce the side of the
actor representing our Savior upon the
cross he plunged his lance into the man
and killed him: The King, indignant at
people, angered at the death of favorite
performer, cut off the Kings head. That
is the story related by history. 1t may be
4 little oyerdrawn.