St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-11-27
HOW DEATH HAS COME
Strangely and Suddenly to Vari-
Gus Theatrical Celebrities.

strangely and Suddenly to Vari-
Gus theatrical Celebrities.
The strange and sudden death from
Asatic cholera OF Nine. Morel, the dis
tinguished prima donna. while perform
ing in Java, recalls the fact that
quite number of famous theatrical peo-
pie have died under almost similar cir
cumstances. A still more singular fact
is the curious connection 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 a perform
ance of 1.-The Stranger" In Liverpool.
He had just uttered the words, so God.
there is another and better world"
Another distinguished 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 thing
That none but fools would keep breath
thou art.
When he staggered and fell into an
other actors arms and instantly expired.
Still another English actor, Cum ming,
had just recited the following lines from
",jane Shore"
Be witness for me, ye celestial hosts.
Such mercy and such pardon as my soul
Accords 10 thee. and begS or heaven 10 show
thee.
May such befall me at my latest hour.
When the end came. Miss Maria
Lnley died suddenly at Bath, England,
while singing Il Know That My Re-
deemer Liveth." 1t has also been noted
as 4 rather curious coincidence that
Just about the time. at the beginning OF
The last century, when certain famous
English actor died suddenly while per-
forming in The Rape of Proserpine."
| throe prominent French actors named
Montieury, Mondory and BricOurt died
during stage performances.
Although he lived for some time aft
! erwards, Edmund Kean's last appear
ance was extremely tragic. In the midst
OF production of "Othello" at the
Covent Garden theater, OH the 25th of
March, 1888. he suddenly fell into his
sons arms, eXclaiming: 81 am dying;
speak 10 them for me, Charles" lie
never acted again. Beautiful Peg W0f-
tington's last appearance was equally
sad She was acting Rosallnd in las
You Like It." and had Just uttered the
words in the epilogue, I'D kiss as
many Of you as had boards that pleased
me-" when she was struck down by
paralysis, 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 number i'll recent
years. Instances of murder are also
| known. 1t is recorded of julius Caesar,
! that once while overcome by passion
| during a performance in his own
| theater, that instead of pretending to
! kill the actor who brought him poi
soned shirt dipped in the blood of the
| Centaur Nessus, that he slew him in
dead earnest and threw the body over
| his head.
| But by far the most remarkable trag-
edy 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. be-
| came 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 e.
| The king, indignant at such brutality,
| killed Lengis, and then the people, an
/ gered at the death of fayorite per-
former. cut off the kings head. That
| is the story related by history. 1t may
| be little overdrawn.