Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-19

| orrhage of the stomach. With him whcr
| he died were his daughter and Mrs
| Kingsley, mother of Mr. Abbey's frs
| wife.
Mr. Schoefet of the firm of Abbey
| Schoeffel * Grau called at the Osborne
soon after MIR Ahbeys death. He toll
the reporters he would have statement
to make some time during the day.
| The news of the death of Mr.. Abbey
| spread throughout the city with re-
| marlsabie rapidity, He had been heard
| OF but little publicly since the pubica
| ton of his wife's action for divorce anG
| the reorganization of his firm. which
| caused such a sensation in the theatri-
| cal world when its failure was an
nounced few months ago. Only his
| intimate friends knew where he was liv-
| ing, and they only had an insinuatior
| Of the seriousness of his condition. Foi
this reason the announcement of hi,
| death was a startling surprise.
Henry Z. Abbey started line in thea
tiicals that was particularly his own. II,
| would handle only the greatest attrac.
| tons. In the presentations of these per
formances. involving great risk lavish
display and boldness Of conception and
perseverance of presentation, Abbey was
| unequalled.
| Mr. Schoeffel said that the last hours
| Of Mr.. Abbey were very affecting H.
| remained conscious until the last, anG
| tCld the little group about his bed that
| he knew his end was near. He also gave
some instructions about his business af-
| fairs before he breathed his last.
Tho funeral will bo hold ~,
| and the body will be taken to North
ampton. Mass, for intel-ment in the plo,
beside that of his first wife.
There was meeting of the opera
company's directors at the academy in
the afternoon. MIR. Grau. Mr.. Abbey :
partner, is in Paris, and a cablegrarl
announcing Mr.. Abbeys death was sent
&c him.
All last season there were rumors that
the firm of Abbey. Schoeffel & Grau hal
lost money on several of their theatrical
ventures. 1t was said. however, tn;
they had made money on the Metro
politan Opera House. This was not tru'
for the season was a financial failure
These rumors We're not heard at first
outside of operate and theatrical cir
cles, but they We're so often repeated
that they came to be common property.
So when the announcement that the firm
had made an assignment on May last,
it was no great surprise to most persons.
The assignees were Arnold A. Rand %
70 Milk street, Boston: Louis l.. Phelps
of "a West Thirty-sevcnth street and g
Nassau street. They at once took
charge of the firms affairs. and began
to straighten matters out. At that time
Mr. Abbey was confined to his rooms in
the Gilsey House. where he had been liv-
ing several weeks. He was even then
quite Sick but hopeful. 1t was said that
had he been in good health, the firm
could have secured abundant financial
aid to tide over it's difficulties. At first
the liabilities of the firm were estimated
roughly at $500, 900 or $500, 900, and it was
feared that their affairs were in bad
shape, but gradually the receivers man
aged to restore order out of the chaos,
and finally succeeded in getting things
in such shape that the great theatrical
combination was merger into cOrpor
Grafton.
To Mr.. Abbey, Anne. leans are indebted
for introducing to them Bernhardt,
Henry Irving, Patti, Jane Hading.
Mounet-Sully. Rejane, Beerbohm Tree,
Josef Hoffman, Melba. Calve and many
others. He also managed the last tours
of Mary Anderson.
Mr.. Abbey was born in Akron. O.. in
1916. He was the successor of his father
In the jewelry business in that city. In
the year 1869 he became manager of the
Sumner Opera House in Akron.
A year later Abbey took to the road.
He first managed the Worrall sisters.
then Edwin Adams. Later he was ths
manager Of Edwin Booth and Lolita.
In 1876 Abbey assumed control of the
Academy of Music in Buffalo He took
Continued on page ~